The sound of a ticking clock opening Silo’s finale is suitable because it it represents not solely probably the most welcome fast tempo of the hour but additionally the countdown dealing with the residents of Silo 18. If solely the center episodes had an analogous momentum, the present wouldn’t have been such a slog. Whereas the Apple TV+ collection began its second season robust, it’s plain that there have solely been just a few genuinely galvanizing moments just lately. Silo has suffered due to its inconsistency, however the closing installment tries to make up for it. “Into The Hearth” is a crackling nearer that opens up a can of worms begging to be set free.
So maybe we must always begin on the very finish of this episode due to how surreal it feels to look at the true world in Silo, with pictures of rain falling on the sidewalk, individuals zooming by on the streets, a lit-up Capitol Hill, a crowded bar, and what seems to be a date. Succession’s Ashley Zukerman and Iron Fist’s Jessica Henwick visitor star as a freshman Georgia congressman and a mysterious girl, respectively. Their hangout isn’t romantic, as he presumed, regardless of each of them vibing with one another. Any lingering sweetness goes away when she reveals her true intentions. She desires to know whether or not the federal government has made plans to retaliate in opposition to Iran for its radiological assault on the U.S. And identical to that, we’ve an inkling of how and why the underground bunkers had been created as a security web.
Zukerman and Henwick are sure to return to Silo as a result of it appears they’re essential to the plan. Earlier than he walks out, unable to reply her inquiry, he provides her a last-minute current he purchased her. It’s a PEZ dispenser with a yellow duck on it. Did it look acquainted? That’s as a result of it’s the identical relic George Wilkins (Ferdinand Kingsley) gifted Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson) in season one which she later planted within the residence of a Judicial agent to analyze George’s demise. It’s an unbelievable nugget to drop earlier than making us anticipate season three, however this cliffhanger guarantees the subsequent spherical of Silo in all probability has extra solutions than roundabout questions. It’s a shift I can not anticipate as a result of it’ll spawn extra outings like “Into The Hearth.”
Now that we all know the teensiest lore of the silos, let’s see how one among them may simply be destroyed when season three rolls round. Any ounce of peace in Silo 18 goes for a toss on this finale. The Mechanical versus IT conflict arrives in full swing, with Knox (Shane McRae), Shirley (Remmie Milner), Billings (Chinaza Uche), and Hank (Billy Postelwaithe) taking the combat to the upper flooring. Sure, they’re nonetheless discussing their plans in Martha’s (Harriet Walter) room, but it surely’s for his or her profit. All of them know Mayor Bernard (Tim Robbins) is listening, due to Martha speaking this secretly by way of hand indicators that Mechanical’s crew makes use of.
They need Bernard to listen to how they plan to assault the barricade and blow up the generator so the mayor can ship all his troopers to defend in opposition to them. He falls for the lure, and the whole lot appears to be going his manner—even Carla (Clare Perkins) refuses to forgive her ex-wife for betraying Mechanical to rescue her. However his happiness is short-lived when he realizes he’s been performed. The actual agenda was for Deputy Hank and Paul Nichols (Iain Glen) to trigger a distraction with a bomb, however the timer fell with out them realizing it. Left with no selection, Paul decides to manually cross the wires and trigger an explosion with him standing over it, leaving Hank with a goodbye message for his daughter if Juliette ever returns residence. R.I.P, Dr. Paul Nichols, we hardly knew ye. However I’ll miss Glen’s jarring American accent.
If Bernard thinks the detonation blowing up the steps from flooring 90 to 92—leaving Silo primarily cut up into two halves—was the worst a part of his day, oh it’s about to get a lot worse. He learns the total fact from Lukas (Avi Nash) concerning the Safeguard Protocol, which is that “they” can pump toxic gasoline into the bunker at any level and kill all 10,000 residents. Who’re they? We don’t know, however they may have one thing to do with the existence of 51 and never 50 silos that Bernard talked about to Lukas final week. It appears like an entity of individuals dwelling in a secret bunker have entry to the remainder of the silos, however let’s anticipate season three to substantiate that. As soon as once more, due to this unbelievable reveal, issues are solely trying up for this sci-fi saga.
