Joseph Wilford (Sean Bean) is truly a survivor despite the odds. His return this week on Snowpiercer Season 4 Episode 5, “The Engineer”, is the second time he’s returned from being presumed/hoped dead. To be fair, he’s not alone in being resurrected among these post-apocalyptic folk but he may be the sole double-title holder.
RELATED: Catch up with our recap of the previous Snowpiercer episode, “North Star”
In a strange twist, his villainous return to taunt and torture Layton (Daveed Diggs) and the rest of the Snowpiercer/Big Alice/New Eden citizens is almost overkill in light of how Admiral Milius (Clark Gregg) and his “Peacekeepers” have been running things.
Snowpiercer’s “The Engineer”
With Milius dangling the return of Liana in exchange for Big Alice, Layton and his team are caught in a serious dilemma. Ruth (Alison Wright) is keenly aware that New Eden will fail without Big Alice providing power over the winter. They are depending on her ensuring the return of the engine in the three-week window Javi (Roberto Urbina) laid out.
When the New Eden team visits the Silo for the first time, will Layton get any answers from Melanie (Jennifer Connelly)? How will Alex (Rowan Blanchard) react to facing Wilford again? Who’s going to be the first to punch him in the face? All bets are open. And what the heck is happening to Layton in this picture?
The Resistance Persists
Bess and Ben continue to work against the “Peacekeepers” and Layton’s presence can only buoy the hopes of those aboard the train. Granted, Wilford’s return could work both ways on the collective spirit — stoking the flames of rage and determination he instills or dampening moods with a “WTH? What’s the point?” sentiment.
RELATED: Read our Snowpiercer recaps
Questions abound: Has Melanie been working with Wilford this whole time? Is Liana at the Silo? If so, how did Dr. Headwood (Sakina Jaffrey) get her there? Is Nima (Michael Aronov) who we suspect he is to Alex? Does she know?
Wilford’s Way
Knowing Wilford’s never been keen on saving all of humanity — only those he finds useful and/or entertaining — the biggest question is what he’s actually angling for. He’s obviously playing along with Milius and Nimo at the moment. He works on whatever they assign him, offers intel on Layton and his crew. But what’s his end game? Does he plan to take credit for saving the world and set himself up as World Leader? Has he struck a deal with Milius and his bosses (who does Milius take his orders from anyway?) to set up his own kingdom once the Earth is warm again? And who is left to follow him if he does?
The fourth and final season of Snowpiercer airs on AMC and AMC+ on Sundays at 9 pm/8c.
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