Reviewer Rating: 3/5.0
3
Hunger is one of the oldest weapons of war, and the silos’ ongoing cannibalism is no exception.
However, Bernard Hollander had no strategic or tactical acumen. Starvation was just one step in the instruction manual—a procedure written down centuries ago that Holland followed to the letter.
Judge Meadows warned him about this, but Bernard was a stickler for rules, at least when it came to the issue of establishing and maintaining hierarchies.
The Silo Season 2 Episode 5 slowed down this lethargic season, but Episode 6 provided small progress in the way forward.
The mechanical area and the rest of the lower level are essentially under siege, with a small barricade separating the haves and have-nots.
Bernard, of course, directs things from the safety and security side of IT in between talking to Judge Meadow’s corpse and visiting Camille Sims for some polite intimidation.
The animosity and outright animosity between the Machines and IT is the main focus of Silo 18, which is unfortunate for Sheriff Billing’s subplot.
As he continued his investigation lower down, I couldn’t help but feel that the whole thing was pointless. Billing’s pursuit of the truth and his stand for justice are honorable, but neither feels impactful given the surrounding circumstances.
Of all the characters in “The Silo,” Billing’s character is the most clearly defined. A figurehead conscripted into service out of the needs of the regime, Billings was a corporate man.
Now, his uncertainty is more evident than his physical condition. It’s definitely a scandal that Billings, played by Chinaza Uche, didn’t get more screen time.
He’s one of the most interesting characters, despite ongoing events that almost overshadow his subplot. Still, Billings kept his head down and trudged forward, one question at a time.
For the book lovers out there (I know, I mention this almost every time), seeing Lucas Kyle serve as Bernard’s shadow is a welcome change of direction.
A man who was once unknown in the mines is now back on track and has become an important character in the original novel and the series. No, Lucas isn’t what I’d call a major character, but his importance in the books makes me happy to see him reappear.
Lucas carries the vast mystery and true history of the Silo on his shoulders. This is especially true since he is not entirely Bernard’s creation.
Now, his role is a bit boring, uncovering obscure codes, secrets, and underlying information from the long-dead high-profile residents of the Silo.
Lucas’ sudden promotion is not good news for Robert Sims, who has spent much of his career trying to be Bernard’s shadow. For Robert, it was like rubbing salt in the wound to watch some of the nobodies recently condemned to the mines take their rightful place under Bernard.
The apparent differences between Robert and Bernard grew larger. As Lucas slowly uncovers the secrets of the silo, Patrick Kennedy lies in bed, shot in the shoulder, spreading lies.
Except he didn’t know he was lying to Sheriff Billings. He only knew what he saw in Juliet’s mask: green pastures, blue skies, and flocks of birds.
While Juliette was busy returning to her silo to prevent her people from making the same mistake as Silo 17, Kennedy was planting the seeds of the same mistake in Silo 18. .
It has the effect of taking the intensity of the story up a notch. Episode six was an improvement over episode five, but the writers seemed pretty good at throwing in silly stuff here and there.
On the plus side, it’s not common or common throughout the series, but these moments tend to be immersion-breaking, irrational jumps.
Season 2, Episode 3 is filled with this stuff, and like the entire history of Mechanics & IT, it’s conveniently written on the wall and not noticed until the plot demands it.
Or the whole silo unites against the mech after Sims says a few words. In episode six, it comes in the form of a fight, or lack thereof.
There are the typical battle cries, the entertainment industry’s weird obsession with screaming before charging (most people would exhaust their lungs screaming while climbing stairs), and dramatic camera angles.
Only this time, just before the two sides clashed in the manner of the Battle of Lothirim, someone screamed, “Stop!” and everyone stopped. The two party leaders, just ready to kill each other, had a simple, brief conversation.
In this way, ten floors of machinery were added, one of which conveniently included the farm. The problem of hunger was solved, and Bernard Holland’s siege strategy was over.
If anyone had been there screaming: “Stop!” at Thermopylae, Antietam, Waterloo, Zama or Stalingrad. This might be the greatest “WTF” moment in the series. So far.
“The Silo” works better in its darker, more mysterious settings – the political back-and-forth and manipulation that comes naturally to humans as they vie for power in authoritarian systems.
It’s interesting to see the mechanical mind continually getting the better of Bernard. But ultimately, Bernard was a glorified IT executive and politician who was too smug and too sure of himself.
His reflective moments include talking to Judge Meadow’s corpse, asking her unnecessary questions that he had told her before he murdered her with a plate of mushrooms.
Yes, the weird scene with poisonous mushrooms, and then there’s the trip through a virtual reality world with the glorious Nintendo Virtual Boy.
Meanwhile, Juliet Nichols is “out of sight, out of mind.” Her only scene comes at the very end of the episode, which seems very out of place.
Mainly because the entire episode revolves around what’s going on in Silo 18, Juliet’s mission is little more than background noise. Suddenly, she saw a small dialogue scene between her and Zoro at the end.
It’s a weird, sure-fire moment that opens the door for Episode Seven, but it feels completely out of place, even though Juliet is the series’ protagonist.
Considering the action that’s happening (or, as it turns out, not happening) in Silo 18, jumping back and forth between Silo would be too immersion-breaking. The thing is, Juliet’s quest should always be the focus, just like in the book.
Unfortunately, readers rarely get what they want.
Watch The Silo Season 2 Online
