What I’m Loving Right Now: Snowpiercer
It’s no accident that trains are a central feature in many great stories. From Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express to the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter, trains are much more than a form of transport. They conjure up feelings of romance, mystery, a journey into the unknown or in the case of Snowpiercer, the train represents humankind’s only chance of survival in a post-apocalyptic future where Earth is a frozen wasteland.
In this TV series (based on a film of the same name and several literary works) the perpetually-moving train, Snowpiercer, circles the globe, with its passengers divided by class, politics and power struggles.
At more than 1000 carriages long the train houses entire ecosystems and infrastructure you would find in everyday life. There are agriculture carriages, bar and entertainment lounges and medical facilities…if you’re lucky enough to be a ticketed passenger.
Unticketed passengers or ‘Tailies’ who fought their way onto the train in Earth’s darkest days are confined to the end of the train, living in famine-like conditions. Each time they resist or challenge the ‘order’ on Snowpiercer, punishment is swift.
Series one follows Tailie leader Andre Layton (Hamilton star Daveed Diggs) who goes up against head of hospitality Melanie Cavill (Jennifer Connelly), who is pretending to be the mysterious Mr Wilford – Snowpiercer’s brainchild and powerful figurehead.
By the end of the season, the hard fought and new found world order comes under threat when the real Mr Wilford (played by the magnificent Sean Bean) turns up, bringing his own brand of megalomania and eccentric cruelty to season two.
Simply put, Snowpiercer is jam packed with track-stopping action, heartbreak, thought provoking themes and some stand-out characters…all on a train!!! I for one loved the whole Snowpiercer journey.
You can watch Snowpiercer seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix and the best news is that a third season is on its way.
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