Snowpiercer
Snowpiercer Season 4 Episode 1 Review: ‘Snakes in the Garden’
Review: Snowpiercer Season 4 opens with Layton and his lethargic council derailing into passive contentment. Stalling humanity’s progress in favor of another round of playing cards. Trading tomorrow to live well today.
Their guards down and bellies full in a false sense of normalcy… Layton’s community is ripe for an ambush.
– Snowpiercer (Season 4, Episode 1). Photo Credit: David Bukach/AMC
This Snowpiercer Season 4 Episode 1 Review contains minor spoilers for “Snakes in the Garden” for the purposes of reviewing.
Back to Snowpiercer Season 1 Basics: A Mystery
At least for the Season 4 premiere, Snowpiercer has restored its gears of mystery. Most of ” Snakes in the Garden” revolves around a classic ‘Whodunit mystery‘, in this case the simple disconnection of a cable.
Shrouding the remnants of Big Alice into ominous darkness, a waiting area for a burial ground. Miles removed from the encampment of the future Layton (Daveed Diggs) has promised its vulnerable, in-truth, stranded residents.
Cast members Daveed Diggs, Alison Wright – Snowpiercer (Season 4, Episode 1). Photo Credit: David Bukach/AMC
Andre Layton’s sleepy council has bred silent apathy and resentment by staying in place. Early on Ruth comments that their lives aren’t much removed from the old days, they still dine in the same old train cars. They’re just stationary now. Meanwhile, Alex (Rowan Blanchard) forgoes council meetings that consist of what she says is “just playing cards”.
Cast members Rowan Blanchard, Roberto Urbina – Snowpiercer (Season 4, Episode 1). Photo Credit: David Bukach/AMC
In fact, it appears the community is still overly reliant on a Cavill behind-the-scenes to keep indulging in day-to-day normality.
John “Oz” Osweiller (Sam Otto) has a bleak, pessimistic outlook on the whereabouts of Snowpiercer. Oz tells Zarah (Sheila Vand) he believes all the passengers of Snowpiercer are dead and live on as ghosts to haunt them for making it out.
Oz claims to still hear the voices of Snowpiercer, particularly LJ Folger. Like Lady Macbeth washing her hands repeatedly, Oz seems to be losing any semblance of sanity over his survival guilt. Or is there more to the haunting voices?
Cast members Daveed Diggs, Mike O’Malley – – Snowpiercer (Season 4, Episode 1). Photo Credit: David Bukach/AMC
Without giving away any major spoilers, all I can say is Layton’s whole world is about to go topsy turvy. Layton’s newly found cushy lifestyle is about to come to a grinding halt. Betrayal and sabotage are in the air from unlikely culprits. Particularly one that operates a position of immediate need.
All Josie (Katie McGuinness) can do is plead with Layton not to rush headfirst into a trap in the aftermath. The detective will need to rediscover a skillset that has idly rusted over. A good life rented but never bought.
In comparison to older Snowpiercer Seasons
Cast members Daveed Diggs, Katie McGuinness – Snowpiercer (Season 4, Episode 1). Photo Credit: David Bukach/AMC
There’s no Mr. Wilford (including flashbacks or hallucinations) to be found in Snowpiercer’s Season 4 Premiere, which might disappoint many fans. Melanie Cavill is at least directly referenced to retain Jennifer Connelly‘s fans for future episodes.
We only briefly get to see Ben (Iddo Goldberg) and Till (Mickey Sumner), and their dialogue was unfortunately muffled (intentionally) behind masks. Acting wise, Roberto Urbina is noticeably more limber as Javier, his performance feels free and happy.
“Snakes in a Garden” a slow burn kind of Snowpiercer episode with the mystery pivotal to keeping your attention.
Katie McGuinness – Snowpiercer (Season 4, Episode 1). Photo Credit: David Bukach/AMC
That said, the S4 Premiere feels a bit like The Walking Dead’s first post-Rick Grimes episode, meaning it lacks that obvious star power & on-screen presence of Jennifer Connelly and Sean Bean. Plot alone simply can’t make up for this. Actually, the final act of this episode feels like it pounced on surprise & ‘shock’ value out of necessity because of this more than pure plot progression.
Overall, the Snowpiercer Season 4 premiere appears to be a reimagining of their original plot structuring of episodes in Season 1 with an additional twist and the outside world. They’re not confined to train carts anymore and there’s lots you can do with an open horizon creatively.
Daveed Diggs – Snowpiercer (Season 4, Episode 1). Photo Credit: David Bukach/AMC
Although, considering how much of Snowpiercer was built around the cold… It’s a bit jarring to see the group outside of the train with no issues and admittedly breaks up some of the old magic. We’ll see what path the rest of Snowpiercer Season 4 takes us.
TV Release Date / Air Date: The fourth and final season of Snowpiercer airs on AMC this Sunday (July 21, 2024) at 9:00 pm ET sharp.
More Snowpiercer Articles
Cast members Alison Wright, Roberto Urbina – Snowpiercer (Season 4, Episode 1). Photo Credit: David Bukach/AMC
Be sure to check out these cast interviews and recaps:
– Katie McGuinness talks Snowpiercer’s Josie Wellstead (Interview)
– Roberto Urbina Interview: Javi’s Dog Bite PTSD on Snowpiercer
– Snowpiercer Season 3 Finale recap: Melanie’s Choice
– Snowpiercer’s Lena Hall on Miss Audrey & Josie’s Beauty Talk (Interview)
– Tom Lipinski Snowpiercer Interview: Kevin, Mr. Wilford, Miss Audrey’s insidious triangle
Visit the Snowpiercer section for more exclusive cast interviews, reviews, recaps, previews, quizzes and more you won’t find anywhere else! Finish Snowpiercer and Big Alice’s story in style at The Natural Aristocrat®! The post apocalyptic sci fi genre is one of our many specialties.
Daveed Diggs – Snowpiercer (Season 4, Episode 1). Photo Credit: David Bukach/AMC
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