The First Blow

Season	3
Episode	3
Overall	23
	February 7, 2022
	Tina de la Torre
	Erica Watson
	47 minutes
Episode Guide
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The First Blow is the third episode of the third season of Snowpiercer. It is the twenty-third episode of the series overall. The episode aired on TNT February 7, 2022 and then internationally on Netflix the next day.

Synopsis

TNT's: It's a game of cat and mouse as both Layton and Wilford vie for the upper hand.

Netflix's: Layton and Wilford play a game of cat-and-mouse as the two trains try to outmaneuver each other. Layton asks a favor of Asha, the survivor he found.

Intro

“	I was born for battle, built for it. Sometimes in battle, a perfectly crafted plan gets compromised. A true general comes up with a better one right there on the spot. Working without a net. And sticking the landing to thunderous applause. There's a moment in a fight when that first blow lands and everything stops. And in that flash of clarity, you know who you are. I'll push as hard as it takes to get my Engine back. Snowpiercer, 1,023 cars long.	”
	— Joseph Wilford

Plot

SPOILERS AHEAD

TBA

Cast

Main Characters

• Daveed Diggs as Andre Layton
• Mickey Sumner as Bess Till
• Alison Wright as Ruth Wardell
• Lena Hall as Miss Audrey
• Iddo Goldberg as Bennett Knox
• Roberto Urbina as Javier De La Torre
• Steven Ogg as Pike
• Katie McGuinness as Josie Wellstead
• Sheila Vand as Zarah Ferami
• Mike O'Malley as Roche
• Annalise Basso as LJ Folger
• Sam Otto as John Osweiller
• Rowan Blanchard as Alexandra Cavill
• Chelsea Harris as Sykes
• Archie Panjabi as Asha
• Sean Bean as Joseph Wilford

Guest Starring

• Tom Lipinski as Kevin McMahon
• Karin Konoval as Doctor Pelton
• Elaine Ko as Anne Roche

Co-Starring

• Miranda Edwards as Lights
• RJ Fetherstonhaugh as Jackboot Clifford
• Ellie Harvie as The Notary
• Esther Ming Li as Carly Roche
• Emma Oliver as Winnie
• Kurt Ostlund as Strong Boy
• Kwasi Thomas as Z-Wreck
• Kristian Bruun as Stu Whiggins
• Bola Omodara as Jackboot Gibbs

Quotes

Alex: "This is crazy, Ben." Bennett: "Yeah, pirate's life." Alex: "Shit." ―  Alex gets nervous playing pirates against Wilford. “ Damn. Good one. ” — Wilford is tricked and trapped by Josie and Layton. “ This is Head Engineer Wilford. Boarding party, stand down. We will not be taking… Snowpiercer by force. Stand down. Weapons down... Andre Layton has the train. ” — Wilford publicly surrenders. “ Citizens of Snowpiercer... We're back. ” — Layton and his crew triumphantly return. Ruth: "This warm spot, the Horn of Africa, you really believe it can support live?" Layton: "Yeah, our future is there, Ruth. I believe it with all my heart." Ruth: "You know the Horn of Africa, the approach is maybe the worst stretch of track on the entire network, and there was war there when the climate crashed?" Layton: "Yeah, I remember." Ruth: "The people are tired, Andre. Its been a long six months and your first order is gonna be to steer them right back into more hardship?" Layton: "There won't be an order. We'll put it to a vote. We'll show them that democracy has won. We'll choose our path forward together." Ruth: "And you're prepared for the outcome of this vote." Layton: "I'm going to convince them, that it is worth the risk. Snowpiercer's running on duct tape and prayers. This is a real opportunity to get off." Ruth: "It's also a vote on you Andre. Much of the train doesn't support your leadership." Layton: "This isn't just about me. It's what Melanie would have wanted." ―  Ruth warns Layton about the risk. Asha: "A vote?" Layton: "That's right. You'll get a vote today too." Asha: "Politics. You forget about them when you're the last person on Earth. Thank you." Layton: "Don't thank me just yet. There's something I need to ask of you." Asha: "You brought me back to life, Andre. What is it?" ―  Layton asking Asha a big favor. Layton: "My fellow passengers... Today, for the first time since our departure... you will have a say in our destination, and your choice will determine our future. By now, you know that Melanie's sacrifice gave us a map. Proof that there are places on the Earth that are warming. Traveling fast and light, we tested each of them. Sulawesi, Gujarat, Managua, the Atacama. And each one of these let us down. I know that you have suffered badly because of our decision to break the train. But there is one more location on which I ask you to stake your hope: the Horn of Africa. The journey to return there will be fraught with risk and the hardships will continue, but we have someone here who can renew our faith. Someone we had given up on believing in." Alex: "What's he doing?" Layton: "But I'll let her tell you." Bennett: "He's bullshitting." Asha: "My name is Asha. I am a survivor. Layton found me out there, outside. Along with trees, green grass... and life. I come from New Eden." Layton: "I'm not asking you to choose between me and Wilford. I am asking you to choose between the train we know and the dream we don't. Thank you all so much for your sacrifices." ―  Layton takes a gamble. Layton: "The story needed a hero and we brought one back." Ruth: "Well, in the wake of that performance, the yeas have it. Almost two-to-one." Till: "What's one more lie?" Layton: "The difference is this is the last one we will have to tell." Ruth: "Well, I doubt that. I've started to think this train demands a lie." Bennett: "Yeah, like an imaginary genius in the Engine." Alex: "Or Melanie, saving us with perfect science." Layton: "Or a survivor, to show us the way." Bennett: "So... we press on." Till: "Agreed. What else are we gonna do?" Layton: "Josie?" Josie: "Well, we better be right." ―  Layton, Ruth, Bennett, Josie, Alex and Till discusses their next step. “ Fellow passengers, our great endeavor continues. You have spoken, and by majority rule, we are heading for New Eden. ” — Ruth announces Snowpiercer's official new course.

