DISCLAIMER: This recap of Snowpiercer Season 4 Episode 10, “Last Stop,” contains spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
The Eternal Engine has reached her final destination. “Last Stop,” Snowpiercer‘s series finale, finds our heroes fighting tooth and nail to stop Nima’s grand plan in its tracks. It’s somewhat of a letdown to an overall weaker season than its predecessors. Milius is a more compelling villain, and Nima’s death is quite underwhelming. Plus, the pacing is inconsistent, with the episodic narrative feeling rushed in the final 15 minutes.
That said, the performances are solid. I could watch Melanie and Alex scenes all day. Unfortunately, this season could’ve used more Jennifer Connelly. She’s an Academy Award winner for crying out loud. I also enjoyed the callbacks, such as Josie calling Layton a “detective,” a nod to his occupation before the Freeze, Ruth’s comment about a grilled cheese sandwich (which is the first real food Layton eats in Season 1) and the animated flowers in the final moments.
All that aside, the last scene is lovely. It gave me the warm fuzzies. While the overarching story gets the “tied in a bow” treatment, there are a few loose threads worth exploring in potential spin-offs/sequels should AMC desire them.
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Snowpiercer, “Last Stop”
We open with Layton (Daveed Diggs), Bess (Mickey Sumner), Ruth (Alison Wright), Josie (Katie McGuinness), Oz (Sam Otto) and the rest of our New Eden crew storming Snowpiercer. Ruth even outright stabs one of Nima’s soldiers. Damn, girl. Melanie (Connelly) starts our regular episodic narration (and finishes it), but Layton, Ruth, Josie, Bess and Alex (Rowan Blanchard) also give their two narrator cents.
Mel and Alex are finally in the subtrain, where they see Nima (Michael Aronov) ride away on the subtrain vehicle toward, presumably, the car housing the rocket. Our favorite mother/daughter duo decides to head to Big Alice. If they can seize control of her, they can ensure they never reach the launch point for said rocket. Meanwhile, Layton and the others encounter a roadblock when one of the train car doors slams shut before them. Lights (Miranda Edwards) tries to unlock it.
One Train
Layton starts pounding on the door, shouting, “One train!” Mel and Alex arrive in Big Alice’s engine to discover she’s essentially a glorified server — there’s nothing to steer. Meaning they’re at the mercy of our titular train. Finally, Layton and the gang break the door open to find Nima’s soldiers on the other side. They throw a gas canister while taking Ruth captive. Thankfully, the others flee before the gas affects them.
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Next, a determined Alex immediately jumps into finding a solution. She knows Big Alice inside and out. If anyone can figure out how to regain control of her, it’s Alexandra Cavill. However, Mel believes they don’t have time to focus on this. They must get to the rocket before Nima can launch the Gemini compound and, you know, wipe out humanity.
At this moment, Mel learns about Wilford’s death. She wonders why Alex withheld this from her. Alex replies that she’s been too busy grappling with her biological father trying to destroy the world. Fair enough. Mel gives in and decides to help Alex get the engine back. She suggests they do a clean reboot of the system.
A Reunion
Meanwhile, Oz and Boki (Aleks Paunovic) try to access another train level, but the door is locked with a breach sealer. After the gang utilizes leverage to open it, the New Eden crew reunites with other Snowpiercer passengers. Layton and the others wonder if the plan was for Nima’s soldiers to ambush them with the gas again. Layton orders Bess, Josie and Javi (Roberto Urbina) to join him in finding Mel downtrain. They need her to disarm the rocket. However, Josie wants to go uptrain with the others because that’s where the fight is.
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Then, the Rat (or Mouse?) urges Nima to chat with Ruth. They now have leverage with the leader of New Eden as their captive. He orders his guards to ensure nobody can access the rocket but him. After this, Nima makes his way to the Snowpiercer engine. He wants a front-row seat to watch history unfold (or, rather, soar across the sky and pollute the atmosphere).
Later, Alex proposes they hit the brakes and execute a manual shutdown. Mel warns they’re getting closer to the coast, which could send the train spinning. Layton, Javi and Bess barge into Big Alice’s engine, reuniting with our pair. Alex gets Javi up to speed re: Snowpiercer controlling Big Alice again. Layton asks Mel if she can disarm the rocket. Of course she can — she’s Melanie friggin’ Cavill. Bess, Layton and Mel gaze up at the “B” Bess carved for Ben. They have a moment of reflection on their fallen friend.
Riding the Sea
Next, Nima orders the driver in the Snowpiercer engine to take them “out to sea.” Layton notices the transition, asking if it’s a bad track. “No track,” Mel responds. As it turns out, Snowpiercer has veered off-track, making a beeline for the ocean. A train on the sea? What will they think of next? Jokes aside, this moment is pretty cool.
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Mel informs the group that they have three hours until they reach the launch point as long as Snowpiercer maintains her current speed. She adds that the launcher is in Nima’s briefcase, which he can connect in the Mission Control car beside the rocket itself or by a hardline in the train’s engine. So, he’ll want to launch the rocket from the front of the train, meaning our heroes will have more cars to travel through before reaching him.
