Ouroboros

Season	3
Episode	7
Overall	27
	March 7, 2022
	Renée St. Cyr & Tina de la Torre
	Christoph Schrewe
	44 minutes
Episode Guide
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Ouroboros is the seventh episode of the third season of Snowpiercer. It is the twenty-seventh episode of the series overall. The episode aired on TNT March 7, 2022 and then streamed internationally on Netflix the next day.

Synopsis

TNT's: As the train grapples with Layton's status, he's discovering that some dreams aren't worth having; Wilford makes a shocking discovery.

Netflix's: Layton dreams of a fantastical alternate reality after he falls ill. Wilford's sudden recollection sparks a wild theory.

Plot

SPOILERS AHEAD

Layton's Dream

• Layton waked up in the Snowpiercer's Engine, unsure where he is. He finds nobody running the engine.
• He walked out of the room. Realizing the usual "W" sign on the wall is now a skull symbol.
• Two men appeared, put a bag on his head and pulled Layton to a room. He was asked why he was in the engine. One of the man prepared to shot Layton with something through syringe.
• Wilford opened the door to the room. The two people masked (revealed later to be Ruth and Javi) got in and shot the two men.
• Javi pulled his "bobblehead depicting a presumedly Hispanic dancing girl" out of Layton's pants. Wilford took it, told Ruth and Layton to split up and meet at the border.
• Layton take a look outside the window, there were a lot of green plants and it looked really warm.
• He then saw Winnie walking through the corridor with her unusual pigtails hair. He followed her to the Library Car which is now have a lot of plants. He then met Tills and asked for help. He then got told by Winnie to be quiet. Till told him that he's not dreaming and he's going to die.

Real World

Layton is lying on the floor in the Tail Section. Pike's dead body is on a bed with Winnie's doll besides him. Josie went back to the Tail to get Layton back. She then realized that his pulse is really weak, she told Z-Wreck to get Doctor Pelton.

Layton's Dream

• Layton keeps snapping himself to wake up. Till told Layton to quiet down, and how the place is and isn't Snowpiercer, and how he will recognize the people but they aren't the same as the real world. Till also explains how he is a librarian.
• Layton explained to Tills he have to go back to the real world. Tills told him to seek help from the Tail's boss. Layton then explained he needs a passing paper. Tills told him that she will help him get one.

Real World

Layton's unconscious body is taken to Dr. Pelton. Tills and Zarah accompanied Josie to check on Layton.

Layton's Dream

• Tills take Layton to the forger, and explained this is the most she can helped him.
• She then used a knife to cut his left palm and told him that the cut will guide him if he lose the way.
• Layton opened the door, and he found out the forger is Bennett.
• Bennett is surprised Layton is going to The Tail, he told Layton to get to the Cartographer in the market. He then asked Layton to do something in return; Two operatives got whacked uptrain, he wants Layton to tell him who killed them. Ruth is seen to sneak on the conversation.
• Layton told Bennett he don't know and he don't rat.
• Ruth showed up and explained that this was a little test. Bennett gives Layton the passing papers.

Real World

Bennett came to check on Layton. Along with Tills, Josie, Zarah and Baby Liana. Doctor Pelton explains Layton's in coma for 12 hours, a CT scan also shows that his brain is swelling. All that everyone can do is to stay strong. Tills and Bennett leave while Josie and Zarah stays with Layton.

Layton's Dream

• Layton meet up with Wilford, Ruth and Javi at a battery car near the border. Wilford told everyone to answer questions to get through the border, and to stick with each's cover stories.
• Layton asked Javi what was his cover story, Javi told him that he's a dancer.
• Z-Wreck was seen as immigration officer, Wilford, Ruth and Javi passed.
• While Z-Wreck is talking to Layton, LJ in police officer uniform appeared and ask him questions, he then let Layton passed through.

Real World

Tills is walking through the corridor, she hides in a pathway and cries. Turned out Miss Audrey was in there. Tills was first annoyed but then Miss Audrey said she's sorry for what happened to Layton. She recommends Tills to talk to Layton. Tills ask Miss Audrey to do it instead.

