'Snowpiercer' Season 3 Episode 8: Why did Asha sacrifice herself? What does it mean to Layton?
Asha is one of those characters on 'Snowpiercer' that has managed to remain unpredictable. Played by Archie Panjabi, the character was first seen in Episode 1 of 'Snowpiercer' Season 3. Titled 'The Tortoise and the Hare,' the premiere episode saw Layton rescue Asha from a nuclear power plant in Korea.
A little later in Season 3, we find out that she belonged to a group of nuclear scientists who worked at the plant before the Freeze and that they survived by living off the residual heat from the reactor as it cooled. Sadly, most of the group members died after being attacked by marauders while the rest perished due to radiation poisoning. Asha's nephew was the last to die and she lived by herself for four years before being rescued by Layton.
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In Episode 8 of 'Snowpiercer' Season 3, we see Asha accompany Layton to the breach in the agriculture car. They soon figure out that the entry to the area with the opening is too small and that one of them is going to have to exit their suits to fit in. As Layton begins to step out of his suit, she hits him to ensure that he's temporarily incapacitated, and exits her suit. She seals the opening, essentially saving the remnants of humanity from extinction. However, she inhales the toxic gas in the process and dies.
Why did Asha sacrifice her life?
In Episode 2 of Season 3, it's revealed that Asha has radiation poisoning. She also feels extremely lonely and mostly keeps to herself as none of her family or friends survived. These two factors coupled with Asha's opinion that Layton is of more importance to the train than her made her sacrifice her life in Episode 8 of Season 3.
What does Asha's sacrifice mean to Layton?
Titled 'Setting Itself Right,' Episode 8 showed Layton making a promise to Asha right before she died. Giving her his word that he would lead the train to New Eden, Layton feels the need to be more responsible for the sake of his people and to ensure that Asha's sacrifice doesn't go in vain.
'Snowpiercer' airs Mondays at 9 pm ET on TNT.