Snowpiercer: What Layton’s Train Plan Really Is

The series premiere of Snowpiercer reveals how Layton (Daveed Diggs) plans to take over the Snowpiercer train. Similar to the situation that faced Curtis Everett (Chris Evans) in Bong Joon-ho’s 2013 movie, Layton — the protagonist of TNT’s TV adaptation — is looking to stage a rebellion against “Mr. Wilford” and the people who run the train.

In the post-apocalyptic series Snowpiercer, the people who live at the back of the 1001-car train are known as the “Tailies.” The Tailiies, who are only on the Snowpiercer because they forced their way onboard, are primarily used as a workforce and are treated poorly by those in charge. In the beginning of the pilot episode, many of the Tailies believed that their situation had reached a point at which action had to be taken. Layton, though against his better judgment, agreed to get involved, but their plans were derailed when Layton was swept into a murder investigation. The revolt subsequently occurs without Layton’s involvement— with violent results.

After cutting a bloody swath through one of the cars, Pike (Stephen Ogg), Z-Wreck (Kwasi Thomas), and Strong Boy (Kurt Ostlund) are talked down by Layton, who convinces the three Tailies to listen to his plan. Layton asks the three of them to surrender themselves, so that they’ll be placed in suspended animation in the Drawers (the Snowpiercer’s prison chambers). Layton explains that if he takes the murder case, he can develop an understanding of the train’s layout, take note of schedules, and security details, they can use this information to their advantage in the future. Once Layton has the intel he needs and the time comes for them to strike, Layton will awaken Pike, Z-Wreck, and Strong Boy from their sleep, and together they will “take the engine.“

If they can take the engine (and keep it), the Tailies will have control over the train — but what’s the likelihood of their plan actually succeeding? As noted in the episode, Layton’s people suffered significant causalities, and only three of the rebels survived the fight. With their numbers diminished, a revolt is still possible, but it will be more difficult to pull off. But, as Layton pointed out in the beginning of the Snowpiercer series premiere, their biggest obstacle was that they lacked knowledge of the other train cars.

Also, Layton said that they didn’t have any allies outside of the tail section. According to Layton, this is what went wrong  when they rebelled years ago. 62 people were killed in the last rebellion, which fell apart because no one else in the train would help the Tailies. That’s one thing that will have to be different when they make their next attempt. So while Layton is gathering information about the train, he can also spend some time making friends and securing alliances with the people in the other train cars. As for when this plan will play out, it’s possible that it will occur sometime near the end of season 1, or potentially in the Snowpiercer season 1 finale. After all, it will take time for Layton to make the necessary preparations. When it finally does happen, Wilford Industries may have a serious fight on their hands.

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