As Snowpiercer season 2 heads into its two-part finale, John Osweiller (Sam Otto) is one of the key characters caught in the middle of the war between Mr. Wilford (Sean Bean) and Andre Layton (Daveed Diggs). In Snowpiercer season 2, episode 9, "The Show Must Go On", Osweiller reveals a surprising musical talent, which can be seen in Screen Rant's exclusive clip below.
Screen Rant had the pleasure of speaking to Sam Otto about how Osweiller managed to survive aboard Snowpiercer for the past two seasons. We discuss the former Brakeman's new fortunes, what it's like working with Sean Bean, and the blooming romance between Osweiller and L.J. Folger (Annalise Basso). Otto also performs Osweiller's riveting rendition of "Winter Song" by Indrid Michaelson and Sarah Bareilles in Snowpiercer season 2's finale.
Screen Rant: Let's start with your amazing musical performance. What was that like to perform and did you do it in front of the other actors?
Sam Otto: Yes, I did. Honestly, it was great fun. I played piano and sung for a long time. It's one of the joys of my life, really, and I love doing it. So it was a real pleasure to have a chance to do that whilst I'm acting as well. But it was really weird to do that in front of Sean Bean, you know what I mean? (laughs) It's not a normal occurrence, but I really enjoyed it. It was kind of a touching moment and a nice moment for the character. Kind of a change, a new lease on life, perhaps. Yeah, it was cool.
Screen Rant: It literally stopped the show. Everyone was just speechless in the scene. Was that something that you wanted to do or did the producers approach you with the opportunity to sing?
Sam Otto: Graeme [Manson, Snowpiercer's showrunner] came to me about it. At the very beginning of season 2, he mentioned that there was a plan to bring something like this into it at some point. To say that there's a kind of secret, hidden past for Osweiller and there may be an opportunity to bring it out at some point in a kind of survival situation. What's he gonna do when he's asked, "What do you actually bring? What do you offer that's different and unusual and unexpected?" So Graeme asked me about it earlier on in the season, and I was like, "Oh wow, that sounds really interesting." It's gonna be a very new and very different journey for the character, a massive change.
Screen Rant: Between you, Daveed Diggs, Lena Hall, it's such a musically inclined cast. I feel like there should be a musical episode of Snowpiercer at some point.Â
Sam Otto: I've heard that before, actually, that kind of idea. It would be very interesting to see what would happen if they did that.
Screen Rant: Oz literally sang for his supper but he also really bared his soul in that scene. You started out this season with L.J. as your counterpart and it seems to have become romantic. Oz's feelings for L.J. seem genuine. Do you think L.J. reciprocates or is she even capable of having the same kind of feelings?
Sam Otto: Good question, really. I think for Osweiller, he really hopes that she does and I think there's a sense he feels like she does. Because I've been thinking about this myself, and I think a lot of [his] bitterness towards the world stems from a sense of 'nobody cares about him so why should he care about anyone else?' And so when there's a new situation where he might feel that someone actually cares about him, maybe has feelings for him or something, even if it's just a friendship initially then moves to something else, then it starts to open up a different side of him.
I think for him, he really, really hopes that she feels the same way. But I do think there's a constant, lingering sense of doubt that maybe she doesn't because he knows her history, he knows what's she's done, who she is, and that she can be very dark and dangerous. So I think there's a kind of fear there, but there's an overwhelming hope that she does feel the same way.
Screen Rant: I'm really kind of rooting for those two in a weird way. It's nice to see, at least from Osweiller's end, a genuine relationship blooming on the train amidst the killing and chaos. It's kind of happening very low-key in the background but it's been nice to see it develop. That dinner scene was also the first time Osweiller got some facetime with Mr. Wilford. What's it like working with Sean Bean?
Sam Otto: Well yeah, I'm from England and [so is Sean] so it was a real privilege to do some work with him. He's just so nice and down to earth. I spoke to him at the beginning of season 2 like, "Yes! Another Brit in the room! This is great." (laughs) Considering his status and his legendary, mythical presence, he's so down-to-earth and so cool. He's one of those people that's just really easy to talk to. He's kind of a bit shy and quiet almost, sometimes. He doesn't bring some massive ego or anything at all. It's the scene it's actually great fun, he's just another actor to explore with and play with. Yeah, he's great.
Screen Rant: Osweiller is also someone who has stayed out of the main conflict between Layton and Wilford this season. Now that he's starting to get drawn into the main story, where do you think Oz's loyalties lie?
Sam Otto: Well, I think that's a constant question for him. Obviously, throughout seasons 1 and 2 so far, every time there's been an opportunity to make a choice, he's mentally said, "I'm not gonna make a choice. I'm gonna step out." In season 1, in the moment of conflict, he says, "Am I gonna be on the side of the rebellion or am I gonna be on the side of the status quo?" He says, "I'm gonna wash my hands of this. I don't want to be part of it."
This kind of thing continues to happen but for him, it's more about where can he slot himself to maintain a quiet sense of survival and little crumbs of power as he moves along. But obviously, there's gonna come a point where he will have to make a decision, especially as he gets drawn more and more into the circle of Wilford. Therefore, he's going to be exposed to Layton as well. And that is really the question.
