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Third Class Passengers
The Third Class are the working class of Snowpiercer, reserved for low skillset workers and their families. Referred to as Thirdies, they are passengers with well defined social roles but not much privilege or authority as they did not pay for their tickets technically. Instead, they were granted a spot due to having jobs on the train. Though not treated as badly as the Tailies, they feel a growing disdain for those above them, as they're the ones who do the most real work in keeping the train working and its passengers fed while receiving fewer privileges than many others who do far less.
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In General
- Fantastic Underclass: Though not treated as badly as the Tail, people in Third Class still get the end of the short stick just for being the working class of Snowpiercer. It's no surprise that some people want to change that.
- Mirroring Factions: As time passes, the Third and Tail realize that they've got a lot in common with each other. Both being the underclass of Snowpiercer and being seen as disposable by the upper echelons of the train. Unfortunately, by Season 2, after the success of Layton's revolution, Wilford stirred up so much resentment against the Tail that Third Class was the first to turn against them.
- Neutral No Longer: Third Class has mostly been neutral in the affairs of the train, however, Nikki's death by the hands of L.J and Erik is what finally tipped the scales.
The Nightcar
Miss Audrey
Miss Audrey
Portrayed By: Lena Hall
The proprietor of the Nightcar, a third class den of (mostly) Platonic Prostitution.
- Broken Bird: Underneath the glitz and glam, her empathy and her commitment to improve lives in Third Class, she's this. Her previous abusive relationship with Mr. Wilford left her scarred physically and emtionally. She still holds it together pretty well for seven years, especially given the circumstances, but Wilford's return completely shatters her.
- Broken Pedestal: Audrey becomes this in Zarah's eyes in Season 2 after her Face–Heel Turn. Zarah states she can't even recognize her anymore and asks Audrey point-blank if everything she taught her was a lie.
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The Cast Showoff: Gets quite a few scenes showcasing her actress's outstanding singing voice. Season 2 not only shows off her dancing ability as well, but the soundtrack includes a few of Lena Hall's songs. - Cover Version: Most of Miss Audrey's repertoire is made of those. Till lampshades it in a moment of snark.Till: You know, when you sing, I can almost convince myself you're not a horrible person. And then I remember you only sing covers, so the words aren't actually yours.
- Face–Heel Turn: Seems to have given herself over to Wilford fully after her Mind Rape of Kevin. It gets so bad that not even six months apart from him on the Pirate Train seem to help her reconsider.
- Heart Is an Awesome Power: Using her empathy and smooth talking to act as the de facto shrink for literally the entire train gives Audrey access to secret and personal information about anyone aboard, which she can leverage against Melanie and her regime.
- Heel–Face Turn: Wilford seemingly having second thoughts about his actions leaves her shaken, but it's a combination of Till's kindness, and going back to her mind healing days to help save Layton when he's in a coma that help Audrey get up from rock bottom. Falling in love with Till and being on the receiving end of Wilford's abuse once too many times cement that.
- Hostage Situation: Layton puts her in one of these to get Wilford to back off as he attempts to steal the Engine. Unfortunately, Wilford calls his bluff and tells Layton to kill her. Whether he would have or not is left open, as Josie breaches the aquarium at that point.
- Hooker with a Heart of Gold: Subverted in that she doesn't prostitute herself and the Night Car at large is not a brothel, but a den of mostly platonic performance, amusement and comfort. However, all the other markings are pretty much there, and the Night Car's platonic nature was her design to begin with, both to assure good conditions the workers in it and to give the whole train a place to relieve the pain and stress of the post-apocalyptic situation.
- How the Mighty Have Fallen: In season 3. After Wilford's defeat, Sykes uncerimoniously dumps her things on the train floor and announces that Audrey is banned from the Night Car and confined to Third, where presumably everyone despises her, with only a few rags and a pair of shoes to her name.
- Mind Rape: For seven years, she uses her empathy and psychological know-how to alleviate the passengers' Survivor Guilt in the Night Car. When Wilford returns and she's compromised as The Mole for Layton, Wilford asks her to prove her loyalty by using her skills to "fix" a deeply traumatised Kevin; the results are pretty horrifying and he's programmed into a puppy-level loyal, literally slipper-licking sycophant.
