Snowpiercer TV Series (TNT)

I am a big fan of the movie, thought it was one of the best pieces of Sci-Fi made in recent years, so I was interested in what they were going to do with this. I was full sure they weren't going to follow the movie and they haven't.

The murder plot story line is a good hook and should keep me entertained for a while.

As for the plausibility of a train sustaining human life through an ice age. I never gave it much thought because if I did there is no way I would have ended up watching such a dumb idea for a movie :)
 
As for the plausibility of a train sustaining human life through an ice age. I never gave it much thought because if I did there is no way I would have ended up watching such a dumb idea for a movie

Yeah. I agree it's more like the series is a long stretch of catastrophe porn. There is no hope for the survivors or is there, can they turn around the series and show progression in the survival aspect?
 
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I could find only the movie version on my Netflix. Maybe TNT has a lock on it until it completes its run.

Maybe in the US it's only available through TNT. But here's a proof that it can be found in the Netflix.

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Well, here we go and nobody guesses. RFID chips.

Man, it explains the chopped off bodyparts, completely. Funny thing is they didn't deny the strange meat market. All of that came out last week and nobody denied. Everythign is for sale in the train and access to things is more valuable than information.

Although, when you think about it, you might reach a conclusion that the information about the access devices is very valuable, but it shouldn't be unknown thing in the tail. Somebody knows, but nobody is sharing. Not for free, anyway, even if the Tail seems like a big social experiment where everyone has same goal.

Layton deviced a lockpick from a piece of wire, and boy did it work. LOL. More stupid thing is the RFID chips. The problem that the tail faces is access to the electronics to be able to create wands to capture these signals. After that they only need to repeat the signal to the reader and door will open.

Mr Wilson therefore made a double cockup. First, the locks are being able to opened with amateur picks. Second, the chips can be cloned. If I put my Pen Testing Hat on it is a major flaw in the security. Therefore it opens up the whole train for whatever the tail needs to do to achieve their revolution.

I was pleasently surprised that Melanie knew nothing about Kronole and how vastly it is used in the tail sections. The thing that troubles me is the hedonistic front section. To them the sex is a device to addiction, while to tailies it's love or a trade item. In other words, Mr Wilford seems to be blind to the state of "his" train. And society they've created by adapting all the bad elements from the historic cultures.

I was pleased to find out an underworld boss straight in the third class. He probably supplies all the train up to the engine. Just keeping short of his exposure to the elements. Also I'm glad that they explained the drug with the suspecion cycle. No wonder people are full of space cookies after they've taken it, probably seeing all sorts of things.

What I don't get is why the doctor didn't give the witness real drug?

Will the skinhead murder get killed before Melanie gets him? Who is going to replace the medical technician?
 
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It annoys me that they'll talk about adaptation in the beginning and yet the writing doesn't show it. In fact, nothing changed, except everyone has to kill to survive in the Snowpiercer's world. The adaptation in the train isn't working. It is all the same. Not different.

The problem that our belowed hero, the train detective has is that the people aren't adapting to his precense, even though he feels like a permanent fixture to the play, because there is no way he's going back to the tail again. Not with his secrets. Not with everything that he has learned about the corruption running wild in the train.

Honestly, it feels there is nothing but corruption.

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Look at that map. It's strange. Everything is there, but it looks misplaced. Some countries also look a bit abnormal. And then there's the Antartica, which has been placed in where New Zealand used to be. You could assume that it's because of the weather, but I rather think that their world is parallel to ours, and by following Einstein's Crust Displacement Theory, their continents drifted differently... or then their world turned out wonky.

There is also that strategy poster in the cabin door that I don't get. It shows all the basic moves, and not a puzzle, which I'd think Melanie needs. She said, "I wish I could do some welding," which suggest that she built most part of the train. And being the train conductor is probably the least appealing job on board.

She could probably just drive the train and let the passenger cars take care of itself, but it would cause problems since she disappeared, and the power struggle in the train would explode.

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Why the hitman left first class tokens in the third class bar and then head towards the tail? It's not like he's the serial killer that Clayton thinks he is, but just a stupid henceman. Frankly, he's unlikely to be able to discuise himself as a tail passenger, which leaves that under carriage route that he has used before. So, why not to use it in the first place?

More curious thing is the bodyguards. Why the first class would need them? Is it really a protection against the tail or against the other elite members? Honestly it feels like they are a show piece and in the real fight, not so useful. How could they stop the revolution coming from the behind, if the people really would start an uprise?

There are so many questions, and no real answers. The only thing I really liked about the killer background is the marine. A jarhead, which explains why the man didn't think it all through. They will teach how to kill in the service, but not on how to hide one's intentions.

