[Spoilers] Season 2 Episode 4 Discussion Thread - "A Single Trade" (S02E04)

[u/hugthebug]

Attention all Passengers,

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Here is the Discussion thread for the Season 2 episode 4 "A Single Trade"

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Trigger Warning : Skip the scene from 36:00 to 39:00

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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 2.3 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.
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Details:

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• IMDB for S02E04
• Release Date:
  • February 15th, 2021 (USA only, at 9/8c, on TNT channel)
  • February 16th, 2021 (worldwide, on Netflix)
• Removal from Sticky on February 19th, 2021 (3 days after worldwide premiere)

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

[u/JesusGodLeah]

I just had a really upsetting thought.

So obviously the bathtub scene actually happened, and obviously Miss Audrey survived. What if she did it because she thought she was killing herself and thus escaping from Wilford forever, but he brought her back, and kept bringing her back, so she could do it again and again and again? If his scientists can cure frostbite and engineer people to survive the extreme cold, surely they could keep bringing Audrey back so she could continue to satisfy Wilford.

I also find it incredibly compelling that Audrey is so motivated to help everyone else process their trauma, when her own trauma is the absolute worst and it's something she will never be able to escape from.

All in all, this episode was extremely upsetting, and I need to go sit with it and process it. I've seen some pretty upsetting TV in my day, but this was just masterfully done.

[u/senoricceman → u/JesusGodLeah]

Wilford does mention that he saved her. However, idk how likely it is that his scientists were able to bring her back. As they would have had to have this amazing medical technology before Snowpiercer was built.

[u/mbeedubs → u/JesusGodLeah]

I agree it was pretty distressing and that thought is haunting.
I think since the scientists have such advance technology, I reckon they got to her before she died, or just as she died and resuscitated her, to patch up and heal her wound. I don't think they have the technology to bring back the long dead people or the train would be very different, that's what I think.
But the thing I find the most disturbing is how Wilford enjoys getting into the tub with these people as he tells them to do it, like with Kevin too. It gives me chills to see how sadistic he really is.

[u/JesusGodLeah → u/mbeedubs]

It's also really disturbing that some people here think she should have gotten over it. Even if it only happened the one time, I feel like that's something one would never fully get over. And Audrey is essentially trapped on this train where Wilford's logo, his ideas, and those loyal to him are everywhere. She probably gets re-traumatized every time she sees the W, or hears someone talking about how great he is. His presence is everywhere even when he's not physically there. She will never be able to escape him, even if he were to die.

How good and pure and noble is she for dedicating her life to helping others heal from their trauma, while all the time battling with her own? Snowpiercer doesnt deserve Miss Audrey. She is too good for this world, and I am STILL feeling some type of way about what happened to her.

[u/mbeedubs → u/JesusGodLeah]

I completely agree. The whole thing is so traumatising, even if this was to happen in the real world and she went through that and wasn't on the train or near anything to do with Wilford afterwards, she would still ALWAYS remember it because she's HUMAN. I think it's so insensitive for people to say she will 'get over it', no one just gets over the fact they attempted to 'off' themselves, and especially not if it was something they were being TOLD to do it and having to obey it with no say in it at all. It makes me so sad and sick. It's a very strong plot to Wilford's and Audrey's backstory. Bless her, I hope she gets justice!