Episode 4 of Silo season 2 finally unfold the disaster that is when the lather of order and control starts to fall apart in a society underground that is build and kept on secrets, even gives us a hint of why the syndrome happens. In this episode titled "The Harmonium" we learn more about the power struggle between the Mechanical section and the upper floors, its Mechanical against everyone, always blame Mechanical, as well as the secrets from Solo's past in Silo 17 and the truth behind older rebellions that created their underground world.
The story moves between two main locations with Juliette and Solo continue working a way home in Silo 17, and Silo 18 where Bernard’s grip on power reaches its greatest test yet, funny enough by the hand of Judge Meadows. This contrast between the two scenarios is an interesting back and forward situation, one in which we find the isolation and mystery of abandoned halls of Silo 17 that has been dead even before Medadows became Bernard shadow, contrasted with the increasing chaos of the supposedly orderly society of Silo 18, one still full of life and the other just probably try to resuscitate with the little life still in it, been Solo.
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14688458/
- Platform: AppleTV+
We have seen the series trying to rely on flashbacks for the most time on season two and they did just that again although this time around its more interesting because its about things that we didn't know yet, for example Bernarnd and Meadows past relationship. We also learn through Knox's discovery of the wall of names in the Deep Down that rebellions have been a thing in Silo 18 every generation or so. This revelation makes for a more complex picture of the current conflict, not just an isolated uprising but a cycle that could have been going on for hundreds of years. The way in which this information is revealed through Knox and Shirley’s investigation all of the sudden open their eyes like no other rebellion in the past, this might be different this time around or they might just end up like Silo 17, all dead.
When it comes to this episode climax it has always been control and preservation of the Silo’s system , that is the reason Bernard decides to kill Meadows, this was the breaking point in their relationship, when Meadows told Bernard she wanted to leave the Silo, using the same heat tape method that helped Juliette live. Bernard had a romantic history with her, but as much as he couldn’t let her actions disrupt and corrupt the order he’s trying to establish, he felt there was no other choice, for me the poisoning during dinner was expected and very predictable but I still enjoy the scene very much.
One of the mayor triggers for her to be dealt with is that she knew about a coded letter from Salvador Quinn, the former Mayor during the rebellion 140 years ago, this episode gives us a more clear idea of how long the Silo has been running for and how many times a Mayor had to put down his foot and obey The Order. Whatever Meadows found in that letter she wouldn't tell Bernard; it was obvious whatever it was she knew it would be pointlessness against the rules and the system of the Silo, but she kept pushing Bernard's button to go out and I think for a couple of scenes he was trying just to buy some time, he didn't want to force his hand into taking care of her.
The murder was cold and calculated, Meadows was lured to dinner and there Bernard would giver her his Suit but just modified to fit her, but after all he said he had to obey the Order no matter what, so he poisoned her food. And his last act of mercy was to show her images from 2018 of a biological reserve in Costa Rica on a VR headset, letting her see the world that was lost.
Bernard didn’t just kill Meadows to shut her up, she became the perfect trap for Knox and Shirley from Mechanical, were used by him as part of his divide and conquer strategy, he used her death to frame them for her murder, always blame Mechanical. This one was a perfect way to start conflict between the upper levels and Mechanical, as all rebellions start in Mechanical. Bernard point these groups against one another in order to ensure no one unifies and kill whoever he once cared about or even himself who is in charge, he would probably let them kill each other for some time, waiting to emerge as the savior and peach keeper when the times come.
Back with Silo 18 neighbors, at Silo 17, with Juliette in the abandoned classroom, Solo's behavior raise some interesting questions as to his past, how he talks about a student named Lapis and then suddenly backtracks when Juliette points out the timeline inconsistency makes me think that there’s more to his story than we realize, he is lying about something, he is also reject to discuss his different colored eyes makes me wonder if he was much younger when whatever disaster struck Silo 17 occurred, would be a good explanation of his trauma and how he manage to stay alone for so long inside the Vault, probably when he was put in there he was so little he didn't know better and because something normal for him to stay lock down.
Knox's discovery in the Deep Down on Silo 18 reveals a pattern no one knew existed, but what he found wasn't just a memorial to the founders, but a record of those who died during many rebellions throughout the Silo's history, questions is why nobody knows about it, did the previous Mayor eradicate everyone and every memory of it?. But what is interesting is that these uprisings always seem to occur about every generation and Mechanical is always the root, center and front of it. Mayor Salvador Quinn was the last to document a rebellion but the wall means there could have been ten or more rebellions since the Silo was built in 2052. According to Knox's findings, the upper levels consistently use the same strategy "Always Blame Mechanical" turn the other levels on them and crush any hope of unity, probably because Mechanical is the heart of the Silo and the ones who are more unite as they risk their life every day to keep the Silo running. It makes sense because the flywheels give Mechanical the power to shut the whole Silo down, so both of them are powerful and a dangerous threat to those in control on the upper levels. And it's ironic that the Silo celebrates Freedom Day, as it turns out, is just a celebration of squashing one of these past rebellions which is really how deep the history manipulation goes in their underground society.
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