Sykes

Sykes is a recurring character in Season 2 and then promoted to a main character in Season 3, on TNT's Snowpiercer. She is portrayed by Chelsea Harris.

She is a covert operative, and the right-hand advisor to an important new leader, Sykes is reserved and coolly efficient. She is well-versed in the dark arts of intelligence and, while she seems loyal, one begins to wonder whether she can be trusted at all. Following her time aboard the Pirate train, she defects to the side of Andre Layton, becoming one of his trusted people.

History

Background

Not much is known about her prior to Big Alice. It was revealed by Melanie when she boarded Big Alice that she didn’t recognize her but recognized Kevin and therefore was not part of the original crew. She seems to be a high-ranking member aboard Big Alice. At some point she did something that angered Wilford to the point that he had Sykes mauled by his dog Jupiter, leaving her with facial scars.

Throughout The Series

Season 2

Taken Prisoner

After Wilford takes full control of Snowpiercer, Sykes is sent to guard Bennett Knox in the Engine alongside a Jackboot. After learning that Melanie Cavill is still alive, Javier De La Torre contacts Bennett from the Engine on Big Alice and informs him of the plan to go after Melanie in code which Sykes, not being an Engineer, is unable to understand. When the time comes to turn onto Neckbreaker, Bennett manages to throw the Jackboot out of the Engine and engages in a fight with Sykes. Despite Sykes dominating the fight, Bennett eventually manages to knock her unconscious and handcuffs her to the console.

Sykes wakes up while Andre Layton's crew are preparing to create a separate pirate train. Bennett mostly ignores her, but when the train's sensors detect someone going outside, Sykes warns Bennett that its Josie Wellstead and that Wilford is sending her to breach the Engine which will kill them both. However, Bennett contacts Josie over the radio and redirects her to breach and destroy the Aquarium, successfully separating the trains. Still in the Engine at the time of separation, Sykes is left as a prisoner on the pirate train alongside Miss Audrey.^[1]

Season 3

Prisoner of War

For the next six months, Sykes remains a prisoner of war aboard the pirate train. Unlike Miss Audrey, Sykes adapts and eventually starts serving the crew as a waitress, stating that she is doing her part as a prisoner of war. However, she appears to possibly be enjoying her time amongst the crew and wavering in her loyalty to Wilford to the point that she allows herself to be locked up rather than help Audrey and Martin Colvin try to take over the train.^[2]

When Wilford derails part of the train and they have to cut it loose, Sykes rescues Asha from danger, much to the gratitude of Layton. Sykes tells him that Asha had waited for eight years on the outside and they can't very well kill her on day two.^[3]

Working on Snowpiercer

After the trains reconnect, Sykes appears to have earned Layton's trust to the point that she is allowed to roam free and he assigns her to confine Miss Audrey to Third and ban her from the Night Car. Sykes tells Audrey that she chose the wrong side, tosses her clothes at her and leaves while Audrey wonders if there even is a right side anymore.^[3]

Bennett Knox later enlists Sykes' help to build life support systems for New Eden alongside Javier De La Torre, knowing that Sykes might be the only person that can help Javi through his trauma as well as keeping an eye on Javi's work and keeping him on task. Javi is less than thrilled at his new partner, knowing that he is getting demoted due to screwing up while driving the train. However, Bennett reassures Javi that he trusts no one more than Javi and Sykes in HVAC and irrigation which they need for New Eden.

While collecting supplies, Javi suffers another hallucination of Jupiter. Noticing this, Sykes looks at his scars and sympathetically opens up about how her own experiences with the dog and how her thought that it wasn't Jupiter's fault stuck with her. When a fire starts, Sykes warns Javi that it's nine cars ahead and they need to clear out. However, Javi has discovered that a bunch of ammonium nitrate is missing. After the explosion, Javi and Sykes check on Bess Till and the injured Layton and confirm that the car is secure. When Ruth announces the successful birth of Liana Layton, Javi and Sykes share a pleased smile.^[4]

Sykes later helps Till to investigate the bombing and the two women come to the conclusion that the bomber has enough ammonium nitrate for either three more bombs or just one big one. Till remembers that the Taillies had smuggled in these same materials during the Year Three Rebellion and she departs to investigate further while Sykes promises to move the remaining supply somewhere safer.^[5]

Personality

While working for Wilford, Sykes is depicted as a serious and focused individual who is loyal to him. She is also a highly proficient fighter. However, she may also be afraid of Wilford as she warns Bennett Knox that Wilford will kill them if need be. It's later revealed that her loyalty to Wilford is at least somewhat due to trauma, having suffered a mauling by Jupiter for an offense that she doesn't even remember.

While spending six months on the pirate train, Sykes shows herself to be highly adaptable, accepting that she is a prisoner of war but doing her part to help out rather than being imprisoned or trying to take over the train. Her loyalty to Wilford appears to be wavering to the point that she refuses to help Miss Audrey and Martin Colvin mutiny with Miss Audrey questioning whether Sykes is even fully loyal anymore beforehand. After she saves Asha from a potential death of her own volition, Sykes appears to gain Layton's trust as he lets her go free afterwards. In turn, Sykes indicates to Audrey that she had realized that Layton was the right side of the conflict rather than Wilford.

Despite her serious demeanor, Sykes has a hidden sense of humor, joking that they can't let Asha die on day 2 after she was waiting for eight years. Unlike Wilford who might make the joke in a malicious or sadistic way, Sykes' joke was genuine humor with no apparent malice behind it.

After changing sides, Sykes shows a less serious personality and a more open and caring side, bonding with Javier De La Torre who, like Sykes, was mauled by Jupiter and still suffers from it. She is also knowledgeable about engineering to the point that Bennett trusts her and Javi to work together on designing life support systems for the new colony.

Relationships

Bennett Knox

At first, Sykes and Bennett have a bad relationship due to being on opposite sides of the war with Wilford. While creating the Pirate train, the two fight and Sykes mocks Bennett's fighting ability before he knocks her out and takes Sykes prisoner.

However, their relationship drastically improves during their six months together on the pirate train to the point that they seem to have become friends and Bennett is comfortable going to Sykes for help with Javi. Bennett openly expresses his trust in Sykes to Javi while assigning them to work together. It's suggested that Bennett is aware of how Sykes was mauled by Jupiter and as such is the one person who understands what his best friend is going through.

Javier De La Torre

While Javi is initially resistant to Sykes' help, the two quickly befriend each other with Sykes being able to empathize with Javi the most due to them both being mauled by Jupiter for failing Wilford.