An invitation from Wilford for Miss Audrey to join him for dinner is cause for concern, but not as much as an apparent loss of contact with Melanie. With Josie over on Big Alice sending back what intel she can, various parties looking out for their own interests and a potential uprising on the cards, Layton has his hands full indeed.

Last week’s episode gave us a fairly horrifying glimpse into the twisted relationship of Wilford and Audrey, and the power he once exerted over her, so it’s no surprise that an invitation from him for her to join him for an evening on Big Alice causes much concern. However, Layton, Ben and Javi don’t trust Wilford and desperately need some sort of way to monitor what he’s up to, so it seems like the best opportunity.

Meanwhile, they have the other pressing issue of Melanie’s sudden radio silence. A lack of the expected ‘ping’ may mean simple equipment malfunction or something more terminal, but with tensions so high and Wilford hanging over them like the Sword of Damocles, they can’t afford to let news of this reach the train as a whole. That means Layton putting his trust in someone he’d rather not, and has no reason to.

On Big Alice itself, Josie continues to receive treatment at the hands of the Headwoods, while trying to absorb and pass on as much intel as she can back to Snowpiercer. But in her weakened state she’s not quite as quick or smart as she might have been, which sets up an interesting dynamic with an unexpected source.

Back on Snowpiercer, Layton’s problems intensify when Josie’s mission becomes somewhat less secret than he might have liked. Watching him turn from idealist revolutionary to political leader has been a fascinating journey. He has principles, and he’s constantly wrestling with them, and never more so than now with Zarah whispering in his ear and a million conflicting priorities. The decision he decides to take here, though, is a big one, and one that may have serious ramifications down the line.

As to poor Bess, she’s continuing to struggle with her appointed role and the fact that nobody really seems to be taking her theory seriously that Wilford has agents already embedded in Snowpiercer’s population. An encounter with Pastor Logan helps, but it’s valid to wonder just how long Bess will last before she snaps.

Overall, although it can feel like a bitty episode, the overriding theme is that Wilford is a smarter man than perhaps anyone is giving him true credit for. As the credits roll, it’s difficult to see how he’s not going to emerge the ultimate victor in this battle of wills, though it’s going to be interesting to watch, whatever happens.

Verdict: Slightly spread out with a lot going on, but all of it serving one central theme. Fascinating. 8/10

Greg D. Smith