- It's implied that Wilford was counting on the similarities between Kevin's and Audrey's own trauma to basically have her mind-rape herself into compliance in the process; it seems to have worked.
- The Mole: Layton wants her to play this role, getting close to Wilford so she can discover his plans. Unfortunately, the twisted nature of their prior relationship leaves her loyalties very confused.
- My God, What Have I Done?: After she speaks with a seemingly remorseful Wilford, she despairingly starts to regret her past actions - though it's initially guided by self-pity and only starts being real after she starts going out with Till.
- Necessarily Evil: Her conversation with Zarah indicates she sees herself as such after turning to Wilford's side, claiming that she's stopping her being taken and experimented on by the Headwoods.
- Old Flame: To Wilford, in a very dark and twisted way. She had a relationship with him prior to the train's departure and seems to be one of the few things he genuinely misses. Flashbacks to their time together show it was as based on control and domination as the rest of his interactions.
- Official Couple: Gets together with Till towards the end of season 3.
- Rebel Leader: She seems to be the leader of the disaffected Third Class passengers. When Layton's revolution kicks off, she becomes one of his main lieutenants.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: As Layton's lieutenant, she's the Blue to Till's Red. She's notably more defense-orientated, favouring fortifying their barricades and consolidating the cars they've already taken in the aftermath of the Night Car battle, where Till favours attacking uptrain and hitting the Jackboots before regrouping.
- Sanity Slippage: She's visibly cracking after Wilford returns, overindulging in weed and alcohol, and descends way further after going back to him, including her Mind Rape of Kevin and indulging in Hookers and Blow to a point even Wilford gets frustrated she won't do any work.
- Scars Are Forever: Miss Audrey has a long vertical scar on her arm from when Mr. Wilford made her cut her wrist in exchange for a place on Snowpiercer.
- Shame If Something Happened: She forces Melanie to include a Third in the murder trial jury with a forceful reminder that everything on the train only stays running because of the labor Third provides.
- Survivor Guilt: Alleviating this is the Night Car's reason for being - instead of the brothel Wilford saw it as, Audrey convinced Melanie to turn it into a place where all the train's inhabitants could go to quietly grieve and seek comfort for the world they left behind.
- Turn the Other Cheek: Despite her issues with Melanie, when she comes to her after the revolution, Audrey offers the same therapeutic solace as she would any other person - allowing Melanie to finally confront the grief of leaving her daughter behind.
- Unlimited Wardrobe: Downplayed at first – as the proprietor of the Night Car first, and Wilford's mistress then, it's unsurprising she has no shortage of glamourous outfits and fancy jewels. It becomes very noticeable in Season 3 though: even while exiled from the Night Car and left pretty much homeless, after just a couple of dishevelled appearances she's soon back to sporting some lush, sequined gowns with matching jewellery.
- Wide-Eyed Idealist: She hopes that strikes can force Wilford (actually Melanie) to concede rather than stoop to violence.
Clay
Clay
Portrayed By: Tom Kirk.
Audrey's bartender and aide.
- The Bartender: He serves drinks in the Nightcar.
- Killed Off for Real: Among those Layton dooms to death when the Folgers' cars are detached in episode 9.
- Number Two: To Audrey, among the dissatisfied Third Class citizens.
- Wholesome Cross Dresser: He wears woman's clothes at times and it's never portrayed as disturbing or sinister.
Nikki
Nicolette "Nikki" Genet
Portrayed By: Madeleine Arthur
A Nightcar worker who has been confined to the Drawers over some of the past murders.
- Frame-Up: Erik and L.J. drug her and set her up to take the fall for their first murder.
- The Scapegoat: For the first murder. Audrey indicates she was tried and convicted based on her profession and proximity to the body, not on any evidence produced by the brakemen.
- Trauma Conga Line: She's falsely accused of murder and locked in the Drawers, is suffering severe mental trauma when she gets out, and then is killed because of what she knows.
Other Passengers
Zarah
Zarah Ferami
Portrayed By: Sheila Vand
Layton's ex, and a Tailie who managed to get promoted to Third as a bartender in the Night Car.
- Amicable Exes: She has a lot of ups and downs with Layton, but eventually the two come to terms with raising their daughter together, even if they don't love each other romantically any more.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Despite the initial friction after being reunited, it's obvious that Zarah and Layton still love each other despite the former leaving the latter. This love only strengthens when Zarah becomes pregnant with his child, though eventually the two settle into raising their child together, accepting that Layton will always love Josie more.