I laughed out loud on Erik's demise. He really didn't think it through, and neither did the soldiers. Then again neither did Lilah. She was certain that Clayton was going to fall on her lap like everything else. Seeing her in the jail made me laugh even louder.

That bitch deserved worse and I only wonder why they didn't throw her in the tail? Why keep her in the brig?
 
I thought LJ was just a bored little rich girl, so I was surprised that the turned out to be a psychopath. I had wondered what was motivating the killer. He was either incredibly stupid or just as insane as the girl -- maybe both.
I don't see the point of putting Andre on ice. As the central character, he can't stay in a drawer for long. Yeah, he knows too much to go back to the tail, but Melanie can control where he goes while keeping him handy for investigating more crimes sure to come.
(Speaking of characters, anyone else notice TWD's "Simon" (Steven Ogg) among the tailers?)
Another question: Why to all the interior scenes appear to be so rock-steady? Despite the train's gigantic size, shouldn't everything inside be at least gently swaying as the 1,001 cars speed around the world?
 
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I thought LJ was just a bored little rich girl, so I was surprised that the turned out to be a psychopath. I had wondered what was motivating the killer. He was either incredibly stupid or just as insane as the girl -- maybe both.

Pussy is strong motivator. Greeks sent ten thousand men after Helen, so why not one man gets custom to the priviledged life of the first class. Honestly, he might have even imagined that there's nothing that can potentially harm him. Certainly not his girlfriend. And at the end, he might even inherit the place as man to continue the family. The parent must have realised that there's no other suitors around to give Lilith.

What did she do with the cut off balls and sausages?

I don't see the point of putting Andre on ice. As the central character, he can't stay in a drawer for long.

Sure he can't, but who's going to rescue him from the cryotube? Nobody. They don't simply have an access or resources to get there. I suspect there's going to be another murder and Melanie has no choice but to bring him out. Thing is, we saw that tailie women getting to places and they came to inform her that Clayton's has gone missing. Is she now in charge of the tail?

In the movie (sorry don't have money to buy the comic set) there was a leader in the tail and in the engine. I think it should happen as well and they should give these people time to shine instead of the show being about Clayton or Melanie.

(Speaking of characters, anyone else notice TWD's "Simon" (Steven Ogg) among the tailers?)

In the drawer where he belongs. Do not bring him out. You all going to die if you do. LOL.

Why to all the interior scenes appear to be so rock-steady?

I get that you American's don't get to travel in the trains, but we do and there's minimal amount of shaking. You hardly feel it. That train also has huge amount of mass, so if it shakes from small bumps, it should not be able to do annual trips. Speaking of which, why to maintain constant high speed? Is there another train in the track? Do they have a timetable with no stops? What if they stop inside a mountain passage that's over kilometre long... is that going to be too freezing place as well?
 
why to maintain constant high speed? Is there another train in the track? Do they have a timetable with no stops? What if they stop inside a mountain passage that's over kilometre long... is that going to be too freezing place as well?
As long as the survival bunker is a train, it may as well be highballing. Just slowly chugging along wouldn't be nearly as exciting. ;)
 
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I think Melanie is blind to what is happening in her train. She cannot understand what the lockdown and class divination means to their people like we do. It's interesting that in their world, they never experienced the Covid-19 pandemic and what it did to the people.

In a way it's strange because they also talked about the weather change and how the scientists solved the problem by bombing the sky. But before that happened there must have been all sorts of crisis that all somehow deepened the chasm between the normals and the elite.

The only thing elite about them is their money, but what does it really mean at the end... in a train that literally uses its own monetary system. Maybe there is a suggestion in the old saying, "Eat The Rich," that Melanie always intended to use the elite as last buffer between them and her.

I wasn't surprised that Lilith parents tried to use their old tactics to save their troubled child. It infuriates me that they really didn't see anything but their privileged position in this weird society that is in midst of a turmoil. And what the hell was the play with Dad's eyeball?

Who does that? "Oh Daddy please, can I suck your ball? The eyeball..."

Man, the elite are weird. It's like their are removed from rest of the society by their access to the wealth but it doesn't make them elite by the definition, because nothing they do is at top of the class. Think about it.

I do admit that it would be difficult to form a society for everyone inside the moving coffin, but they could try to do the same thing as what we seen in the Trek. In a way Melanie is the Captain of their vessel, but the passengers are not far from those that migrated from Europe to America. The Titanic movie showed what was it like in the historical context.