Trivia

• The title of the episode is a line in Joseph Wilford's opening dialogue.
• Strong Boy is shown speaking in a mixture of Mandarin and English, calling a Jackboot "hundan" which means bastard in Mandarin.
• The Pirate Train is forced to disconnect four cars due to Wilford damaging a wheel with a harpoon, threatening a derailment. This now reduces the train to 1,029 cars long.
• There is no sign of Martin Colvin since his and Miss Audrey's failed mutiny in The Tortoise and the Hare, leaving his fate unknown after he was struck over the head by Till.
• While contacting Wilford, Layton identifies the Pirate Train as Snowpiercer while calling Wilford's train Big Alice, the first time that Wilford's train has been called by either designation since the separation.
• Bennett tells Javi in Spanish "abre una cerveza, amigo" which translates to "open a beer, friend." This appears to be a signal to Javi who secretly opens an coldlock to let Layton in.
• Wilford surrenders and Layton takes back both trains which are reconnected. When the trains are reconnected, full power visibly returns for the first time in Season 3.
• The fact that a rail yard exists for trains the size of Snowpiercer and Big Alice, suggests that giant trains were an emerging industry, or industry, before the Freeze.
• Sam Roche and his family are rescued from the Drawers by Bess Till and Doctor Pelton. However, Anne has died. Her desiccated corpse suggests that Anne has been dead in the Drawers for some time before her death was discovered rather than it being a recent development.
• Strong Boy is tortured to death by Kevin McMahon whom LJ Folger kills in retaliation in order to be on the right side of history.
  • Despite LJ being half of the serial killing team in Season 1, this is the first time that she is actually seen killing someone on-screen. Oz is visibly horrified by this act.
• Ruth Wardell reveals that the Horn of Africa has maybe the worst stretch of track in the entire network and that there was a war there when the climate changed.
• Sykes appears to have sided completely with Layton now, confining Miss Audrey to Third and barring her from the Nightcar, stating that Audrey chose the wrong side.
• Ruth is seen wearing casual clothes for the first time in the series (other then her date with Nolan Grey in The Universe Is Indifferent. In the past, she has always worn either her Hospitality teal or, more recently, warm winter clothing due to the low temperatures on the train.
• The public address system of both trains have been connected, presumably after Wilford took control.
• Locations that the Pirate Train tested include, Sulawesi, Gujarat, Managua, the Atacama. And each one of these let them down.
  • Not mentioned is North Korea as seen in The Tortoise and the Hare.

Body Count

• Strong Boy (tortured to death by Kevin McMahon)
• Kevin McMahon (stabbed in the neck by LJ Folger)
• Anne Roche (died in the Drawers)

Gallery