- Can't Kill You, Still Need You: While many of Layton's associates suffer various horrible fates, Wilford makes clear that being pregnant - especially with Layton's baby - is enormous currency on Snowpiercer. Consequently, she's safe from him for the time being. He even backhands Kevin for suggesting he give her a slap when she's not being cooperative.
- Category Traitor: Many of the Tailies view her this way, as someone who gave up on the revolution for a slightly more comfortable life. Her selling out Josie to Melanie really didn't help matters.
- The Confidant: Wilford claims she's become this to him. How much of that is true is up to debate, but they're on a First-Name Basis.
- Deadpan Snarker: After six months of putting up with Wilford and his whims, her tone when delivering news or replying to him is rather deadpan, if laced with the tiniest hint of exasperation.Wilford: Zarah, go see the cake maker.
Zarah: You put the cake maker in compost. - Easily Forgiven: Subverted. Layton might have forgiven her for selling out Josie, but the other Tailies definitely haven't - it takes Layton and Ruth, of all people, to get Strong Boy and Z-Wreck to back off when they corner her. In season 2, the threats get bad enough that she's forced to leave Third Class completely.
- First-Name Basis: With Joseph Wilford, of all people.
- The Good Chancellor: Tries to be this to Wilford. Given the man, it's mostly to no avail.Zarah: Well, we could all use a little rest, but maybe an extra ration... [Wilford cuts her in] ...too...
- Honest Advisor: Wilford claims to value her for this. He'd have Zarah deliver bad news rather than Kevin.Wilford: Let's hear it from her. I appreciate how you do the bad news, Zarah: always a clear-eyed view.
- Kick The Son Of A Bitch: Relishes and lets no chance go to waste to mistreat, belittle, insult and even physically push around Kevin while they're colleagues under Wilford and she can leverage her pregnancy. It's quite cathartic to watch.Kevin Perhaps there's another way to conserve energy: like a cull.
Zarah: No, Kevin, you ghoul. [To Wilford] Please, berate him, remind him there are rules. - Number Two: Zarah becomes this when she joins Hospitality in Season 2, though it's mostly just to watch over Ruth.
- Oh, Crap!: Her reaction when Wilford subtly hints that her pregnancy, which has granted her privilege and safety so far, might not be enough to ensure her survival during the attack of the Pirate Train on the Great Ark Train.
- Old Flame: Layton's pre-Freeze romantic partner. The two separated when she had enough of the hand-to-mouth Tail existence, but she turns to him after becoming a suspect in Sean Wise's murder, with a hot-and-cold relationship that eventually culminates in her getting pregnant.
- Pregnant Hostage: Zigzagged. When Layton decides to steal the engine and depart on the Pirate Train, Zarah chooses to stay behind on the main train depsite Wilford's presence to have all the medical care she and the baby need, counting on the leverage that a pregnancy gives aboard Snowpiercer to ensure her own safety from Wilford. It is Layton who takes Miss Audrey hostage to make sure Wilford won't harm Zarah or any other passenger. However, when the Pirate Train comes back and attacks the Great Ark Train, Wilford does summon Zarah to Big Alice's engine car as a deterrent against Layton attacking him directly. And it backfires!
- Rank Up: She convinces Ruth to let her join Hospitality in season 2, giving her protection from the still-angry Tailies and allowing her to be in Layton's proximity a lot more, while at the same time allowing Zarah to keep an eye on Ruth.
- The Resenter: When we meet her she's still angry with Layton for talking her into storming Snowpiercer, and subsequently becoming a Taillie, instead of dying with dignity like the rest of their families. It's clear she's not come to terms with her own decisions in the matter though.
- Sadistic Choice: Melanie threatens to terminate her pregnancy if she doesn't give up information on Layton. She sells out Josie since she doesn't know where Layton is.
- Social Climber: Bails on the Tail for a Third class bunk. When Ruth puts her in a first class cabin after finding out she's pregnant, she can barely hide her delight.
