Shilo

Ruth Wardell is a character in TNT's Snowpiercer. She is portrayed by Alison Wright.

She is careful and quiet, but a pragmatic and independent thinker who must come to realize her own strength. A former Wilford loyalist, after the departure of Andre Layton and the Pirate train, she becomes the leader of the resistance on Snowpiercer.

History

Background

Ruth lived originally in Kendal,

Throughout The Series

Dealings with the Tail

Despite being oblivious to certain managerial elements of the train, Ruth is Melanie Cavill's right hand, and announces to the Tail frequently

Personality

Ruth tends to voice the concerns and expectations of First Class, and to think of keeping the rules of order as a necessary priority. After seeing the consequences of her actions first-hand through Winnie, Ruth expresses remorse for what she has done. Following the departure of Andre Layton, she takes over his role as leader of the resistance, coordinating efforts throughout the train and keeping her identity hidden from Wilford while avoiding him, showing a great deal of intelligence and cunning. When faced with having her own arm frozen off, Ruth is openly defiant, even telling Wilford to get on with it and that she wouldn't accept a prosthetic if offered one. Ruth suggests that she might even see it as penance for doing the same to other people.

Relationships

Joseph Wilford

One of Ruth's most d

rming Winnie's mother and scaring the little girl. Subsequently, the two became friends with Ruth protecting Winnie from the rioters.

Memorable Quotes

Season One First, the Weather Changed Prepare to Brace Access Is Power Without Their Maker Justice Never Boarded Trouble Comes Sideways The Universe Is Indifferent These Are His Revolutions The Train Demanded Blood 994 Cars Long Season Three The Tortoise and the Hare The Last to Go The First Blow Bound by One Track A New Life Born to Bleed Ouroboros Setting Itself Right A Beacon for Us All The Original Sinners

Season Two The Time of Two Engines Smolder to Life A Great Odyssey A Single Trade Keep Hope Alive Our Answer for Everything The Eternal Engineer The Show Must Go On Into the White

Ruth: "Do you think I want to be here? Eh? That Mr. Wilford wants me to be doing this? Snowpiercer is all that's left of the world."

Winnie: "Mommy!"

Suzanne: "Please, no, no."

Ruth: "Each of us has a personal responsibility to the Engine Eternal. You Tailies barely have to do anything. Yeah? Just sit around and don't rebel. This is your fault. Let's get this over with."

Suzanne: "Please don't. Please. Do it to me instead."

Ruth: "Where's the logic it that?"

Suzanne: "She's just a little girl."

Ruth: "Yeah, a little girl who helped to kill six men."

Suzanne: "I'm her mother. It's my fault. I let her help the rebellion."

Ruth: "Finally. Someone with the moral fortitude to take responsibility for their actions. Alright."

―  Ruth to the Tailies in Prepare to Brace.

“	I believe some folks on this train forget just how generous and wonderful a man Mr. Wilford actually is. Not me. I could never forget. It’s Wilford who runs our Sacred Engine. It’s Wilford who has His finger on our pulse, who knows exactly what we need… how much food and water, how much heat and space, how much discipline. It’s Wilford who saved us from the bitter Cold. He’s the only reason we’re alive. Yet somehow, on this train we call home, there are passengers who see fit to challenge Him, passengers who think they know better, passengers who take for granted this great miracle that He’s given us. (…) One day, I know I’ll see Mr. Wilford again. And when I do, I will thank Him, from the bottom of my heart, for everything that He’s done. For me. For all of us. These are his revolutions, 1,001 cars long.	”
	— Ruth about Wilford, opening dialogue of These Are His Revolutions.

Roche: "What’s on your mind?"

Ruth: "When Audrey and Mr. Wilford turned back at the border last night, he asked me to step over on to Big Alice."

Roche: "Well, you’re still here."

Ruth: "Didn’t know what to do. There was a time that I would have."

Roche: "Now you’re not so sure?"

Ruth: "I serve Snowpiercer just like you. We had order for seven years. I know it was Melanie, but they were his rules, weren't they?"

Roche: "Yes, we had order. You want to do that job again? Taking arms? Running a gulag at the back of the train?"

Ruth: [Sighs]

―  Ruth chooses Snowpiercer over Wilford in Our Answer for Everything.

“	I'm sorry about you mum. Do you know I lost my mum to when I was little. It was cruel what I did, taking her away from you. I thought I was doing the right thing. I was following the rules. But that wasn't right, was it? It was wrong. It was very, very wrong. I wish I could take it back, Winnie. I wish that I could.	”
	— Ruth apologizes to Winnie after she ran away from her in Our Answer for Everything.

“	Stop it! Stop! This is barbaric! This man is your leader! You choose him! You want someone else in charge, then call for change. But don't strip him down and mutilate him just because you can. It's not right. Believe me, I know. I've done it. You'll never be the same again once you have. This is not the way! Not anymore. Please.	”
	— Ruth defends Layton in Our Answer for Everything.

Javi: "Oh my god..."

Ruth: "It's just hospitality... killing a man."

―  Ruth and Layton seizing Big Alice's Engine in Into the White.

Wilford: "I knew it had to be someone with acumen for rail logistics. But to be honest, I’m more impressed with how low you went to grovel it out in the bowels."

Ruth: "Well, I do try not to disappoint, sir."

Wilford: "If you’d only stayed loyal."

Ruth: "I am loyal. To something bigger then you. You’ve got it all wrong, Mr. Wilford."

Wilford: "I her that all the time, and then I win."

Ruth: "Winning isn’t leading. And loyalty isn’t enough on its own. It has to come with love. And not the kind you feed off. Unconditional love, sacrifice, for each and every passenger."

Wilford: "Oh, god."

Ruth: "You can’t ignore love. You can’t predict it either."

―  Ruth to Wilford in The Last to Go.

Trivia

• She has spoken the opening dialogue for These Are His Revolutions, The Show Must Go On and The Last to Go.
• Her character seems similar to Mi