Layton's Dream

• Layton, Wilford, Ruth and Javi arrived at the Night Car. Mrs. Headwood takes Wilford to dance. Ruth went to smoke in the back while Javi and Layton drinks rum with Sykes.
• Sykes brought up a bag, Javi showed Layton that there's a gun inside. Layton then told everyone he's going to the restroom. Ruth told Layton to stay but Wilford let Layton goes through.
• Layton is now in the Market, with Sykes following him. He sneaks through people and find Zarah as the cartographer. Zarah tell him that the password to the tail is is "Most will run, some will seek. Hide or cheat, we always meet. I present, past and future keep,"
• Javi found Layton and yells for help. Sykes, Ruth and Wilford gets Layton. Ruth points the gun to Layton.
• They said that Layton is he's stanking. However Wilford told him that they need him just for the meeting.
• The group made their way to Third Classa Dining Car. They met Alex but she won't let anyone in. Roche then told Alex to get only Layton in the car.
• Roche invites Layton and Wilford to have a meal together, Miss Gillies is seen preparing foods. Layton told Roche that he's the one killing 2 operatives uptrain. Roche asks if they have what he needs,
• Wilford gave Roche the "bobblehead depicting a presumedly Hispanic dancing girl." Which Alex confirmed that it's legit. While Roche gives Layton Winnie's doll with something inside, which Javi confirmed it's legit.
• LJ got in the room with two jackboots, a lot of people pointed guns then a chaotic fight happened, Miss Gillies, Javi, Roche, Ruth and Alex got killed.
• LJ locked Layton in a prison cell and told him that the firing squad will come at midnight. She then exits the room.
• Pike, who was in the room since the beginning, tell Layton to confess his sins, and how the Tail Boss couldn't send him home. He then exits the room.

Real World

Josie, Zarah and Baby Liana is looking over Layton. Tills brings Miss Audrey in. Josie and Zarah then leaves the room. Miss Audrey then gives Layton the therapy sessions, attempting to get him back to the real world.

Layton's Dream

• Miss Audrey opens the locked prison cell for Layton. He runs through a battery car and found Wilford who is severely injured in a Spice Greenhouse Car.
• Wilford gives Layton Winnie's doll, told him that it is a present to the Tail Boss and bled out to death.

Real World

Wilford, imprisoned in the Library Car, called Alex. Asked her to bring him some compass, charts, parallel rulers and instruments. He's up to something big. Meanwhile Josie and Zarah are talking outside the room. Zarah told Josie how much she hates Tailie's traditions, and how Josie and Layton are taking such a good care of everyone. Zarah encourages Josie to pursue a romantic relationship with Layton and makes peace with her, telling Josie that Zarah and Layton work better as co-parents than an actual couple, and she's sorry that she left the Tail. Josie said that she never blames Zarah.

Layton's Dream

• Layton approaches the Tail. It's locked. Josie asked Layton the password in order to get in. Layton tell her the password is "Death." Josie let him in and took him to the Tail Boss.
• Layton gives the Tail Boss the mouse doll. The Tail Boss gives Layton a letter, he suddenly realized it's Zarah's handwritting. The letter turned out to be the one Zarah had written in the beginning of A New Life. Which means that the Tail boss is Liana.
• Liana told Layton to see what's inside Winnie's doll. It turned out to be Pike's bomb. He then faded away.
• He wake up in Asha's room in the nuclear reactor. Asha cooked Layton tomato soup and a grilled cheese for lunch.
• Asha hides something from Layton inside a locker. While Layton fights to see what's inside. There were some noises outside. Asha told him it was the Marauders.
• They both went outside of the room wearing the body protecting suits. They killed the Maruaders. He then rushed back to the room, opened up the locker and see the Dragon Blood tree as a picture in the calendar.

Real World

Layton wakes up, Zarah called Doctor Pelton immediately. Till told Miss Audrey that Layton is going to be okay. Josie went to see Layton as he realized he's telling too many lies just to lead the train.