I think for me, it's a conflict within him. There's a moral sense, a moral core deep within him which he's been hiding, or at least sort of ignoring for a long time through the glory he feels or the power he feels through the abuse of the Tailies and stuff like that back in season 1. But now with this introduction of this relationship [with L.J.], I think it starts to blossom an emotional core which maybe wasn't really allowed to be felt before. Therefore it's gonna link to the idea of what's morally right as well. So I'm hoping that for Osweiller that he's going to start to feel more and more that he needs to do what's considered right, rather than what gives him more power or more agency. But we'll see.
Screen Rant: Going back to season 1, Osweiller started off as a Brakeman and now, he's kind of the head of Janitorial. He has sort of a girlfriend and he's actually one of the few characters who seems to have benefitted and grown up a little amidst the turmoil on Snowpiercer. What are your thoughts on Osweiller's evolution from season 1 into 2?
Sam Otto: With the revolution and everything that happened with Layton's drive up the train, that was the first change. For seven years on the train, that's what it was every day, day in day out, it remained the same. Where everybody was, what your class was, what you did. There was really no opportunity for social mobility or anything like that. What your position is is your position and that's it.
So for Osweiller, he would have gotten on the train when he was 18 or 19 so he has no prior experience. He was a sportsman before, a football player (or soccer player as you guys would say), so he has no applicable skills related to anything. So he's obviously learning how to be a Brakeman for those seven years but there's no other opportunities for him. Once Layton's revolution happens, suddenly the chains are blown off and everything's possible, then it's an opportunity to say, "Okay, I can reinvent myself. I can do something and be somebody else, and actually grow.
So I think for Osweiller and L.J., who were essentially kids when they first got on the train, this is the first opportunity they've had in seven years to do something different, to actually try and make something of themselves in this new world in which they find themselves. So it makes sense to me that they would be the ones to have more of a change and a growth in this new world, because they've never had that before. Never had the opportunity before.
Screen Rant: I definitely loved how L.J. turned out to be a good janitor and I loved Osweiller sticking up for her and pointing out, "She's worked really hard and improved a lot." I thought that was great.
Sam Otto: (laughs) She's this really privileged little girl who's never had to do anything for herself. For her actually being able to learn this new skill and do it well is a really huge achievement. And I think it's also endearing to see Osweiller acknowledge that to her. "Well done for that. I appreciate you for that and I acknowledge it."
Screen Rant: It was also interesting that Mr. Wilford didn't know Osweiller so he wasn't a personal hire like Ruth and some of the others. Do you think we'll find out the story of how Osweiller got passage on Snowpiercer?
Sam Otto: Oh, I don't know about that! We'll have to wait and see. Perhaps. It's always been an interesting question. Because I think there's definitely a great deal of luck involved. Because he wasn't in any sort of police force before, he wasn't involved with the Brakemen before, he was a sportsman, a soccer player. So, therefore, what is the route to get from there to get a ticket on the train and a job? I think it'll be a very interesting question to ask but we'll have to wait and see.
Screen Rant: Besides Mr. Wilford, the big thing in season 2 was the hope Melanie promised that there's life outside of the train. Is that something Osweiller has been thinking about, do you think? Is he dreaming about a house outside of the train, maybe living with L.J.?
Sam Otto: Maybe. That's something that could become more and more of a dream for him. I think the initial thing for Osweiller is always the next, immediate thing, you know? "What's my next step? What's the thing that will give me security and survival going forward?" But I don't think he even really knows much about [Melanie's future outside the train] as a concept, even. Until, I don't know, maybe until season 3. With this new development of a relationship with L.J., naturally, there's going to be a sense of thinking more and more of what could be. Again, I think we'll have to wait and see what happens if he's presented with that possibility.
Screen Rant: If you, Sam, had to spend seven years on Snowpiercer, what are the three must-have things you'd need to bring to survive?
Sam Otto: Oh, interesting. The three must-haves on a train for seven years. Well, I'd have to take a keyboard or a piano of some sort with me, because that's the thing that gives me peace. If I could have a tiny little space somewhere on the train to stick a piano, that'd be a great thing just to keep me sane within the kind of horrible noise of the rest of the train.
What else would I need? Maybe a blender! That'd be a good idea. Because I'm thinking the kind of food and stuff is gonna be pretty few and far between. I did this thing once when I had my wisdom tooth out and I couldn't eat properly so I just got all my food and I just blended it all up and I just drank it down. (laughs) If all the food is pretty horrible to eat, maybe just blend it all up and drink it down and you've got your stuff and you've got your nutrients. Maybe that's a good idea.
And I think the other thing would be a comfortable pair of shoes. I've got a pair of Addidas shoes which I've had for like three years and they're totally battered but I think they would last forever. That's what you need on a train. I mean, there must be a cobbler somewhere on the train but if you've got a solid pair of shoes that will last you a few years, I think that'll do you well.
Screen Rant: I really like the blender idea. I know there's a Snowpiercer beer but a Snowpiercer smoothie... I think that'd be a really good thing to get into.
Sam Otto: Everything in it tastes disgusting. Just add a bug bar.
Screen Rant: One last question: "Is love a lie?"
Sam Otto: Is love alive?
Screen Rant: "Is love a lie?" From the Winter Song lyric.
Sam Otto: But you know, the lyric is, "Is love alive". That's quite interesting. That's kind of a new interpretation of it. Actually, I know what you mean. Listening to it back, it does sound like that. That's maybe the greatest impression of all. Is love alive or is love a lie? I'd say love is alive but I think maybe that will change as time goes on, depending on how [Osweiller and L.J.'s] relationship develops. Who knows? If it ends up in disaster, maybe he'll think it's a lie. If it ends in perfection, then it's very much alive.