Javi brings up the electrical box in third class. It’s the primary junction box between the engine and the back of the train. Mel piggybacks off this, claiming if they sever comms to the engine, Nima can’t launch from there. Thus, Nima will have to go to them. This gives Mel and Alex time to get to the rocket. Layton and Bess escort Javi to the third-class electrical box. Mel reassures Layton that she and Alex will be right behind them.
A Proposition
Elsewhere, Nima and Ruth meet. Nima has a proposition for the leader of New Eden. If she lets him carry out his plan, he’ll let her return to New Eden in peace with Big Alice. He admits he wasn’t born to lead; he’s a chemist. Nima wants Ruth to reassure the masses that they can all go home soon. Ruth can end the battle if she tells her comrades to stand down.
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Then, she can return to New Eden with Big Alice and all the passengers. Nima will even allow her to take some Snowpiercer cars. However, he’d like to keep the engine and a few cars for further testing. Ruth asks for time to think about his proposal. Later, Layton stumbles upon Josie beating the snot out of one of Nima’s soldiers. He pulls her back. She claims that this man was planting more gas bombs to surprise them.
Boki and Oz arrive on the scene, revealing that they’ve found signs of life 35 cars up. The soldiers are waiting for them. Bess worries they’ll drop the bay doors and lock them all in with the gas. Layton acknowledges that that’s not a bad idea.
Dr. Headwood’s Latest Creation
Next, Dr. Headwood (Sakina Jaffrey) shows Nima her pièce de résistance — the revival of one of Nima’s soldiers. I guess it’s the one who died on last week’s episode. Unfortunately, the episode spends a split second on this, leaving it shrouded in mystery. Meanwhile, Ruth runs into Sykes (Chelsea Harris) and Z-Wreck (Kwasi Thomas). They lay the smackdown on Ruth’s escorts, freeing her.
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Then, we see Mel and Alex work hard to regain control of Big Alice’s engine. They have a heart-to-heart, with Mel admitting she understands why Wilford’s death produces conflicting emotions for Alex. It’s the same for her. Mel’s spent so much time loathing Wilford; however, he saved Alex. Alex whirls around, asking her mom if Mel knew upon entry that Big Alice was screwed. She nods, “Yes.”
That said, Mel acknowledges her daughter’s brilliance. Alex can think outside the box and find a solution. Alex asks if Mel would risk the planet’s safety by watching her toil over Big Alice. Mel reassures Alex that she won’t let that happen. I’m gonna miss these Mel/Alex scenes. Connelly and Blanchard play off each other so well. They decide to leave the engine to find the rocket.
Gettin’ Gassy
Elsewhere, Layton pulls Josie aside to voice his concerns. She’s been different ever since they departed the Silo. He reminds her that the rocket takes precedence. Exacting revenge on Dr. Headwood isn’t the mission. She steps out of the conversation, instead focusing on rigging the space with the gas canisters to surprise Nima’s soldiers. Our heroes don gas masks before riding off in the subtrain vehicle. Then, they barrel through Nima’s soldiers as the gas releases into the space, knocking said soldiers unconscious.
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Meanwhile, Ruth, Z-Wreck and Sykes reunite with Snowpiercer passengers in the market car. She rallies everyone with a rousing speech, informing them of Nima’s toxic compound. At the same time, Bess and Oz disguise themselves as Nima’s soldiers, pretending they’re escorting Josie and Javi to their couchettes. Bess urges Oz to keep a low profile. They stand guard in third class as Javi tinkers with the electrical box, with the objective being to sever comms.
After Lights and the others bind the unconscious soldiers’ wrists and feet together per Layton’s orders, they all make their way uptrain. Mel and Alex are now with them. They notice that the enemy has breached another car door. Thankfully, they have a former Breachman (Boki).
Severing Comms
Later, one of Nima’s soldiers encounters Bess and Oz, inquiring about their presence in third class. Javi pops out to give an off-the-cuff excuse about what he’s doing. The soldier orders Bess and Oz to fall in line because there’s a riot in the market car, leaving Javi and Josie alone. Nima reaches the Snowpiercer engine and learns they’re 30 minutes from the launch point. Javi’s tampering works; Nima can’t communicate with Mission Control.
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So, Nima decides to travel to the rocket car. He asks one of his soldiers for a weapon should they get separated. Meanwhile, Boki opens the door for our heroes. Unfortunately, a soldier catches him, knocking him unconscious. Layton ascends the stairs and squares off against said soldier, axe in hand. Thankfully, he rises triumphantly while providing the perfect cover for Mel and Alex to get to the rocket car. Alex shuts the blast doors, and they get to work.
After Boki regains consciousness and Layton overpowers his foe, he asks Boki to guard the door while he heads uptrain. Elsewhere, Javi reunites with Ruth and her crew as Josie sneaks off to find Headwood. She observes as Headwood talks affectionately to her late husband’s shoes in the library. Headwood is taken aback by Josie’s presence but terrified by her bloody sword. Josie knocks the shoes out of Headwood’s arms.
