Snowpiercer Season 3 Episode 9 review: Melanie’s back, but that isn’t good news for Snowpiercer after all

3.5/5

Story: The track scaler that has been moving along a section of the track does indeed have Melanie Cavill on board, and, as luck may have it, she’s still alive, but barely, having run out of the last reserves of suspension drugs just before Snowpiercer tracked her down. Once on the mend, it doesn’t take Melanie long to get up to speed to what’s been going on, and she’s not thrilled about some of it. Yes, her data suggests that parts of the world may be warming up, but it’s inconclusive and not enough to take a leap of faith and head off in the direction of hope. And she’s not ready to give up on preserving the last of humanity that’s aboard the train.

Review: Well, it appears the last few episodes of Snowpiercer were the calm before the storm. Melanie Cavill is back on board Snowpiercer, but she’s not on board their plan to head to New Eden. The data, as far as she is concerned, is inconclusive and the track leading to the Horn of Africa is treacherous. It’s also why Wilford was so invested in trying to track Melanie down and get her back on the train. He needed someone to derail Layton’s plan, while he engineers a new one.

Melanie couldn’t have chosen a more opportune time to “shank” team Layton, announcing to the citizens of Snowpiercer that he had lied to them about New Eden, just before the train diverted to the Horn of Africa. In doing so, she shuts out Ben, Alex, Layton, Josie and Till from the engine, and then heads back for a conversation with Wilford to figure out more. But turns out, Wilford allies have been busy for a while, and he’s managed to give his guards the slip by plying them something poisonous that the remaining Dr Headwood had sneaked into is quarters. It’s the same little vial that Lilah Junior also got from her. So, it remains to be seen what they plan to do next.

For now, Layton’s got to deal with the wrath of the citizens of Snowpiercer, many of who have endured tremendous loss in fighting to see his dream of leading them to a warm tomorrow being fulfilled. Wilford is at large and up to something, which, presumably, won’t be good.

Verdict: Melanie will not jeopardize the fate of humanity, based on skimpy information, so Snowpiercer may not head to the Horn of Africa after all. But if slowing down to check their options and perhaps try recolonization is not on the cards, what is there for them now? Are we going back to the age-old power struggle arc? Been there, done that and however good an actor Sean Bean is as Wilford it is about time his attempts to take the train from Layton, or now Melanie, for that matter, are put to rest, once and for all. It’s getting a wee bit repetitive. It’s been three seasons aboard a single setting – a train, and even with the occasional trip outside, be it Melanie’s science expedition or the rescue at the nuclear plant where they found Asha, this show is in dire need of some direction. Perhaps we’ll know next week when the true horror of the Dr Headwood experimentation is unveiled?