Nevertheless Audrey's and Melanies conversation revealed that the Snowpiercer is five miles long. If you do a quick search, you can find out that the longest train tunnel is THIRTY FIVE miles long in Swiss Alps. And the thing about it is that it has a station in it. So, instead of blowing through the endless frozen landscapes they should periodically stop the train, before it really turns to a coffin. There is only so much fury that a scorned woman can pass, before it explodes.

Frankly, after all this time, their society is in a need for R&R or they'll face full blown anarchy. Not that it's not in the books after the detective went into the drawers. Just like Lilith's mum told to dear old daddy-o. Although I don't know how they would get their people back in the train if they stopped?
 
And what the hell was the play with Dad's eyeball?
Other than being exceptionally gross, it was LJ's way of playing daddy's little girl, underwriting his unconditional support for his darling teenage psycho. It was even more disturbing that the prosthesis was the result of LJ's skewering pop's original peeper with a dinner fork while throwing a tantrum as a 7-year-old. Amazing how quickly LJ's scared kid look was replaced by her more typical calculating nutcase face after she escaped being sent to the drawers.
they also talked about the weather change and how the scientists solved the problem by bombing the sky
As I remember, the sky bombing was intended to block the sun to counter global warning, but it went a little too far and froze the planet to the core. If that's the case, why are they showing so much sunny, blue sky whenever one of the underprivileged gets to gander out a window?
 
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why are they showing so much sunny, blue sky whenever one of the underprivileged gets to gander out a window?

Well, up North and in winter, sunny skies always means extra cold temperatures, because there is no cloud cover providing heat element. I think the sunshine is there to provide a reminder to the Tailies that it's a privilege to have a window. Funny thing is the cattle had rows of windows.
 
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So Jinju knows Melanie's secret. I was surprised seeing her in that cabin, among all the notes and things. That is quite a thing and it's another nail in Mr Wilford's coffin.

It is as if they've built a house of cards, and there's only so many knocks that it can take before there's full riot happening in the train. Like I said they need to stop for maintainance even if they've perpetually powered engine. Think about it. Being able to stretch your legs, feel that biting cold turning you numb in a matter of moments.

-140 C that they keep repeating in the morning announcements isn't so bad that humans cannot overcome it. Frankly I'm surprised that there isn't more spacesuited breach workers. It's not like they are running out of people, even if there has been murders. People still copulate. Even Tailies get their kicks in... sometimes.

I watched five times the break scene. It was a bolt that snapped in the hook, when they were lifting the electric engine. It fell in the subsection and somehow caused a hydraulic malfunction. What I don't get is how a cable outside, underneath the train could fix the whole thing?

It was like magic, when usually the hydraulic breaks are not solved quickly. Not in minutes. But... we so rarely get SF series that takes mechanics seriously. It's a rare thing and I can only count a very few that has taken the unsung heroes to the small screen. B5 is among them.

So what do you think did the malfunction cause more problems or is everything fixed now?
 
Finally, actual train-related action!
Melanie is not only the administrative figurehead holding Snowpiercer Society together, she's the engineering action hero holding the whole physical train together. Good thing the train's gyrations kept Layton from cutting her throat.
What were all those liquids oozing and running down equipment in the opening -- blood and other bodily fluids from another murder victim? I thought they were the cause of the short, but that theory didn't seem to pan out when the repair crew got down to business.
So what do you think did the malfunction cause more problems or is everything fixed now?
Seems like it's all fixed, for the time being. Now, the focus can shift back to the less riveting internal class struggles.
 
What were all those liquids oozing and running down equipment in the opening -- blood and other bodily fluids from another murder victim?

I thought they were coming from a kitchen or something. Whatever it was, it took some time to get into the junction box to cause a short in the hydraulic equipment. Honestly, to me it looked like grease or some sort of bomb making material. LOL.

Finally, actual train-related action!

Yeah and I bet there's more to come. I first wrote around 250 words on it, before I deleted it and decided to go with the short version. It's just when you think about it, there cannot be much of train related action, because all the major tension is coming from the people inside. These writers aren't capable of pushing the envelope and frankly there's no need.

Now, the focus can shift back to the less riveting internal class struggles.

You mean the upcoming revolution?
 
Apologies for skipping the seventh and posting this. I watched the seventh on late last Thursday, but if you've been watching you already know where this heading. VIVA LA REVOLUTION!

Let's see if this reaches the heights of the Preacher in the violence department. The movie was extremely unpleasant, when things kicked in, but I expect there to be modesty in the series.
 
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The biggest mistake Melanie did in the previous episode was to get rude at Ruth. She came to her to tell that there is ill mood brewing in the first class, while there is a whole revolution ready to kick in the aft department.

