Wilford's plan in this episode was predictable but effective.
Create a disaster that forces Layton to invite him to Snowpiercer, and then make it clear to the inhabitants that, not only did he fix the problem, he was the only one who could fix the problem. At the end of the last episode, most of the train wanted Wilford in charge. Now they, and others, are convinced that they need Wilford in charge.
Wilford's decision to take Layton prisoner tells me that he's not worried about keeping even a semblance of peace. Otherwise, given Layton's influence among the Tailies, one would think that he'd want to make a show of having Layton as an advisor or in some official-sounding post as a token Tailie. Instead, he wants everybody to know that he's in charge.
The decision to drawer Roche and his family seems off. I can understand drawering the family to serve as leverage to get Roche to do his bidding, but why all three?
Wilford is obviously very confident in his ability to sway people to his side if he has allowed the Headwoods to make an Icy Josie (Frozie Josie?). That moment where she put her hand out the porthole was pretty cool.
I like the way some characters, like Ruth, Boki and the Headwoods, who started as fervent Wilford loyalists, are becoming disillusioned with him.
ETA: I may have missed it, but has there been any indication of how long there was between the release of CW7 and the launch of Snowpiercer. My initial impression was that Wilford built the train as a cruise train for the wealthy, and then he and Melanie used it as an ark/pleasure palace once the temperature dropped, but if the portholes were part of the initial design, did Wilford know in advance that the Earth was going to freeze. A train like Snowpiercer would have to be the work of years.
Edited March 16, 2021 by ReganXncG1vNJzZmien6fCrr%2BNqamipZWptq6x0WeaqKVfqbyxtcJoaGpuZGiEbr%2BPa5xpcF2ptaZ5xK2cq6aRoXqmusaipZ6domQ%3D