Meanwhile, Wilford enlists Alex's help with performing some calculations before revealing that he has created a map of the Pirate train's course and Big Alice's hunt for it. Wilford explains that about three months into the search, he had thought that he'd caught a break, a track switch signal near Marseilles that Big Alice had followed and found no sign of them. However, Alex points out that the Pirate train was on a different continent at the time which means it wasn't them. While Alex thinks that it could have been a malfunction, Wilford believes that it was Melanie and that she is still alive out there somewhere.

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
• Rowan Blanchard as Alexandra Cavill
• Annalise Basso as LJ Folger
• Chelsea Harris as Sykes
• Archie Panjabi as Asha
• Sean Bean as Joseph Wilford

Guest Starring

• Sakina Jaffrey as Mrs. Headwood
• Karin Konoval as Doctor Pelton
• Kandyse McClure as Tail Boss

Co-Starring

• Emma Oliver as Winnie
• Kwasi Thomas as Z-Wreck
• Fiona Vroom as Miss Gillies
• Nickolas Baric as Toothy Agent
• Jaren Moore as Greasy Agent

Interpretations

Layton's dream in the world of Snowpiercer in sepia and earth tones tropical world can be interpret in many ways. For example;

Character's roles & personalities in the dream

• Bennett as the Forger, he has been a quiet but key lynchpin to Layton's leadership. His knowledge of the engine and the train has been vital to Layton's lead, without the Engineering Department support, Layton's Leadership wouldn't have come this far. As The Forger, he is the first step in getting Layton home. He is the only one who can make the papers Layton needs to cross the border.
• Zarah as the Cartographer, she is the first major character in the series to move from one class to another, Zarah personifies the Ouroboros map, blending of classes through determination and adaptability.
• Ruth's distrust of Layton reflects his own insecurity, and the close ones around him.
• LJ's attack at the border is Layton's fear of being found out as a fraud.
• Josie as a gatekeeper is the last key to Layton's way to home, a reference to A Great Odyssey

Plot

• DEATH: Note the change of Wilford's logo to the death mask logo. Snowpiercer has always been about survival, outlasting the death brought on by the cold triggered by scientists. Before Tail bouncer Josie gives him the riddle, her first question is, "What do you want?" and, if you think about it, the answer is meant to be the same. Also everyone Layton talks to about going to the Tail asks him if he has a death wish. In his mind, death is the final destination. The main plot is also about death, LJ brings death to the Mess Hall, Layton brings death to the Tail Boss (Liana), Pike reminds Layton that his choices have killed many people.
• NEW EDEN: The whole reason Layton's faith in the warm spot is heavily shaken is because if this lie fall flat, everyone on the train could die. That’s the scenario that plays out literally in front of Layton’s mind, as LJ and her goons get involved in a gunfight with the entirety of the train. As everyone falls around Layton, except for Layton himself. That would seem to be his curse; everyone else suffers for his behavior, but he has to live with the consequences. Later he would also face Liana's death - a biggest fear of every parent.
• FOOD: Roche claims that Layton is “always hungry,” and Later when Andre wakes up in the power plant with Asha, who feeds him tomato soup and grilled cheese (Layton's favorite food.) The focus on food (and drink) is another layer of Andre’s fears about the future: how really sustainable is Snowpiercer?
• TRADING: The focus is on the mystery element, complete with multiple items (Javier's Doll and Winnie's Doll) being exchanged, fake passports being purchased, and favors being taken in exchange for passage. It’s an interesting parallel for life on Snowpiercer in meat space; nothing seems to get done without someone owing someone else something. (For example: Many trades in Access Is Power opening dialogue, creating Pirate train caused many death from influenza, etc.)

