Snowpiercer season 1 episode 4 recap: Without Their Maker

Snowpiercer episode 4 sees the killer revealed, but not without consequences.

In Snowpiercer episode 4, Layton makes a crucial breakthrough in his investigation into the murders in the Front. The revelations are shocking to everyone but Layton, though that doesn’t mean he gets to go back to his life in the Tail.

Snowpiercer Episode 4: Interviewing the Front

The previous episode of Snowpiercer ended with Erik, a bodyguard to the ultra-rich First Class passengers, the Folgers, going on a killing spree in the morgue car.

Not only did he kill the morticians, but he also murdered the only person who could have revealed the real identity of the train killer—Nikki Genêt, the woman who was framed for the first train murder.

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With Genêt out of the way, Layton and Melanie Cavill set about looking for the murderer—who could only be someone from First Class, seeing as the borders have been locked down following a brawl in the Night Car.

Layton has to question the passengers in the Front, and Cavill will stand by him—since she is secretly Mr Wilford, creator of the train, Cavill needs this matter resolved as quickly as possible.

The First Class passengers are horrified by Layton, who does his utmost to make them uncomfortable. The more discomfited they are, the faster they will reveal their secrets so as to rid their car of him.

There’s a slight hitch in the plan though. Lilah Folger—an extremely uppity woman—demands to speak to Mr Wilford because Layton wants to search her apartment.

Cavill is always ready for such requests—she pretends to speak to her engineering partner and even offers the phone to Folger, who hesitates before acquiescing to Cavill’s demands.

Turns out that even the Front are so in awe and terror of Wilford, that they will do his bidding even without hearing his direct command.

Killer(s) Revealed

Layton is granted access to the Folger’s apartment—seeing as their bodyguard was the only ‘help’ who did not return from the brawl. The Folgers are more concerned about keeping their luxurious lodgings intact than helping the case—their room is larger than the entire tail.

But that doesn’t stand in Layton’s way. He questions the Folgers until he realises that the daughter, LJ, is the only one with any answers about Erik. She and Erik were very close—he practically raised her because the Folgers aren’t just prideful and privileged, but also incompetent. LJ knows how selfless Erik can be—he does things for others, often at great cost to himself. He even saved a cat when coming aboard Snowpiercer.

LJ, on the other hand, is a frivolous young woman who just wants to feel… something. Excitement. Fear. Hunger. She wants for nothing, and thus craves everything.

It isn’t long before Layton puts two and two together and realises that Erik may have been the one who murdered the people in the morgue, but the other murders were not his doing. He was an accessory who aided LJ as she killed those men, all in the hopes of feeling something.

Of course, the Folgers are enraged at this accusation, but when confronted—especially after learning that Erik had been killed in an ill-advised escape plan—LJ loses her composure and openly attacks Layton. That’s all Cavill needs to send LJ to Snowpiercer’s prison.

Tailies Make Connections

Meanwhile, the Tail is beyond excited to receive an access chip that could allow them to freely open doors in the Front. But who will be the bearer of the chip? Josie (Katie McGuinness) takes it upon herself to wear the chip as she replaces a fellow Tailie who is too ill to do his sanitation job.

The Tailies on duty have only a 30-minute break, during which time Josie needs to change into pajamas, sneak into the mess hall car and meet Astrid (Jane McGregor), a former resident of the Tail who managed to get out to work in Third.

Despite the change in status, Astrid still believes in helping the Tail. When she sees Josie, Astrid agrees to assist the Tail—she is to act as a go-between for Layton and the Tail, helping them share information that will be crucial to starting the Tail’s revolution.

And Astrid comes through on her promise—within one of the disgusting protein bars that the Tailies subsist on, she sends a message. Josie is excited for news from Layton, but her face soon falls—the message simply reads ‘Layton Missing’.

Unbeknownst to the Tail, after Layton’s success at finding the Snowpiercer’s resident serial killers, Cavill treats him to a glass of Sake. As they drink the rare alcohol, she reveals to Layton that he knows too much about the Front now. He can’t be allowed to go back to the Tail with this knowledge.

Layton realises too late that his drink was drugged—he ends up in one of the drawers, at the mercy of mortician Klimpt, who is given strict instructions to keep Layton in good health.

Nobody knows what has happened to Layton or how to save him—so close to gaining ground, the Tail once again finds itself on its own without their fearless leader.

Final Thoughts on Snowpiercer Episode 4

This episode of Snowpiercer felt almost like a finale to a mini-series—all the major plot points have been wrapped up, setting the show up for a brand new arc in the remaining six episodes.

Despite its slow start, the series has picked up speed—like the train it features—to introduce more characters and dynamic relationships.

However, there are still some questions that remain. For instance, we still don’t know why Klimpt was so upset about Genêt’s death—what is the connection between them? And how does Cavill think Layton is going to survive the drawer considering the effects it had on Genêt?

There’s still a distinct lack of characters of colour on the show—especially in prominent roles, but one hopes the next arc will rectify that situation.

What did you think of Snowpiercer Episode 4? How will Layton get himself out of this position? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Snowpiercer is currently airing weekly episodes on TNT and Netflix.