Silo Recap: Just Keep Swimming

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As a seasoned observer of human dynamics and power struggles, I find myself utterly captivated by this week’s Y: The Last Man. The intricate web of relationships, the shifting balances of power, and the relentless pursuit for knowledge are all elements that resonate deeply with my own life experiences.

Have you ever pondered over the estimated price tag of constructing the Silo prop? And, considering the current state of decay and water damage in Silo 17, have your thoughts also wandered to the expense of creating a second set for it this season?

Throughout the captivating scenes of Silo 17 in this week’s episode, titled “The Dive”, I found myself pondering deeply. The heart-stopping underwater journey undertaken by Juliette serves as the focal point of the episode. For the second time this season, she finds herself in a nail-biting underwater escapade, attempting to restart the water pump in Silo 17 so that Solo can retrieve the suit and helmet she needs for her return to Silo 18. Once more, she must depend on Solo’s aid to ensure her survival during this dive through a silo with a similar structure to her own but filled with unforeseen challenges due to the chaos caused by the post-rebellion flooding.

Recently, Solo has become less dependable. He’s moved away from being the charming, innocent recluse filled with wonder. Instead, we’ve discovered that he’s vindictive, quick to anger, deceitful… even a fraud. The interactions between Rebecca Ferguson and Steve Zahn are filled with a unique blend of action and tension. Juliette, who brooks no nonsense, is attempting to assert her authority over this immature individual, only to be met with obstinate defiance in return.

The foundation of Solo’s argument is strong. He needs Juliette to reverse the flooding now because once she leaves Silo 17, there’s a strong likelihood she’ll never return. But he comes across as so whiny and pathetic throughout their conversation. When she says he should do the dive, he responds by shouting, “I’m the head of IT,” and she snaps back, “You’re not even Solo!” He’s holding a little bell as he cringes from her comment, and the way it jingles only makes the scene sadder.

Without a doubt, eventually, Juliette goes for the dive, relying on the small bell to signal Solo once the machinery is working and she’s prepared for rescue. In the familiar style of explaining the plan thoroughly before things predictably go wrong, Solo instructs Juliette on swimming and alerts her about the risks of rising too swiftly and suffering decompression sickness. True to form, when Juliette sets the correct switches, she discovers that the rope connected to the bell has drifted away, and her air supply is gone. Facing no other option, she must disregard Solo’s advice and rise rapidly.

Remarkably, this tale is brimming with exhilarating action, captivating drama, and nail-biting suspense, all while showcasing compelling character development and visually stunning scenes! The episode concludes dramatically as Juliette resurfaces from the water, following a trail of blood that doesn’t lead to where Solo was posted. Holy smokes! What could this mean?!!

This week’s events in Silo 18 are not as intense as the previous one, but that’s fine. After the nail-biting episode centered around Silo 18 last week, the characters deserve a brief respite to reorganize themselves before the inevitable conflicts that lie ahead.

18’s drama largely revolves around an internal inquiry among the Mechanical separatists. They aim to uncover who contaminated their food supply in the previous episode and who among the Down Deep is a traitor, leaking information to Judicial by means of “listeners.” Eventually, Deputy Hank discovers that the poisoning originated from the one who initially informed them about it – the head cook of the level. She had struck a deal to ensure her mother’s medication continued despite the blockade. Although Knox claims forgiveness, he warns her that she will face retribution for betraying the Mechanical group.

In other words, despite their ongoing conflict with the higher levels, Knox and their group can’t be too upset at the moment because they’re enjoying a successful run. They now have a steady food supply, and in this episode, they use an illegally-possessed gunpowder to launch a rocket through their silo, scattering leaflets that urge the upper-level inhabitants to ponder why the power in IT remains on whenever Mechanical disables the generator.

All of this is very bad news for Bernard. First off, nowhere in The Order did anyone predict that Mechanical would get access to gunpowder. Second off, the questions about IT’s secret power supply can’t just be waved off as some kind of Mechanical trick. When Bernard holds a meeting with the upper-level deputies to try and get them on his side — in part by suggesting that Sheriff Billings is being held hostage by the Down Deepers — all the deputies want to ask about is the leaflets. (“What does this mean? ‘IT lies to us?’”)

Instead of handing over rebellion matters directly to Judicial’s raiders, Bernard plans to delegate this task from the Sheriff’s deputies, but Judge Sims refuses to approve this order unless they have a meeting first. Bernard had anticipated that Sims would be content with a ceremonial role and stay out of his business indefinitely. However, for this to occur, Sims must first comprehend why he served as the silo’s bogeyman for Bernard for a decade without receiving the promised reward: being the IT shadow.

In this episode, the intense confrontation between Sims and Bernard stands out as one of its most captivating moments. The scene showcases the complex relationship between two long-time colleagues who have never been friends, delving into the power struggle as it shifts between them. When Bernard attempts to assert his authority over Sims by saying he’s excellent at problem-solving but lacks curiosity, Sims hits back with a recap of the current issues in the silo – such as the deputy uprising and fresh graffiti on the stairs. It becomes clear that Sims is well-informed enough to realize that Bernard is losing control.

In this episode, Bernard is seen frequently in The Vault with his new IT companion, Lukas. A thrilling scene unfolds when Bernard presents Lukas with “The Legacy,” a collection of significant historical relics, books, and artwork, along with a digital tablet boasting hundreds of thousands more items. However, Bernard advises Lukas not to delve into the facts about astronomy or the silo’s construction. Instead, he must swiftly master the art of code breaking to decipher Salvador Quinn’s letter.

For those anticipating insights on silo matters from Lukas’s new position… unfortunately, not just yet. However, it’s amusing to witness Bernard struggling as he relies on Quinn, while a potential solution to the growing unrest that The Pact and The Order have failed to address lies beneath. The intrigue deepens when Lukas discovers he needs an old book, not found in The Vault, to decode Quinn’s enigma. Lukas is unsure which book it is, but Bernard suspects it might be Mary’s vintage copy of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Indeed, could there be a more fitting guide to uncover the truth behind the mysterious figure?

The Down Deep

I haven’t found Harriet Walter or Clare Perkins’ performances unsatisfying, but the Walker/Carla reconciliation storyline hasn’t resonated emotionally for me yet, possibly due to its brief appearances spaced out over numerous episodes this season. However, Carla’s isolation in a secret judicial cell adds depth to the plot since it prompts Walker, who should be keeping a low profile, to reactivate cameras that Carla had deactivated to send a message about her situation. Unexpectedly, this action alerts Bernard to the possibility that Walker might possess information about the missing gunpowder.

In a continuation of her Lady Macbeth phase, Camille Sims is subtly suggesting strategies to her husband on how to regain power from Bernard. She advises Sims to make an approach towards Bernard under the guise of doing him a favor. However, Sims harbors suspicions that his wife might be working behind his back with the rebels, as she seems intent on keeping him away from Bernard. Truly, there’s trouble brewing.

Based on Bernard’s account, all we learn from The Legacy regarding Silo 18’s history is that it’s 352 years old. This adds an intriguing twist to Bernard’s statement he made last week about “140 years of stability,” doesn’t it?

• Next week’s episode is called “The Book of Quinn.” Here we go.

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2024-12-27 17:56