Ruth and Alex should have left Layton and Josie behind in Snowpiercer

Ruth and Alex had to make a decision at the end of Snowpiercer Season 4, Episode 4. They made the wrong one.

Caution: This post contains major spoilers for Snowpiercer Season 4, Episode 4

When Layton left Ruth fully in charge of Snowpiercer, he made it clear that she had to make some final calls. If Ruth and Alex couldn’t reach Layton and Josie, they would need to make the decision on whether to leave the two behind or not. Layton told Ruth that she would make the “right” choice.

Well, that came up. Layton and Josie found themselves captured by Milius. Milius made it clear that Big Alice would need to dock if they wanted to see Layton and Josie again. Ruth had a difficult choice to make, and she made the wrong one.

It was always a trap for Big Alice in Snowpiercer

One thing was clear from the start: Milius wanted Big Alice. There was no need for him to take a baby. He always had something bigger going on, and he needed either Layton or Big Alice. It was clear from this episode that it’s all about Big Alice.

Ruth and Alex have played straight into his hands. They won’t be able to get Big Alice back, and that means everyone at New Eden is going to die. There isn’t enough time to get back for them.

Ruth should have turned back. While Layton and Josie would have been angry and felt defeated, they would have eventually understood—Josie before Layton, of course. Ruth should have put the people of New Eden first. She could have got the train back in time for winter, saved the people of New Eden, and then come up with another plan if everyone wanted to go back for Layton and Josie at a later date.

That is if Ruth wasn’t overtaken by Layton’s Tailie crew who joined him in the fight. They are still likely somewhere on Big Alice. They wouldn’t have liked leaving Layton behind, and they probably wouldn’t have listened to reason.

Of course, by Alex and Ruth turning back, there wouldn’t be the drama that is to come in the final season of Snowpiercer.