- The Unfettered: She's not downright ruthless, but has shades of this. It's implied it's a result of her life on Snowpiercer, as before she was willing to Face Death with Dignity in the Freeze, but after years of hardships in the Tail she's hardened into a pragmatic survivalist who will throw people under the bus to maintain or improve her living conditions, if push comes to shove. To make some examples of the lengths she'd be willing to go:
- As soon as the chance arises, she doesn’t think twice about leaving Layton behind, moving from the Tail to Third and never thinking of her fellow Tailies' well-being again.
- Once she becomes pregnant by Layton, she throws Josie under the bus to avoid Melanie terminating her pregnancy.
- As pregnancy is huge currency on Snowpiercer, she has no problems leveraging it to get into First and gain a cushy job in Hospitality.
- From that point on, she becomes much more sympathetic, though, as her focus becomes ensuring her child's safety and future. To this end, she gets close to Joseph and even lets him experiment with cold-resistance genetic enhanchments on her unborn child both to maintain his favour and to ensure the child will be able to leave the train.
- Once tension breaks out between Layton and Melanie, with Wilford in the middle, Zarah renews her deal about Liana's safety with Wilford to make sure that, whoever comes out on top, Liana will be safe. She then weaponises her reputation for wavering allegiances and closeness to him to lure Wilford into a trap, allowing Layton and Melanie to finally get rid of him for the forseeable future.
- What You Are in the Dark: On the other hand, in Season 2, she manages to recognize the clinic's badly-frostbitten mystery patient as Josie, and since nobody else recognizes Josie and they don't expect her to survive her injuries, Zarah has a perfect opportunity to kill her and thus ensure that she never has to compete for Layton's affections again. And since Layton still thinks that Josie's dead, he'd be none the wiser. Zarah decides that she couldn't live with herself that way, so she decides to tell Layton that Josie's still alive instead.
Terence
Terence
Portrayed By: Shaun Toub
A charming, conniving, and ultimately dangerous janitor-turned-gangster who rules the Black Market with an enigmatic power, inspiring fierce loyalty in his army of minions.
- Affably Evil: He's polite and reasonable, albeit utterly ruthless.
- Ain't Too Proud to Beg: When he realises Pike intends to kill him and all his lackeys have abandoned him, desperately tries to accept Layton's earlier deal and assure Pike all is well. It doesn't work.
- Almighty Janitor: A very literal example. Terence was a janitor in Wilford's empire before Snowpiercer, and now he's Snowpiercer's head janitor, which is an instrumental position in such a closed ecosystem. He also runs the black market, making him even more immensely powerful.
- Always a Bigger Fish: While he's secure in his power much of it comes from the fact the powers-that-be uptrain have other things to worry about. When a very angry Melanie has him brought in for a chat in the aftermath of Layton escaping the drawers, he's visibly squirming and later refuses to help Layton and the other rebels to avoid pissing her off even more.
- Big Damn Heroes: Helps Josie rescue Layton from the Drawers. Subverted in that he turns out to be more interested in stealing the suspension drug to make more kronole, and abandons Josie almost immediately on getting it, leaving her to be found by the Brakemen. Only Till's intervention saves her.
- Bullying a Dragon: Rejects Layton's generous offer of a 60:40 split of the weed profits in favour of threatening to sell out Josie's role as a spy to Wilford if he doesn't keep total control of it. He pays for it with his life.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Pike shoves a sealant gun into his mouth, causing the foam to expand, with a bit even coming out of his eyeballs.
- The Don: He runs the black market on Snowpiercer, and as such his tentacles extend pretty much everywhere. Most people work for him whether they know it or not.
- Even Evil Has Standards: He's ruthless and wields his power with an iron fist - but makes clear when they come looking for favours that he doesn't need the kind of problems LJ and Oz bring with them.
- From Nobody to Nightmare: Before boarding Snowpiercer, he was an innocuous janitor in Wilford's corporation. Now? He runs a thriving criminal underworld, and those who know about him know not to cross him.
- Kick The Son Of A Bitch: Really seems to enjoy humiliating Oz and LJ, the only characters in the show lower on the totem pole than him unambiguously worse than he is.
- Killed Off for Real: Pike kills him on Layton's orders after he threatens to sell out Josie's role as a spy to Wilford.
- Opt Out: He doesn't show much enthusiasm about Layton's attempts to recruit him and his men to full scale insurrection, especially with Melanie's eye already on him after Layton's escape.