Shaken to his core that his efforts have been for nothing, Bernard dumps IT shadow duties on Robert (Widespread) and locks himself up like a coward within the jail space. He’s in there virtually alone as a result of his prisoners—Shirley, Knox, Carla, and Paul—have escaped as a result of Paul’s workers nonetheless belief him. I’ll say, Robbins has by no means been higher in Silo than he’s in “Into The Hearth.” He’s a robust performer who makes it tough to utterly dislike Bernard, bringing nuance to his character’s tough selections. With Mechanical now having management over IT, issues are going properly till Patrick Kennedy (Rick Gomez) convinces the charged crowd that they should head exterior as a result of the world continues to be livable. He’s incorrect and an fool, but it surely’s simple to get swept up within the notion of freedom when you’ve lived underground underneath subjugation. Whereas we all know the air continues to be poisonous, Silo makes it simple to see why common residents desire a significant—not a monotonous and suppressed—life.
Fortunately, Juliette makes her grand entrance simply in time to cease them, displaying a word telling them it’s not protected. How’d she make it again? Effectively, after brokering concord between the Silo 17 survivors led by Audrey (Georgina Sadler) and Solo (a.okay.a. Jimmy [Steve Zahn]), all of them come collectively to assist her get out. She will get the swimsuit she wants, examined by her new BFF Jimmy by going underwater. (He didn’t drown so the swimsuit works!) This beautiful gesture cements their friendship. She says “Nothing goes to cease [her] from attempting” to come back discover him as soon as she’s saved her pals. And also you simply know Juliette means it. Silo, as meandering with its tempo because it’s been, has not less than thoughtfully advanced Juliette and Jimmy’s bond.
Her journey to enter Silo 18 halts virtually instantly when she faces off in opposition to Bernard within the gateway hall. He desires to exit for “a fucking second of peace,” one thing he doesn’t deserve for being a non-curious, strict rule follower. She tells him she is aware of concerning the Safeguard Protocol and has a option to cease it. That’s due to Jimmy, whose mom labored on flooring 14, the place the poison lies. However Bernard doesn’t care anymore. He is aware of “who” may get them killed however not why, but it surely’s too late as a result of his place as IT chief has been meaningless. Earlier than he can do something, Juliette steps inside, and the door shuts shut as fireplace rolls out.
Huh? This little twist comes out of nowhere earlier than we reduce to that aforementioned closing scene set a century or so in the past in Washington, D.C. It’s an abrupt option to finish Juliette’s homecoming.The place’s the reunion along with her pals or her discovering out that her dad sacrificed himself? Silo saves these emotional beats for season three, selecting to convey solely motion into the finale as a result of it was largely lacking from season two. The present desperately wanted this motion, and it has me excited for what the ultimate couple of seasons have in retailer.
Stray observations
• Was Juliette’s outburst at Audrey, who has been pretty irksome, probably the most satisfying Silo scene ever? And even then, in typical trend, Juliette conveys her frustration and factors with a lot empathy.
• I’m questioning why Martha couldn’t simply use the hand gestures to let the others know instantly that Bernard is utilizing her as a spy as an alternative of ready till Knox involves her room to debate their plans.
• Did Juliette actually imagine a random crowbar-like object would open the hefty Silo 18 doorways? Lady, you’ve obtained the arm muscle groups, however come on.
• Robert is the IT shadow however when he will get to the vault, the Algorithm kicks him and his son out, asking solely his spouse Camille (Alexandria Riley) to remain again. Ouch. But in addition it’s a clever selection.
• My request to the writers of Silo is to spend time fleshing out the supporting characters so as to add weight to the present’s themes. Till subsequent time!
