WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Snowpiercer Season 2, Episode 2, "Smolder to Life."
One of the most heartbreaking moments in Snowpiercer Season 1 was when Melanie killed Josie in an interrogation. She hated how Mel was using her son, Miles, as leverage. It broke Layton, who had just started a relationship with Josie, and spurred him to lead a coup. Little did Josie know he and Mel would eventually put the past away and work for the betterment of the ark, especially now that Wilford's back.
However, the second season just got a whole lot more interesting as Josie's shocking return revives a love triangle that could put Layton in a very compromising situation.
This triangle involves Zarah, Layton's ex, and the woman who's currently carrying his baby. Despite their tryst, Layton realizes his heart is with Josie, whom Zarah stumbles upon in Second Class. Zarah's working in the medical bay and when she spots Josie, she's stunned. She's the one who's info sold Josie out, so there's guilt in seeing Josie with an arm missing and her body disfigured from the frostbite when Mel opened sub-zero temperatures on her in the torture chamber.
Sadly, Zarah injects a chemical in her I.V. as she wants to kill her, giving the impression she's ending her suffering. However, Zarah actually does this because she doesn't want Layton going back to Josie, as they're both living together comfortably with a suite in First Class. She knows once Josie comes back, Layton will be hers again. Thankfully, Zarah recants the idea and unplugs the I.V., unable to live with blood on her hands. She's left with a choice, but as the Nightcar hints, it's best to not distract Layton.
They need Layton for the war to come when Wilford eventually tries to use his scientists and soldiers to take the Great Engine back. Still, Zarah breaks the news to him and the final moment has him rushing over and Josie waking up. It'll be great news for her son, Miles, but there will be trouble to come.
Josie won't take kindly to traitor Zarah, and if she knew her enemy is carrying Layton's baby, she would be infuriated. This could drive a wedge between Zarah and Layton, maybe even pushing Zarah towards Ruth and Hospitality, who are treating her and the baby pretty nicely. Layton may even be willing to barter with Wilford's scientists for their "goop" that can cure frostbite, which will stir up a civil war as people will think he can't separate professional duty from personal desire.
They need Layton to stay strong, so if this clouds his judgement, there'll be major problems. Josie doesn't that he's allied with Mel as well, so Layton is in for a rude awakening. And with Zarah there with his kid, it'll be hard to fit Josie back into his life, especially as the whole social dynamic has changed and he's responsible for leading the ark.
Snowpiercer stars Jennifer Connelly, Daveed Diggs, Alison Wright, Mickey Sumner, Susan Park, Iddo Goldberg, Katie McGuinness, Lena Hall, Annalise Basso, Sam Otto, Roberto Urbina, Sheila Vand and Jaylin Fletcher. The series airs on Mondays at 9pm ET/PT on TNT.