While I absolutely loved Book 2 of Infinity Train, it was pretty similar to the first and it was time for something different. Book 3 takes a massive risk by making the protagonists insanely unlikable, but I think it paid off.
The main protagonists of this book are none other than Grace and Simon from The Apex, who get stranded away from The Mall Car and are forced to work their way back through the train. What makes this season so interesting is that Grace and Simon were villains last season, and they still are. They have misguided philosophies and cruel actions, and the season starts with them destroying the "Unfinished car" from the first season. They think One-One is the "fake Conductor" of the train, they try to manipulate other kids to their philosophies, and they think poorly of everyone without a number. The show doesn't sugarcoat this fact, these characters are villains, they do awful things, and even though we learn more about their pasts, it doesn't erase their misdeeds. It's easy to absolutely despise Grace and Simon because of this, but I still enjoy watching them. These two leads gain new perspectives on the train throughout their journey, and it's fascinating to watch them evolve in different ways, with Grace regretting her actions and Simon doubling down on them. The second half of the series is particularly compelling as they start to drift apart and turn against each other.
Just as fascinating is Hazel, a passenger who was brought on the train at a very young age and has been raised by a gorilla named Tuba, and has a number that has somehow been turned off. She and Tuba are the token good counterparts of Grace and Simon and not only spark their development, but serve as compelling characters with affecting backstories of their own. As for the train itself, we continue to learn a lot more about how it works, particularly the backstory and name of The Cat. Amelia also makes a much larger appearance here as we see how she's trying to get her number down, while also giving Grace and Simon the big news that she's the false conductor. My only issue with this season compared to the last two is that the cars aren't nearly as inventive this time around, but it's understandable given that the character work takes priority during this book.
This is needless to say at this point, but pretty much every episode was great. These are the highlights, though:
Le Chat Chalet Car: I did not expect this episode's twist. Every person on the train had some sort of guardian, Simon's was The Cat, and she left him to die at 10 years old. No wonder he joined the Apex, and it does a lot to explain more about The Cat and how Simon ended up the way he is. Oh, and the joke about a blizzard being the Randalls having a snowball fight is just the most perfect thing ever.
The Color Clock Car: This episode was just plain painful. The color maze car itself was pretty fun as Simon and Tuba seemed to start to bond, only for Simon to kill Tuba. I thought Simon would at least keep it a secret, but nope, he gloats about it pretty much solidifying the fact that he's not gonna have a change of heart. We also get Hazel turning into a turtle out of grief, adding even more ambiguity to who she really is.
The Hey Ho Woah Car: All of the lingering tension between the group completely explodes during this uncomfortable episode. Amelia reveals she's the False Conductor, Simon learns Hazel's a turtle and that Grace kept it a secret, Hazel learns she's a failed clone of Alrick, and Grace tries to save face by insulting Hazel. It's a relentless eighth episode of the show where absolutely everything goes to hell.
The Origami Car: After constantly being told about their backstories, we're finally shown what really happened with Grace and Simon as the former gets trapped in her old memories. We learn how Grace's parents were like, how she met Amelia, and how The Cat deserted Simon. I was also surprised to find that Hazel left, for good, and she doesn't come back for the rest of the season. Grace ruined things with her.
The New Apex: This is easily the most intense and wince-inducing episode of the show. Wanna know what happens when a Grom kills you? Wanna know what happens when you drag the memory tape out of your head?! The final battle between Grace and Simon was tense and left me breathless as they both nearly fall off the train multiple times, and Simon's entire death sequence was absolutely shocking. This was a great finale and easily the best episode of the season, marking the end of The Apex for good.
Overall, Book 3 of Infinity Train takes a big risk by making the protagonists villains, but it absolutely works. The characters are compelling, the darker tone is a breath of fresh air, and the ending is absolutely stunning. I think Book 2 was still my favorite overall, but the fact that this one was nearly as good is just plain impressive to me.
5/5 Stars
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