- Orcus on His Throne: When characters visit him in the Chains he's always relaxing, shaving or getting a massage. When Melanie confronts him to figure out Layton's whereabouts she notes his hands aren't very calloused for a hard-working janitor, to his visible discomfort. By season 2 his den has become littered with fine furniture and paintings likely stolen from first, giving him an opulence not present earlier.
- Villainous Friendship: Pike's become a vital link in his black market chain by early season 2. Though with the erection of proper border controls, Terence wastes no time in reminding him who's boss, establishing he's as classist against Taillies as anyone from First.
- Wild Card: Unlike almost every other character he's got no loyalties to Melanie, the Tail or any Class on the train - he's exclusively concerned with his own power and comfort. He variously aids Layton and Josie when it suits him, but stays out of the Tail revolution once Melanie starts threatening him.
Astrid
Astrid
Portrayed By: Jane Mc Gregor
A former Tailie who got a third class apprenticeship some time ago.
- The Mole: She retains loyalties to the Tail and acts as a spy and messenger for them.
Walter Fleming
Walter Fleming
Portrayed By: Gary Hetherington.
A papermaker in third class.
- Cool Old Guy: Walter is in his 60s to 70s, seems fair and intelligent while serving as a juror during the trial of L.J. Folger and is a member of the Third Class rebels.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Maybe. He can't hide his delighted smirk when the jury he's on find LJ unanimously guilty. Which might explain why he's executed once the Folgers take over.
- Make an Example of Them: Falls victim to this when he's captured along with some other rebels and then executed.
Jakes Carter
Jakes Carter
Portrayed By: Brent Stait
A tunnel man who works on maintaining vital systems in the train cars. He is the one to find the body of L.J.'s most recent murder victim.
- Face–Heel Turn: Becomes one of the ringleaders of the anti-Tail riots, believing Layton's leadership led to them losing everything.
- Mr. Fixit: He conducts duties like electrical repairs that help keep the train operational.
- Rebel Leader: Aside from Audrey and Till, he's the main Third class leader working with Layton and the Tail during the revolution.
Pastor Logan
Pastor Logan
Portrayed By: Bryan Terrell Clark
A pastor who is in charge of the Tea Room, a church car that caters to all religions.
- Badass Preacher: Pastor Logan is a pretty good boxer, though it's not shown if he's used these skills for self-defense. When Till eventually confronts him, she gets the better of him quite quickly.
- Black Shirt: Given that Lights is mentioned to have been attacked at the start of episode 2, just after the trains were fused together, it's strongly implied he starts working for Wilford almost as soon as his return was announced.
- The Confidant: Logan serves as a sounding board for Till as the responsibilities of her promotion get to her. Ultimately, Logan turns out to be a Treacherous Advisor.
- The Mole: For Wilford. He’s the one organizing the deaths on Snowpiercer as part of Wilford’s plot to take over.
- Sour Supporter: Pastor Logan admits to Till that he's not the biggest supporter of Layton's leadership of Snowpiercer. He mentions that he's not the only one and that if Layton doesn't get his act together, they're all going to pay for it. Turns out he's been undermining it ever since Wilford got back, acting as his agent on Snowpiercer and leading the mutilation of the Tailies and slaughter of the Breachmen.
- Warrior Therapist: Logan is a bit of this as, during a spar with Till, he helps release the frustration she's been having.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: He thinks so, believing that if the deaths he causes as Wilford's agent on Snowpiercer lead to peace, it'll all be worth it.
Anne Roche
Anne Roche
Portrayed By: Elaine Kao
Roche's wife.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Anne wished for Wilford to be in charge of Snowpiercer again. By the end of 2x08, the first thing he does when he's in control again is to put her, her husband, and their daughter in the drawers on Big Alice.
- Happily Married: She loves her husband.
- Hidden Depths: Anne is apparently religious, whereas her husband lost his faith on Snowpiercer. And unfortunately, she's a Wilford supporter.
- Killed Off for Real: Unlike her husband and daughter, she doesn't survive her stint in the drawers.
- Sour Supporter: Like most Third Class citizens, she's unhappy with Layton's leadership in Season 2; she also believes the train is better off with Wilford in charge.
- Unseen No More: Anne is first mentioned in the pilot, but doesn't appear in the flesh until the seventh episode of season 2.
