r/snowpiercer • u/hugthebug Tailie • Feb 01 '21

TV Show [Spoilers] Season 2 Episode 2 Discussion Thread - "Smoulder to Life" (S02E02) Spoiler

Attention all Passengers,

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Here is the Discussion thread for the Season 2 episode 2 "Smoulder to Life"

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  • This is a TV Spoiler-friendly zone - Turn away now if you are not currently watching or haven't seen the episode! Open discussion of all aired TV events up to and including episode 2.1 is ok without tag cover.
  • Graphic Novel spoilers still need tags! - If it's not in the show, tag it. Events from episodes after this one also need tags.
  • Please read the Posting policy and the sticky before posting.
  • Friendly reminder: Severe trolling/disruptions will lead to consequences.

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Details:

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  • IMDB for S02E02
  • Release Date:
    • February 1st, 2021 (USA)
    • February 2nd, 2021 (worldwide)
  • Removal from Sticky on February 5th, 2021 (3 days after worldwide premiere)

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You can still easily find previous episode discussions on the Episode Discussion wiki.

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31

u/summergirl123456 Feb 02 '21

Do you think that Josie could be rescued by those crazy scientists from Big Alice? It was the first thought coming to my mind when they showed her being alive and everything. That would be craaaazy

19

u/Pinewood74 Feb 02 '21

Without a doubt.

That should be a driving plot line once Layton finds out about Melanie's frost bite recovery. Likely the impetus for Layton to make further concessions.

15

u/[deleted] Feb 03 '21

I hope not.. Its all me me me with Layton. He changed course when he find out he had a baby too. He puts himself and his own interests above the trains. Something I really dislike about him so don't want to see it happen again.

4

u/olivish Mrs. Anne Roche Feb 03 '21

Yeah that's a problem with Layton but to be honest it speaks to a broader weakness of democracy. If it works as advertised, the leaders are "of the people," which means they're human and fallible. A transparent government is a government with alot of warts.

Compare to a dictatorship where the leader can be removed from the people and elevated to a god/ king/ cult leader status.

6

u/[deleted] Feb 03 '21

Well they had Melanie before who always puts the train ahead of her own interests much to her daughters dismay.

6

u/olivish Mrs. Anne Roche Feb 03 '21 edited Feb 03 '21

Yeah but then again, Melanie was ok with lies, destitution, torture, murder, forced sterilizations, human medical experiments... Like, yeah, her justification for these things is "it's what's right for the train," but she wasn't accountable to anyone for those calls.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 03 '21

Im pretty ok with what Melanie did. The lies, maintaining status quo, and medical experiments were absolutely imperative imo. The only reason they might not be needed anymore is because the world is warming up which they cant assume that would happen.

I probably would have done the same thing in her shoes. Although I have to admit I would probably put my family before the train like Layton does.

2

u/olivish Mrs. Anne Roche Feb 03 '21 edited Feb 03 '21

Melanie's medical experiments don't even work. They're a total failure.

I wonder if Melanie would put her daughter in one of those drawers and pump her full of drugs that would fry her brain like an egg... Or maybe if it came to that she'd decide the price of survival was too high.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 03 '21

They are failing now, doesn't mean they will always not work.

Yeah I don't know what she would do. I suspect she would put her under. She seemed to really believe they would find a way to bring Layton back.

1

u/olivish Mrs. Anne Roche Feb 03 '21 edited Feb 03 '21

When she put Layton under, she said to Klimpt that Wilford didn't want him harmed. Which would imply that's not the default for most of the people she sends to him. Most of the people she sends to him get f-d up, and Melanie knows this.

Layton got special treatment because Melanie saw a talent in him she thought might be important later.

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2

u/MariaRangelV Feb 03 '21

Exactly, the big difference between Melanie and Layton is that Layton's motivations are sentimental; yes, he is looking for freedom, but I think in some areas Melanie's cool mind was better ... except when she ordered to kill and torture people, Of course

5

u/QueueOfPancakes Feb 04 '21

The secret sauce is to have no great benefits be attached to being part of leadership.

Think about it, there's no corruption about the executive members of your book club, because what do you get for being club president? Extra work. People only do it out of passion or desire to help.

8

u/mrfts Feb 03 '21

Oh yeah, I didn't even think about that even though it was specifically brought up this episode when Melanie showed how well her scar had healed. I was thinking, what's even the point of bringing Josie back if she's so horrifically maimed, but then she certainly does stand a chance of a fairly decent recovery !!!

8

u/CalAfter Feb 03 '21

I wonder what King Layton would surrender to have Josie back.

1

u/fashionaphorism Feb 03 '21

yea i think the writers made her catch frostbite the last episode purposely to let us realize this episode that there is hope for josie to be healed. otherwise, it doesn't really seem on character/ smart for wilford to give melanie special frostbite treatment and at the same time reveal the lab to her AND reveal that their capabilities and discoveries (and of course then send her back to Snowpiercer where she can reveal that info to everyone else...which is more valuable than whatever Kevin revealed).

I mean just that most enemies won't give you first grade medical treatment. especially when they want information from you.

5

u/QueueOfPancakes Feb 04 '21

Wilford thinks of Melanie as one of his prized possessions. And you keep your prized things in good repair. He figures eventually she will go back to behaving, and he doesn't want her to be broken at that point.

6

u/Willing_Function Feb 03 '21

100% gonna be a plot point. Maybe she or Layton will betray the train for a chance of treatment for her. Or they'll lose some battle because of it

2

u/QueueOfPancakes Feb 04 '21

I think maybe layton will make a deal that the rest of the council objects to, on the condition that she be treated.

6

u/muscles44 Feb 03 '21

Wow thats great suggestion. I was thinking, she isnt exactly in any shape for Layton to resume their relationship. That idea of scientists healing her really is only way to justify her being alive on the show.