Miscellaneous

• Zarah draws the train's map as a figure-eight. Layton later describes it as a snake eating its tail, which the episode's title, "Ouroboros," references. The idea that the train -- and hence, the power within the train -- is cyclical is reflected in how jumbled the established classes of passengers are in Layton's mindscape.
• Like Dorothy looking for the Wizard in Oz, Layton finds himself in search of the Tail Boss who can send him home, meeting familiar faces playing new roles along the way.

Quotes

“	What if, I was so desperate to give everyone a future that I made one up? I can't lead this train if all I have is a lie.	”
	— Layton's faith in himself is shaken after he woke up.

Zarah: "Old Ivan’s way…"

Josie: "I’m sorry. It wasn’t supposed to go to knives."

Zarah: "God. I hated the Tail. All of it’s custom. Like people playing the piano like it wasn’t a bunk bed. Meanwhile, Andre is teaching children how to breed rats just so we can eat."

Josie: "We had some dark times there."

Zarah: "Yeah. [chuckles] But, you know, you and Andre took such good care of everyone. The two of you, you just… You really bring out the best in each other."

Josie: "I don’t know."

Zarah: "You do. You know, it used to threaten me. But it doesn’t anymore. Andre and I are better as co-parent than as a couple. Josie… I never should have turned my back on you. I—"

Josie: "Hey, you were backed against a wall. I don’t blame you. Never have."

Zarah: "I’m just so glad you’re here with me today. And I’m glad that Andre has you too."

―  Zarah told Josie something important.

Wilford: "After our trains separated, I followed your trail, trying to guess intentions, near-term destinations versus long-term trajectory. I couldn't catch you, I had to intercept. See?"

Alex: "Whoa, ok."

Wilford: "So, about three months in, I -- I thought I caught a break -- a track switch signal near Marseilles. We followed it there but found no sign of you."

Alex: "Well, yeah, because that was the wrong continent. We were nowhere near France."

Wilford: "So the question is, if it wasn't you, who was it?"

Alex: "A signal error?"

Wilford: "No, I don't think it was a malfunction, Alex. I believe it was your mother. That Melanie is alive."

―  Wilford comes to a startling conclusion

Trivia

• Together with The Show Must Go On and A Beacon for Us All, these episodes are the only ones what never mention the episode's name or a variant of it in it's script. This episode also lacks an opening monologue for the first time in the series.
• An ouroboros is "an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail". It made it's way into Western culture from Greek magical tradition and ancient Egyptian iconography. The symbol is noticeably present in Hermeticism, Gnosticism and alchemy. The ouroboros is commonly used as an interpretation of a cycle of life, death and rebirth (eternal cyclic renewal). The snakes does a kin-sloughing process which symbolizes the transmigration of souls. The snake biting its own tail is in some religions a fertility symbol, and the tail of the snake is a phallic symbol, where the mouth is a yonic or womb-like symbol.
  • In Layton's dream, Snowpiercer itself is depicted as an ouroboros on Zarah Ferami's map. Liana suggests that a train, due to its cyclical nature, is an ouroboros.
• Despite his death, Pike appears in the form of a wrapped corpse and in Layton's dream as a priest.
• Most of the cast only appears in the form of Layton's dream.
  • The only chracters who appeared in the flesh are Andre Layton, Z-Wreck, Bess Till, Doctor Pelton, Miss Audrey, Zarah Ferami, Josie Wellstead, Bennett Knox, Alexandra Cavill and Joseph Wilford.
• Layton discovers that his vision of the dragon's blood tree came from seeing a picture of it in a calendar in the North Korean bunker while he was near death from the power loss in his suit.

Body Count

• 2 unnamed men (shot by Javier De La Torre and Ruth Wardell; dream)
• Around a dozen people (shot by Jackboots, Miss Gillies and each other; dream)
  • Miss Gillies
  • Javier De La Torre
  • Sam Roche
  • Ruth Wardell
  • Alexandra Cavill
  • 1 unnamed Jackboot
• Joseph Wilford (shot by Jackboots and later bled out; dream)
• 1 unnamed marauder (shot by Andre Layton; dream)
• 1 unnamed marauder (beaten to death by Asha; dream)

Gallery