Review: Snowpiercer Season Finale “The Train Demanded Blood” and “994 Cars Long” – Hard Choices and Surprise Ending

***WARNING: If you haven’t watched this finale, there are some spoilers ahead***

Snowpiercer, Season 1, Episodes 9-10 “The Train Demanded Blood” and “994 Cars Long”

Air Date: Sunday, July 12, 2020 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on TNT

Reviewer Rating: 4 Stars ★★★★★

Since the start of Snowpiercer, every episode has been building to a climactic ending, and the two-episode finale, “The Train Demanded Blood” and “994 Cars Long,” did not disappoint. Various clues, hints, and shocking revelations have been provided about the elusive Mr. Wilford. While he isn’t on the train, he is in fact a real person. He’s the man behind the train. Melanie may have designed and built Snowpiercer, the financing had to come from somewhere.

Every episode has had a character provide a narrative at the beginning to elude to what may happen, including the name of each episode. While episode nine’s, “The Train Demanded Blood,” has Melanie Cavill (Jennifer Connelly) giving a little speech as she awaits her pending execution, the second half of the finale, “994 Cars Long” does not. With that title, I think it’s clear that something drastic happens where the train loses seven cars.

“The Train Demanded Blood”

When Pike (Steven Ogg) was woken up by Commander Nolan Grey (Timothy V. Murphy), Ruth Wardell (Alison Wright), and the Folgers – Robert (Vincent Gale) and Lilah Folger (Kerry O’Malley), things took a whole new spin. We already knew Pike had aspirations to leave the tail so when the opportunity presented itself, you better believe he was more than willing to sell Layton (Daveed Diggs) and his fellow Tailies out, especially for “clean sheets” and “fresh food.”

Throughout “The Train Demanded Blood,” the plans each group have are set into motion. First-Class, led by Cmdr. Grey, Ruth, and the Folgers, want to stop out the revolution and execute all the rebels. But there are still a few First-Class and Second-Class passengers that do not want the Folgers in power. Then we have Third-Class and the Tail. They have already sacrificed so many of their own in the blood bath that was episode eight “These Are His Revolutions.”

The kink in the plan is Melanie. First-Class thinks she’s being dealt her sentence, “lung of ice,” which seems like a cruel way to go. But the fate’s demanded otherwise. Melanie, after being rescued by fellow engineer Javier (Roberto Urbina), goes to Layton and the rebels to help them get rid of the Folgers, Cmdr. Grey and most of the Jackboot army for good. But there will also be other casualties. A hard choice will have to made for better and for worse.

There is so much that happens in “The Train Demanded Blood,” but the most important is the separation of the seven cars. Of course, with un-linking seven cars from the train, there is a risk of the back half of the train not syncing back up with the engine. The timing and coordination of Bennett (Iddo Goldberg) and Miles (Jaylin Fletcher) in the engine with Layton and Melanie in the middle of the train is crucial.  

The one thing that seems a bit off is LJ (Annalise Basso) telling her parents to go to go and witness Layton’s surrender. She had the most sinister Cheshire cat grin when she told her parents to be there for a “historic moment.” Did she know what was going to happen?

“994 Cars Long”

The morning announcements as “994 Cars Long” begins comes with a reminder of how the world has changed. “Attention passengers. The temperature outside is minus 121.9 degrees Celsius.” To put that into perspective for us Fahrenheit folks, that’s -187.42F. Brrrrrr!

There is a definite shift in power on the train. There are some who support the “One Train” mentality, while others, including Ruth, who think order needs to be in place. With most of the Jackboot army having been in the seven cars that were unlinked, there are only Brakemen to police matters such as looting, pillaging, and other crimes. It’s inevitable that chaos will erupt when people who have been oppressed for so long finally get a taste of freedom, justice, and fresh food. Let’s face it, the Tailies had the worst of it with those disgusting gelatinous bars they were being served for over six years.

This does not excuse the behavior of those who hurt or harm others to take what they want, although I did find it quite poetic when a tearful LJ comes down from her room to find her entire car taken over by Pike, Terence (Shaun Toub), Annie (Kelly-Ruth Mercier), and a lot of hedonistic rebels ready to have a go in a First-Class bed. LJ knows that Pike sold out the rebels and before she could say anything else, he throws her out. Men like Pike don’t win the long game.

But why is LJ crying? She told her parents to go and had an ear-to-ear grin plastered on her face. I thought she wanted her parents gone. I don’t understand LJ. And the fact that she didn’t know how to peel a hard-boiled egg made me laugh. That’s just clever writing right there. Is it a coincidence that she ends up in Third-Class where she castrated two men? Then she meets up with Osweiller (Sam Otto) who went AWOL during the fighting? Or is it just setting up the plot for next season?

Breakups, heartbreak, and an emotional revelation also present themselves in “994 Cars Long.”

Brakeman Bess Till (Mickey Sumner) and her scientist girlfriend Jinju’s (Susan Park) relationship comes to an end. But being on a train, “You know what they say when you breakup on Snowpiercer…see you around.” Poor Miles learns that his “Tail Mom” Josie (Katie McGuinness) is gone (thankfully not the how). And Melanie takes a trip down painful memory lane in the Night Car. Miss Audrey (Lena Hall) helps Melanie reveal her truth and come to terms with what she’s done the past six years.

During Melanie’s emotional recollection of the events that transpired before everyone boarded Snowpiercer, when she was with her young daughter Alexandra (Grace Sunar), you almost feel sorry for her. But Melanie chose her job over her family. She chose the train above all else. It’s a tough call to save yourself, some of humanity, and leave your family behind.

Then, plot twist. Bennett sees something on the radar. Javier hears music coming through his headphones on an old channel. Could there be other survivors out there? When another train comes barreling on parallel tracks toward Snowpiercer, Melanie fears that Mr. Wilford survived The Freeze and is coming after them to take over their train.

As the larger train’s locomotive comes in behind Snowpiercer, it latches on the tail then cuts through the back entrance. Layton, Ruth, Bess, along with other passengers gather in the tail waiting to see if Mr. Wilford has truly come back but the person who emerges once the door opens will surprise them all. “Is Melanie Cavill alive…Where is my mother?”

This cliffhanger sets up for an exciting second season. Is Mr. Wilford aboard the train or is adult Alexandra (Rowan Blanchard) just saying that to instill a fear in Snowpiercer’s passengers? How many people are on this new train? So many questions… I can’t wait for season two!

“The Train Demanded Blood” and “994 Cars Long” Photos

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.

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