Silo Recap: Let’s Go to the Tape!

As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of television, I must admit that my heart skipped a beat when I read about the street vendors and breweries in Silo. It’s not often that we get to explore the daily lives of characters outside of their primary roles – it’s like getting a backstage pass to their existence!

From the start of its first season, the series “Silo” has consistently featured a highly talented actor, often subtly present in the narrative’s backdrop, appearing sporadically in a scene or two across several episodes. However, this performer has yet to receive the spotlight commensurate with her abilities and standing. This week, that shifts as Tanya Moodie’s enigmatic Judge Meadows takes center stage, thrust into the thick of things by Bernard, who urgently seeks her assistance.

This week’s episode serves as a follow-up to last week’s “The Engineer,” shedding light on Juliette’s story post-escape from the silo’s crater, which we learned about in season two’s premiere. This time around, we delve into how the residents of the silo respond to her reappearance, which occurs over a hill. In essence: The community is in an uproar and grappling with doubt and uncertainty.

That’s not great for Bernard, who knows (for reasons yet unexplained) that if Juliette survived long enough to make it to the silo next door, she’d have found the hundreds of corpses littering the ground out there after a rebellion that killed nearly everyone. It’s the outcome he fears most for his own silo and why he’s so persnickety about keeping everyone in line. Yet, when he checks the protocols for advice on what to do on the rare occasion that someone who goes outside doesn’t clean, the book — The Order — says, “Prepare for war.”

As Judge Meadows enters, there’s an undeniable sense of weight and command that seems absent in Bernard. Both Bernard and Meadows are aware that Juliette’s survival up until now can be attributed to the high-quality tape, a secret that won’t remain hidden for long among the people in the silo. With this understanding, Bernard decides to give a speech with Judge Meadows’ support, praising Juliette as a hero because she consented to test a new type of tape created by our exceptional suit technicians. This, he claims, is the first significant advancement in our lifetimes! (However, it might not be entirely truthful that this is a “new” type of tape or that it’s the first major advancement.)

Tim Robbins delivers another typical charming yet cynical portrayal of Bernard, whether in public or private interactions with Meadows. However, it’s Moodie who captivates most. Her character, Meadows, maintains an air of mystery throughout this episode, but her essence and suffering become more apparent.

We observe Meadows discarding her alcohol bottles, hinting at a life clouded by alcohol prior to Juliette’s escape. Furthermore, we find valuable artifacts in her quarters such as Beowulf and The Wizard of Oz books. It appears that both Bernard and Meadows have more insights into the world before the silos, as well as the present world, compared to others. This knowledge has had profound effects on them, leading Bernard to seek power, while for Meadows, the burden of her secrets is overwhelming.

Among the many appealing aspects of the storyline in Silo, one that particularly resonates with me is the concept of two distinct systems of governance within this community. The first is the officially recognized set of laws, called the Pact, and the second is an unspoken collection of insights and strategies, developed over decades, on how to navigate around the restrictions imposed by the Pact. While Meadows presents as the emblem of the Pact, even she acknowledges that human behavior cannot solely be constrained by rules. It’s essential to give people the illusion of control, allowing them to believe they have some autonomy.

She’s astonished and somewhat admiring because Bernard skillfully integrates a rebellious character like Juliette into the silo’s grand scheme, while preserving Meadows’s symbolic importance (which is crucial for the people to believe in). Moreover, he employs a few troublemakers to give an impression that everyone within the silo has a voice and that they have chosen, collectively, to uphold order.

The plot in this show sometimes seems a bit weak, and when the characters start giving orders or using technical terms like “brilliant suit technicians,” it can feel quite formal or staged. Even an actor as talented as Robbins might struggle to make such dialogue sound natural.

Nevertheless, the episode presents numerous thought-provoking aspects, with its title carrying significant weight as a symbol of the silo’s rigidity and adherence to rules. The term “Order” encompasses the silo’s discipline, structure, and sacred texts, which is a subject of contention for Chief Deputy Billings (Chinaza Uche), who expresses his disapproval when he learns Bernard plans to discard a crucial part of the Pact and transform law enforcement into an extension of the judicial branch. Interestingly, there are two instances in this episode where characters inquire, “Is that an order?” following commands they receive. This distinction is crucial because an order removes personal autonomy. It provides leeway for the recipient to think they’re complying reluctantly.

Among the orders, one is handled by Walker, who’s tense following Juliette’s escape. He’s aware that even if Bernard claims otherwise, many in Down Deep understand that the tape Juliette used wasn’t recently acquired – and that he assisted her in obtaining it. When the crowd initially starts discussing a rebellion, she urges them to return to work, fearing a disaster might occur. Later, when “JL” graffiti (short for “Juliette Lives”) begins appearing around the silo, Walker locates a secret gathering of rebels and warns them, “You’re all unsuited for this kind of activity.

Walker realizes that her covert strategies to challenge authority can only go so far because those in power possess the firepower and determination to squash any overt rebellion. Intrigued, Walker questions the rebels about their objectives. When they reply, “We seek answers,” she counters, “You won’t find them.” When they retort, “Then we will fight,” she responds, “They are prepared for that.

However, they add another argument to Walker that seems difficult for her to dispute: “Perhaps some of the deputies and raiders might also desire the truth.

This discussion once more focuses on Judge Meadows, an individual within the silo who possesses valuable knowledge but might be eager for change. In a playful nod to her preferred novel, she requests from Bernard some high-quality recording tape, enabling her to emulate the Wicked Witch of the West’s escape in “The Wizard of Oz.” Meadows expresses a desire to step outside; is she seeking an adventure or simply tired of managing a life filled with bossiness and deceit? Whatever the case may be, it promises to be intriguing with Moodie as part of the equation.

The Down Deep

This week, there’s a secondary storyline focusing on Knox (Shane McRae), who’s still grappling with the aftermath of betraying Juliette, a major taboo in the exclusive Down Deep community. He justifies his decision as a pragmatic move to shield the inhabitants of the lower levels from law interference, as they frequently breach the Pact in small ways. However, secretly, he alerts an old friend at the foundry not to manufacture weapons if anyone with rebellious inclinations asks for them (and we later learn he makes another request off-screen, adding a touch of mystery).

This week isn’t going so well for Robert Sims (Common). He directly asks to be Bernard’s shadow, but is turned down because he’s considered too valuable in his role as the intimidating enforcer in the Judicial Department. However, there’s an intriguing development: Bernard’s denial of Sims’ request has led Sims to ponder about what Meadows and Bernard were doing together in IT before Meadows became a judge.

• When Judge Meadows declared that every household would get five credits to celebrate the “new tape” breakthrough, it got me thinking about how I’d love to see more about the economy and culture of the silo across all its various levels. We’ve mostly just gotten glimpses of the upscale neighborhoods, with their nice restaurants, and the Down Deep, with its street vendors. I want to know more! How do they brew beer? What do they do to entertain themselves after work? I know it’s dorky to say so, but sometimes with Silo, I want less action and more hanging out.

2024-11-22 13:54

Silo Recap: Let’s Go to the Tape!

The Down Deep

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