Disarming a Rocket
Later, Nima orders his soldiers to ensure that nobody gains access to the rocket car. Bess and Oz are in disguise among them. Nima arrives in Mission Control with his briefcase, where we see that it’s T-minus 10 minutes until launch. The timer ominously counts down. Meanwhile, Mel and Alex try to disarm the rocket. They must extract the vials of the Gemini compound one by one. Nima notices the sensor go off for the payload compartment, where the vials are stored. He also sees the blast doors are closed.
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Before Nima arrives, Mel urges Alex to hide. Nima barges into the rocket car. Then, he orders Alex to emerge. If she doesn’t comply, he’ll shoot Mel. Nima’s weapon is trained on her. Mel begs Nima to reexamine the data. The numbers don’t lie. This compound will harm the atmosphere and kill whoever’s left on Earth. After a few moments of pushing Nima’s buttons, the chemist explodes, claiming it should have worked.
At the same time, Ruth and the others (Layton reunites with them) arrive at the entrance to Ag-Sec. One of the soldiers grabs Bess and thrusts a blade under her chin. Bess urges Layton to kill the soldier. Said soldier (Maybe the Rat? They’re all interchangeable) orders Layton to stand down, or Bess gets it. He’ll also allow them all to live. How nice.
Too Late
Mel pleads with Nima to end this now. He claims it’s too late — the launch is now on an automatic timer. It can’t be stopped now. Nima turns to Alex, stating he’s glad he met her. Then, with seconds remaining until the rocket launches, he urges Mel and Alex to flee and get as far away from the rocket — from Africa — as possible. As they run away, the train roof opens as the rocket prepares to launch. Nima looks up as he freezes in place instantly. RIP.
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Everyone scrambles to Mission Control as the rocket flies into the atmosphere. It seems like this is the end. Thankfully, the rocket travels some distance skyward before taking a nosedive and crashing onto the ground. Gemini didn’t make it into the stratosphere. Alex remarks that she didn’t think the payload hatch would hold up to the G-forces without anything attaching it. Of course, before this, we see the Gemini vials in the payload compartment freeze after the hatch flies off.
After a brief moment of celebration and hugs, Layton finds Josie in the library. She didn’t kill Headwood. We see Headwood sobbing in a cell while clutching her late husband’s shoes. She wasn’t terrified of dying; she simply didn’t want to part with the shoes. Josie apologizes for her behavior before Layton kisses her.
Prepare to Brace
Meanwhile, Javi takes over Snowpiercer and steers her off the ocean. Mel delivers an announcement over the PA system to the train — just like the old days. She informs the passengers of the weather in New Eden before urging them to “prepare to brace.” I love it.
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Later, our gang arrives in New Eden. Even little Winnie (Emma Oliver) is present. Josie embraces Miles (Jaylin Fletcher) as Roche (Mike O’Malley) and Carly (Esther Ming Li) bring baby Liana to Layton. Alex tells Mel that it’ll only take her and Javi a day to get Big Alice up and running again. Then, do they pop the clutch on Snowpiercer or make a quick exit? After all, the New Eden pocket won’t last forever.
Mel remarks that the data is inconclusive — the pocket could collapse tomorrow or 50 years from now. Therefore, it’s crucial to live in the now. That evening, everyone piles into Town Hall for a night of fun. Layton and Ruth are now council co-chairs, which is cool. Oz informs Roche and Carly of his intent to move off the mountain and into town. It’s time to rejoin civilization.
Javi and Sykes
Meanwhile, Javi tells Sykes that Snowpiercer can’t idle for too long, so he plans to take her out for a few days while Alex decides if they’ll retrofit her. He asks Sykes to keep him company. He can even teach her how to drive a train. She accepts the invitation. Aw, these two are super cute. I ship them.
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Bess and Audrey (Lena Hall) get their beautiful reunion moment. Then, in the Town Hall, we learn that one of the newcomers in town is named Buffalo, and she was an engineer in Milius’s employ. However, she’s no fan of his. Audrey reminds Bess that she taught her the importance of second chances.
Everything Must Change
Then, Audrey asks Oz to tickle the ivories while she sings. She performs a gorgeous, goosebump-inducing rendition of “Everything Must Change.” At one point, Oz joins in with the harmonies, and their voices melt together like butter in a skillet. I hope this cover is released on Spotify. Layton and Mel chat while watching Audrey and Oz. Mel states they’re all together, as it should have been from the beginning. Layton adds that they got there eventually — just in time for his daughter to grow up.
Mel questions whether they can all survive in New Eden. Layton the Optimist believes they’ll make it work. Everyone is welcome here. As the song concludes, we zoom outside past the town. As we soar over snowy peaks and valleys, we land on a cluster of flowers growing out of the ground. They’re in the same animation style as the dying flower in the series premiere. Love a good full-circle moment.
Life can now flourish.
Snowpiercer Seasons 1 through 4 are now streaming on 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.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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