DISCLAIMER: This recap of Snowpiercer Season 4 Episode 5, “The Engineer,” contains spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
We have our second major casualty for Snowpiercer‘s final revolution — Ben. Admittedly, this one hurts. I’ve been a Ben gal since day one. He’s a good egg. As much as it hurts thinking about Melanie’s reaction to his death, at least he went out like a hero. RIP, Benny.
“The Engineer” is easily the best episode of the season thus far. It also revives everyone’s favorite fur coat-clad villain, Joseph Wilford. I’ve missed ole Wilfy. You can tell Sean Bean is having fun with his role.
This outing moves at a steady clip, and the episodic narrative is engaging enough to keep our interest. The end raises plenty of questions that hopefully get answers as we barrel into the back half of the season. My only gripe: bring back Jennifer Connelly, please. The people demand it.
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Snowpiercer, “The Engineer”
We open with Ben (Iddo Goldberg) recalling the titular train’s first revolution and how “nobody said a word for weeks.” Admiral Milius (Clark Gregg) introduces himself to Josie (Katie McGuinness) while Ben steers the train. Milius presents his ultimatum: Liana for Big Alice. Elsewhere, Dr. Pelton (Karin Konoval) reunites Bess (Mickey Sumner) and Miles (Jaylin Fletcher) with Layton (Daveed Diggs). Layton asks where Josie is.
Josie doesn’t react well to Milius’s ultimatum, and rightfully so. Ben pulls Josie aside to persuade Layton not to take the deal. New Eden needs Big Alice to survive. Afterward, Milius urges Josie to present his offer to Layton. She does, and Layton doesn’t look thrilled. He wants proof that Liana is alive before considering this deal.
Papa, Can You Hear Me?
Meanwhile, Ben and Milius have a brief conversation in the engine about love. Ben sees it as a strength, while Milius begs to differ. Love is a weakness; he knows from experience. Milius seeks out Layton in the market car. They finally meet in person. Milius explains that he and his team are endeavoring to save the world. Layton cuts him off, urging him to save the recruitment speech. Milius whips out a phone and calls Dr. Headwood (Sakina Jaffrey), who asks Liana to say “Papa” into the phone.
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Layton listens intently for his daughter’s response. “Papa,” she says after some coaxing from Headwood. Layton urges Liana to hold tight; he’ll save her soon. Milius wonders if Ruth will connect the trains on Layton’s ask. Later, Layton chats with Ruth (Alison Wright), who’s still on Big Alice with Alex (Rowan Blanchard). Layton informs Ruth that he heard Liana’s voice, but Milius won’t give her back unless they connect the trains. Alex reminds Ruth that a manual override is the only way to separate. The whole thing is risky.
Ruth reluctantly agrees to this, knowing that it might affect the survival of New Eden. Once Big Alice and Snowpiercer connect, the extended train stops in the tunnel. Ben gives Layton the lowdown regarding what’s happened on our titular Engine Eternal. Melanie’s in the research facility with Dr. Nima, stringing together data in the hopes they can warm up the planet.
It’s All About the Work
We learn that the trains will only be idle for a few hours. Layton enters the aforementioned research facility, where he must strip down and change clothes because, you know, the military. He relinquishes the belongings on his person, including Liana’s stuffed animal, for the brief period he’s supposed to be in the facility. Layton reunites with Alex, Ruth and Bess in another room. Ben enters, embracing Alex. Elsewhere, Josie is with Dr. Headwood in the medbay, the latter treating the former’s injury from when she infiltrated Snowpiercer.
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The gang realizes they only have two hours and 36 minutes to find Liana. Milius barges into the room. He thanks our crew for their cooperation and for connecting the trains. Then, he rips off the “diplomatic” Band-Aid, revealing someone the gang thought long dead: Joseph Wilford (Bean). Bess and Layton lunge at him. Milius has his soldiers escort Layton to a separate room so he can “cool down.”