I get that Melanie was pissed for losing a subject after a good fight, but frankly, she needs to go. What I am scared is the destiny of Miles and Miles. He is obviously as a pawn in the game and he's not the first one Melanie has been speaking, asking to do things.

But... I don't think there's anyone who's ready to helm the train. So essentially the revenge shouldn't be part of the revolution. They need the three engineers in the Sacred Engine or they're all doomed. Although you might be able to kill one of them, but you need at least two, if you're going to run an operation after the dust is settled.

What amazes me that the trouble is kicking in both ends. Not just in aft section, but also in the first class. So, while Melanie could disconnect the aft, she cannot lose rest of the train or they are all totally effed. Royally I might say. It's just I didn't expect that red head psycho to be the one to break out the news to the ruling family of the first class.

I kind of get that they managed to convince the chief of security with LJ's hush-hush operation in the engine, but turning Ruth is whole another matter. That woman is kind of stubborn in her beliefs. But not totally as she was heading the prosecution.

Also I do have to admit that it was a clever plan for the First to do their "council meeting," before Layton made his. And again I wasn't expecting him to turn himself in as a prisoner. Just like wasn't expecting Ruth wanting blood after she realised Melanie's betrayal.

Frankly, for a while I've been thinking that Nolan's and Ruth's 'marriage' is like forming a kingdom. We don't know for sure how the first one were done and whose idea was it, but essentially there must have been some blood spillage, because the Royalties doesn't get the job without some sacrifices. At least they are not claiming it for the 'Common Good.'

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Layton's arrival to the Tail was treated as if he was a Messiah. There is similarities of Muad-Dib and Layton, both leading a desperate fight against the oppressive first class that has deprived them of everything. You Cuba and Castro's and you might be on right path, but it's just it wasn't whole world as at the moment we know that both Snowpiercer and Dune were civilisation clashes. Not just a bit of change in the ruling parties.

Thing is there is awfully lot of space and people between the Tail and the Sacred Engine. What put me down was how easily the Breakman listed to the words of wisdom. I was expecting them to least have a few punches before the showdown with the Commander's forces.

I loved that the Tailies made up a scorpion for the fight in the tunnels. It was amazing to see those bolts going down the range to do an awful job on the Jackboots. Honestly, I would not have Nolan to stand up and tell his men to advance while he went to strike flank.

The fight in the Nightcar did shatter my sense of disbelief. For a moment it looked like there was too many people and some guys get repeatedly dying. I mean, how many proper fighters would you get in the train? They need space to train, they need equipment, and they need lot of calories to keep up the muscles.

Now, they've been on this trek for seven years. Appearently there has been other revolutions, but not one as messy as this. I seriously doubt that Melanie could have put up a battalion size element in the train and kept them all in proper shape. After all the fighters cannot stand still and if there has been fights before, then they must have lost some troops.

So, how many people Nolan has? A hundred?

Personally I think he has thirty left and Pike. Is Pike really selling Layton to the First?
 
Let's see if this reaches the heights of the Preacher in the violence department. The movie was extremely unpleasant, when things kicked in, but I expect there to be modesty in the series.
I wouldn't expect the violence here to rise to the level of Preacher, wherein being literally ankle-deep in blood and guts was all in good fun. Snowpiercer takes itself way too seriously for that.

The shocker in last week's episode was the death of Josie. I don't know of Melanie would have killed her if it had not come down to a matter of self-preservation. She was willing to torture her, however, despite her adverse reaction to removing a finger. Her claim this week that she, not Wilford, built the train, explains her willingness to do whatever it takes to keeping the thing going.

But... I don't think there's anyone who's ready to helm the train. So essentially the revenge shouldn't be part of the revolution. They need the three engineers in the Sacred Engine or they're all doomed. Although you might be able to kill one of them, but you need at least two, if you're going to run an operation after the dust is settled.
Yes, I would be astonished if they execute Melanie. They need her more than the other two engineers. Miles isn't quite ready to fill her shoes.
The fight in the Nightcar did shatter my sense of disbelief. For a moment it looked like there was too many people and some guys get repeatedly dying. I mean, how many proper fighters would you get in the train?
Spacious as it is, the Snowpiercer does not have space for a large-scale, hand-to-hand battle. I've always how combatants can determine who to chop and skewer in a wide open field of flailing arms, let alone in a confined space. I also thought that Layton wasted a lot of time rallying the troops when he got to the tail. They were ready without any inspiring words.
Two-hour season finale next week. I'm guessing that the rebellion will be over, one way or the other, and everyone will wonder how Melanie held the whole arrangement together as long as she did.
Are they planning another season?
 
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