Snowpiercer needs to use Asha effectively

Snowpiercer began kicking it up a notch in season 3 with the suggestion of warm spots around the world. During their journey, the pirate train came across Asha, a woman who had survived the freeze and had been alone for a long time.

The concept of a survivor in the world outside the train should have been uplifting and hopeful, even if circumstances were awful. The potential for even more survivors across the globe had increased. However, although Asha should have become a forefront character, she has receded to the background. Her only significance has been lying for Layton, claiming she came from a new Eden.

Although Asha has portrayed signs of PTSD and difficulties suddenly being around so many people in a new environment, her storyline begins and ends with being found and lying about it.

Asha’s survival experience is ignored, for the most part, as her addition to the train places her with others who have been struggling as well. Asha’s individuality as a survivor does not get enough recognition, in part because so few people know the truth. But, also because Snowpiercer is not using her character effectively. Instead, Asha barely has a role in the show’s current events.

It appears that Asha’s fundamental role is to exist as a backup for Layton’s claims about the new Eden and a way to manipulate the train’s passengers. However, Snowpiercer does not dive into Asha’s backstory. Although there are a few lines about her time underground, Asha does not play as essential a role in the series as she likely should.

Pike recently discovered the truth about Asha’s background, that she did not come from a glorious and green new Eden. However, his death follows afterward, so the stakes of the rest of the train potentially discovering the truth lowered. But, even if Pike had told someone else, would there be any proof of his claims?

The arrival of a lone survivor amidst a world of nothing could have given a renewed life to a show with limited space to move around as it is confined to the restricted area of the train.

There is still time left for Snowpiercer to elevate Asha’s role, allowing her to become of more prominent importance to the overall story than how she has been used so far. In addition, as a character that has lived a drastically different lifestyle, she may have survival skills that Snowpiercer’s passengers may never have needed to use.

However, if Snowpiercer keeps its lone survivor’s role confined to the background, she may never get the character development she has the potential to gain. Nor may she ever forge bonds with the rest of the characters.

There may be plenty of things occurring on Snowpiercer already, but Asha has a unique perspective and storyline that can do great things for the series if given a chance.