Wilford explains that Milius saved him from the track scaler, employing his engineering know-how to save the world. In fact, Wilford is working with Mel. Milius informs our group that they’re guests. They’ll stay in the facility until the work is done. Meanwhile, the passengers on the trains will continue with the retrofit.
Wilford and His Engine
Later, Milius and Wilford chat in the hallway. Wilford warns Milius about Layton. His friends and the passengers have a habit of rallying around him. Layton has proven himself a hero and a rebel, even if Wilford doesn’t view it that way. Milius allows Wilford to pop over to Big Alice. He tells Wilford that he has two hours.
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Next, Josie wakes up in medbay to Headwood examining her. Headwood asks Josie if she’s lost all feeling in her extremities. Her symptoms are progressing quite rapidly. Josie confronts Headwood regarding her part in all this. Zarah died, and Liana was ripped from her father’s arms because of Headwood’s actions. Headwood insists that Zarah’s death was an unfortunate mistake. She was trying to warn Zarah. Headwood reveals that Liana needs Josie’s help. She seizes that moment of Josie’s vulnerability to knock the latter unconscious.
Meanwhile, Ben, Alex, Ruth and Bess are stuck in that room. A guard stands outside. Ben regrets connecting the trains. Alex pivots to her mom’s role in the grand scheme of things. The work she, Nima and Wilford are doing is crucial. It could spell the end of having to live on a train. Bess and Ruth argue that Mel’s work could be Wilford’s. Who knows if Mel is still alive? Ben vouches for Mel’s research, claiming he can differentiate between his lady love’s findings and Wilford’s work.
Into the Viper Pit
Alex decides to visit Wilford. Perhaps he can provide insight. The others caution Alex against this move, citing that he’s a snake. However, Alex knows she’s one of his weaknesses. Maybe she can bring them something from the inside.
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Then, Wilford wanders through Big Alice to the surprise of its passengers. He returns to his old stomping grounds — the engine. Milius visits Layton in the latter’s new digs. Layton wants to see his daughter. Milius hands Layton Liana’s stuffed animal, urging him to be patient. Layton asks to visit Josie instead, to which the admiral informs him that she’s being treated in medbay. Oh, and when this is all over, Milius will let Layton get a shot at Wilford. Perhaps even a punch or two.
Meanwhile, Nima (Michael Aronov) pops up in Big Alice’s engine. Wilford urges him to take a load off. While they chat, Wilford grabs, presumably, toiletries from the bathroom. He pockets what looks like a shaving blade. For what? My guess is self-defense.
Something Extraordinary
Alex enters the engine room to press Wilford for info. Wilford insists they’re using the trains for “something extraordinary,” something Mel never thought possible. Alex looks incredulous, although I assume it’s because it’s coming from Wilford’s mouth. Alex whips out Wilford’s weed stash, which he initially thought she tossed. This is how you warm up to someone in a dystopian world. Wilfy grabs his signature fur coat (after changing into his equally signature suit), and the pair returns to the research facility. He leads her through a secret stairwell.
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Later, Ben notices the door is locked. Thankfully, he uses his big engineer brain to rig their way out. Our trio escapes after taking out the guard stationed in front of their door. Meanwhile, Layton hears Liana in the other room. He presses his ear against the glass, listening to his baby girl. Bess, Ben and Ruth decide to part ways. Ruth will stay in the facility to find Layton and Josie, while Ben and Bess will return to the trains. There, they’ll work on disconnecting Big Alice so it can head back to New Eden.
Next, Wilford shows Alex around his lab. He reveals that he and Melanie have separate workspaces. Mel rightfully holds a grudge. Alex remarks that it’s strange not having to worry if her mother is alive or dead. Now, she has proof of the former. Wilford pivots, complimenting Alex on her work in New Eden, utilizing Big Alice’s engine to give power to the compound.
