WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Snowpiercer Season 3, Episode 8, “Setting Itself Right,” now available on TNT.
In Season 3 of Snowpiercer, Layton has been pushed to the brink. Not only did he have to contend with another brutal civil war that thankfully ended in victory over Wilford, he also faced a betrayal from his old buddy, Pike. Layton had to kill him to quell insurrection, but it left the leader of the Eternal Engine mentally and physically bruised.
Layton eventually came out his coma, but he was still haunted knowing he hallucinated New Eden after seeing a calendar with a desert setting. It left him wanting to reveal the truth to the train, with his fright apparent to some of his inner-circle. Unfortunately, just when it seemed like Layton got his bearings back, the latest tragedy aboard his 1,029 cars killed off his trump card.
That trump card was none other than Archie Panjabi’s Asha, the sole survivor from a nuclear reactor who Layton rescued. His subconscious got the idea of New Eden from her wall, which was quite ironic because he had her lying, pretending to be a survivor from New Eden so the train would be goaded into voting to head to the Horn of Africa.
He needed her alive to keep the charade going, instilling false hope in the public. But that ended prematurely when Wilford’s intel to find Melanie took them into a volcanic cloud. En route to France, the ash and smoke ran for a lengthy distance, getting into the intake. Toxic fumes started spreading through, corroding material and poisoning plants, which would lead to disaster down the line.
Layton and Asha suited up to contain the breach, but unfortunately, neither could fit in the exhaust section. Someone needed to go in and close the intake, though, as this was the only way to send breathable air back through the system. Asha knew what needed to be done, knocking Layton out and coming out her suit. She went down, much to Layton’s chagrin, but the silence from Ben and Alex on comms confirmed this was a necessary sacrifice. She shuttered the louvers and allowed them to flush the poisons out. However, this purge led to her bleeding, asking Layton to paint a picture of what New Eden looked like. Layton detailed his dream in a heartbreaking sequence, giving her some comfort as she died quietly.
It was a tragic moment for a character who came a long way. Asha suffered PTSD from her own family fights, the battle with the marauders and then losing her sick nephew, which is why she struggled to accept the train as a permanent home.
Sadly, just when she got accustomed and realized Layton could create a true community, Asha had to give it all up. It tore Layton apart, but she went willingly, knowing it was for the greater good. However, her absence means Layton doesn’t have his “proof” of New Eden anymore, so if Wilford’s seemingly reformed followers turn on Layton again, Asha won’t be there to assuage their concerns and reassure them that paradise awaits.
See Asha’s sacrifice in Season 3 of Snowpiercer, which airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on TNT.
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