‘Snowpiercer’ Episode 2 review: Prepare to glaze

Of all the different kinds of TV shows they could have turned “Snowpiercer” into, was cop drama on your wishlist? Then maybe you will enjoy the “Snowpiercer” Netflix series. As for me, it just makes my eyes glaze over.

In my review of Episode 1, I said maybe the show will get better. I will be giving more details about the show starting with this review, which some might consider spoilers. Episode 2 is called “Prepare to Brace”. And if you’re a fan of the 2013 movie like me, then you really should brace yourself because this TV series is going in a whole different direction.

Buddy cop show?

To be fair, they did tell us from the start that this would reboot the movie. That it would also be based on the 1982 French graphic novel Le Transperceneige that Bong Joon-ho adapted. And that since it’s a TV series, they can now explore the larger world that was only hinted at in the movie.

Unfortunately, there’s a reason we have the saying: less is more.

The “Snowpiercer” TV series stars Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs. Connelly plays first-class passenger Melanie Cavill. Cavill is the Voice of the Train — the one who makes the daily announcements on the PA system. Meanwhile, Diggs plays tail-end passenger Andre Layton. Layton is a quiet person who takes care of his pet rats. But as we found out from Episode 1, he was a homicide detective before the world changed and he ended up on the train.

For some reason, the makers of this series think we will be fascinated by Layton’s skills as a homicide detective and the former life he led.

The first two episodes revolve around a mystery. A murder, actually. And so “Snowpiercer” takes a strange turn as some sort of police crime drama. With Daveed trying to do his best impersonation of a homicide detective while playing the reluctant revolutionary.

Let’s just say he was better in “Hamilton”.

You say you want a revolution

Subtlety is not this TV show’s strong suit. As I mentioned in my Episode 1 review, the dialogue beats you over the head with what the show is all about.

The would-be revolutionaries are the tail-end passengers, or Tailies. And they’re prone to delivering dramatic speeches or voice-overs, such as this gem from Josie:

“They can take our limbs, our children, our leaders. They keep trying to take our dignity. But any survivor will tell you they checked their dignity at death’s door. The more they steal from us, the more human we become. Humanity will fill our bellies one day. When we eat the rich of Snowpiercer, 1,001 cars long.”

See what a Serious Show the “Snowpiercer” TV series is?

I dread where this journey will take us. But I will watch Episode 3 once it streams. And let you know how it goes.