WARNING: The following contains spoilers for "The Time of Two Engines," the Season 2 premiere of Snowpiercer.
In the first season of Snowpiercer, most civilians aboard the Great Engine felt like the first-class needed to share the wealth and resources with the rest of the train. This is why Layton (Daveed Diggs) was able to organize a revolution and get the ark to rebel, taking the equality they should have had in the first place.
However, as Season 2 opens up, Layton's leadership aboard the train is already crumbling, and it's for good reason.
With Wilford's Big Alice hooking Snowpiercer, it's basically one giant train now with the Tail as a borderland. Layton decides to declare martial law, though, announcing to the 994 cars left that elections will be postponed -- at least until they can figure out a way to disconnect from Wilford. The problem with that is democracy was promised when the revolt ended, and while Wilford and Big Alice came right after, the way Layton is handling caught everyone off guard.
The masses feel as if there's no plan, leaving those who thought Layton was their messiah feeling like fools. Seeing him buddying up to Hospitality head, Ruth, doesn't help matters, and on the train, optics are everything. Sure, Layton's trying to prioritize things, solve the Wilford issue and deal with the lay of the land, but his execution is off as people feel used.
Layton also has Zarah in First, which doesn't paint a great picture. She sold Josie out and got her killed, something the people still haven't forgiven her for. They're even more discontent knowing Ruth's putting her up in a nice, chic suite because she's pregnant with Layton's baby. Soldiers who fought with Layton have already called him out on it because the way Zarah's getting treated seems to indicate favoritism. They see it as an abuse of privilege and Layton turning into a new version of Melanie, who was nothing but a liar and hypocrite.
To make matters worse, apart from upsetting the lower cars, Layton's mucked it up with his own staff. He knows, whether he likes them or not, he needs Hospitality to run the train, but he makes a mistake by not informing Ruth of a raid. While she was keen on diplomacy, Layton secretly gets a crew to try to breach Wilford's border, and when it backfires, people die and others return injured.
At that point, Ruth chides Layton for his decision because she wanted to work with him despite their differences. He remained cynical, though, fixated on her sleazy and sly past, which has ruined their new beginning. Ruth was always a Wilford loyalist, which means her people could quickly become saboteurs, and with Zarah keen on staying close to her, Layton has dug himself a deep hole in his first day on the job.