by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
Snowpiercer, the movie, is an unexpected gem that dives into hard-hitting questions surrounding topics of class warfare and how power can bring out the worst in people. In addition to being a great action movie that is well-acted, the train is a fantastic look at what excess looks like, especially when compared to individuals who have nothing to their name. These topics continued into the TV show, an excellent extension of this world. You learn a lot about the train itself as well as the hundreds of people on the 1,000-plus-car train which loops around the cripplingly frozen world. Even as the show has started to veer away from the class warfare storyline, I still found some compelling stories from characters, while rooting for the cause of life outside the train. Season Three felt like the end of the series, as it ends in a similar way as the movie.
Season Four expands too far outside the original premise, into topics that didn’t need to be solved.
The final season of Snowpiercer finds a group of individuals outside the train trying to restart life on Earth. Led by Andre Layton (Daveed Diggs) and a group of council members, their establishment, New Eden, is thriving. Forces outside both the colony and the train are conspiring to capture the residents through hostile means to achieve their nefarious goals.
Final seasons are not an easy undertaking, because so much must be resolved in a limited amount of time; a number of storylines this season are tremendous and warrant the investment. First, exploring Layton’s journey into fatherhood is a joy to watch. In addition, watching Layton exhibit more leadership in this small community is an essential step for his development as a character. Layton was the guy for the train’s rebellions for so long, but now, he’s taking the time to slow down and let other people lead. Diggs is fantastic in this final season, and continues his standout performance, which has been on display throughout the show.
Other primary characters from seasons past take an uncharacteristic backseat. Joseph (Sean Bean) and Melanie (Jennifer Connelly) are barely in this final season. I imagine this is due to a large amount of it taking place outside the train, but it was still sad to see them in so little of Season Four. This isn’t to say they didn’t make an impact with the time that they had. Bean still chews up the scenery as Joseph continues to wheel and deal his way through the issues of the train. Although Wilford’s ending isn’t what I expected, the end of his story invites more questions than resolutions.
Season Four’s most significant theme is about how science brings out the best and worst in people. Due to people’s ambition to do good for humanity, scientists can also doom people in unimaginable ways. I enjoyed these questions about whether science prevents people from reasoning if it gives them the chance of glory. The only real issue I had is that this takes away from the true essence of the show: questions of classism. Yes, I concede that a movie and three television seasons are plenty of time to discuss these themes, but seeing the final season veer so far away from that topic is still frustrating.
There is also one pervasive thought that had me scratching my head during the final season, and it was about the quest to fix the outside world and find out what happened. I don’t want to go so far to say I didn’t care about learning either answer, but it caused the story to go a little too off track (slight pun intended) from the original story. It’s inconsequential to what all the characters are dealing with, and it felt like a story tacked on to fill in time. This also caused me to wonder if Season Four was even necessary, but at the end of the day, there is enough story to tell to make it worth your time.
Certain characters have their moment to shine. Ruth (Alison Wright) continues to show why she is a born leader. Layton and Ruth make a formidable team, and Wright does a great job keeping Diggs in check. Roche (Mike O’Malley) shows how he can be a gentle giant who cares greatly for his friends and the people of New Eden. Still reeling from the events of the past seasons, Roche continues to showcase his ability for compassion with his daughter as well as being a surrogate for other kids within the community. Any time we get to see O’Malley is a joy.
The ending will be divisive, but with the story they told, there was only one way to end it. I don’t necessarily agree with how we got to the end, but it at least makes for a hopeful and solemn finale. Each character gets a particular moment in the final episode to shine, along with some critical callbacks from previous seasons for viewers who have been on the ride since the beginning.
Snowpiercer’s final season caps a great series. The performances are still outstanding, and most of the story keeps you entertained. However, inconsistent themes and a so-so ending keep this from being a great (and necessary) way to end the series. I still believe the show should have ended with Season Three, but I enjoyed the ride nonetheless.
Rating: Low Side of Liked It
Snowpiercer is currently streaming on AMC+
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