Never a Follower
Then, Ben and Bess wind up in front of a door to a lab. Ben wonders if it’s Mel’s lab. Earlier, he stole a guard’s access wristband. Unfortunately, Ben can’t use it to access the lab. As Bess and Ben walk away, the door opens to reveal Wilford. Ben punches him in the face before asking Alex if Mel is there. Wilford switches on an alarm, which sounds throughout the facility. Ben and Bess prepare to run, but not before bidding farewell to Alex. She wants to stay for her mom. Ben urges Alex to tell Melanie that he misses her.
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On Snowpiercer, Milius moves up the departure as a safety precaution. He urges his soldier to finish the supply transfer — wheels up in 10 minutes. Then, Milius asks one soldier if he’s had any luck contacting anyone in Big Alice. The latter claims Wilford cleared everyone out of the engine.
Meanwhile, Wilford tries to boss people around, ordering Milius’s guards to keep an eye on Alex. However, they put Wilfy in his place, reminding him he’s not in charge. We love to see (and hear) it. While attempting to escape the research facility, Bess and Ben run into a few guards. Thankfully, they take out their foes like a boss.
Stalling
Ben and Bess return to Big Alice, where Tristan (Ian Collins) waits for them. Ben tells Tristan about their plan to take Big Alice. Unfortunately, Ruth is still in the facility. He urges Tristan to stall as much as possible. Speaking of Ruth, she sees Layton board an elevator with a guard. She hears Snowpiercer plans to depart in one minute, so she books it toward the exit.
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Bess and Ben urge everyone on Big Alice to pile in and move toward the back. Bess asks Z-Wreck (Kwasi Thomas) and the other Tailies to assist with delaying the departure so Ruth can board. Thankfully, they block all the entrances to Big Alice so Milius and his guards can’t access the train. Ben and Bess enter Big Alice’s engine, where the former talks the latter through preparing to disconnect the trains. Meanwhile, Tristan tosses a metal case through the closing train doors to keep them open as Ruth leaps into Big Alice.
Next, Ben and Bess’s move to disconnect fails. The retrofit has ensured they can’t disconnect in any other manner. Ben has an idea, though — What if he helps out from the Snowpiercer side? He can bypass the electrical controls while in the sub-train. Ben realizes they must implement the manual override. Miles can pilot Big Alice.
Ben’s Sacrifice
Once in the sub-train, Ben tinkers around, but nothing works. He knows he must get outside to complete the manual override. Ben pumps himself up, breaking many things in the sub-train that could contribute to Snowpiercer’s pursuit of Big Alice. Then, he opens the door. Of course, Ben doesn’t have a suit. Bess watches Ben open the door, realizing what he’s doing. It’s a suicide mission.
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Ben uses a screwdriver to unhook the trains. The cold whips at his face as he screams. He’s successful in separating the trains. Bess watches in horror as Ben freezes in place, the ice forming on his face and eyes. Poor Bess sobs at the sight as Ruth urges Miles to start driving Big Alice to New Eden. RIP, Bennett Knox — a badass engineer.
Meanwhile, guards lead Layton to Milius in the facility. Josie wakes up in medbay. Headwood admits she lied about Liana being in danger. Milius reveals he still plans to let Layton see his daughter despite the latter not holding up his end of the bargain. Yes, Milius is aware that Big Alice is gone.
A Twist of the Knife
Nima finds Alex, asking if she never gets nosebleeds in New Eden. He introduces himself as an old friend of Melanie’s and believes they have much to discuss. I’m 99 percent certain that Nima is Alex’s father. I see a resemblance. In the medbay, Josie feels funny. She asks Headwood what the doctor did to her. We witness a transfusion happening — an IV of Josie’s blood next to a bag of Wilford’s blood. Hmm.
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Layton peeks through the blinds to see Wilford holding Liana in the neighboring room. Wilford smiles and waves at Layton. He tries to get Liana to do the same. Layton looks enraged.
Snowpiercer drops new episodes every Sunday at 9 pm EST on AMC, BBC America and AMC+.
Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: MELANIE CAVILL
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
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