Silo Season 1 Episode 5 - The Janitor's Boy

Warning! Spoilers ahead! I have not read the book series this show is based on, so this is a highly speculative review and summary.

Halfway through the season and as one answer is given two more questions appear. I am still very excited and hooked on the show. This episode moves along with more discoveries about the Silo and its society. More background information on some of the main characters and more depth on our protagonist Sheriff Jules Nichols.

The show advances at a surreptitiously quick pace, discarding characters from before and moving onto new characters. New information is given to us about the Silo, the powers that be and the power players involved. We advance past the mystery of George Wilkins's file, learning there's nothing in it that our protagonist doesn't know. But this begs the question, why hide it at all? We find out what happens to Deputy Marnes and learn about the politics of the Silo. We learn that Robert Sims, the Janitor's Boy, is not a good guy at all and will kill to keep a secret. We hear about a new disease referred to as "the syndrome" which appears to be more significant and important as time goes on. We learn more about the customs that go on in the silo including biting of the apple and throwing into the grave.

Silo Society Gathers for Marnes's funeral

Biting and offering of the apple

Mayor Ruth Jahns and Deputy Sam Marnes burial

We are also officially introduced to Paul Billings who although is somewhat competent had left the Sheriff's department to join Judicial and is somewhat still beholden to them. His loyalties are unclear though he does seem to be wholeheartedly believe in the written words of the PACT. He remains the loan gray figure in the show at this point, a role formerly occupied by Robert Sims and Bernard Holland.

Unclear loyalties of Paul Billings

While some may argue that the show is moving at too slow a pace, it is needed to convince us, the viewers, that a lowly engineer who ran away from her childhood trauma can be the equivalent of a small town sheriff, solve crimes and fend for herself. She is able to show her deductive skills required for a detective as well as craftiness in picking locks using her badge and saving the life of a Patrick Kennedy who was set up to be a stooge.

Jules Nichols showing her craftiness picking a lock with a badge

Silo Plot advancement

There is a lot of information given to us over the past half season and the way it has been revealed appears to be leading to a crescendo of sorts which is yet to come. Per episode 1, Freedom Day (6 minutes, 6 seconds past 6 o'clock...ominous?), the rebellion occurred 140 years ago with an attempt to open the doors of the silo for all and this failed attempt is why things are the way they are now. The story is that the rebellion had destroyed much of the previous history, including books and presumably knowledge on the past. There is a constitution referred to as the PACT created to keep order in the Silo, and order, it appears, must be maintained at all costs. From an apparent life-long leader in from of a Mayor, to a very powerful branch of government known as Judicial. There does not appear to be any other branches and Judicial seems to have unilateral authority with it's own security despite the existence of the Sheriff's office. Likely there were other branches whose powers have dwindled over time. There are also new power players introduced, the "Friends of the Silo" who unofficially exist.

The infamous Janitorial Door

The government appears to be closer to a socialist style government where anything can be seized and destroyed if deemed unfit for order and there appears to be a gestapo-like organization that Robert Sims seems to be a lifelong member as membership was passed down from his father. What is not clear is if "Friends of the Silo" is an extension of the Judicial branch or something separate and even above the judicial branch. We presumably meet the Judge in this episode but it is never explicitly stated.

Is this Judge Meadows?

Sheriff Jules Nichols remains alone, despite having the support system of a surrogate mother of sorts in Martha Walker ("Walk") and Deputy Hank, both from down below and an unlikely but more lovable and jovial albeit drunk acting as mayor Bernard Holland (previous IT director). Even with his support she is still alone as she can not share her true thoughts with anyone for her own and their safety.

Bernard Holland is quickly becoming my favorite character

Wilkins File keeping Jules out of it

Martha Walker 'Walk' as mother figure

Deputy Hank declaring his loyalty

The syndrome must be something extremely significant as both Billings and Jules stare at Charles Martin's right hand tremors.

Charles Martin has 'the Syndrome'

The show reveals the stars, the sky and outer space is a mystery to the silo and Lukas Kyle seems to be the person piecing it together as he draws sketches and tracks their movements. The constellation presumably is cassiopeia which would place the location of the silo in the northern hemisphere. If it is visible year round that also places it higher than 34degrees latitude.

'I see a W.' Jules and Lukas. Is it Cassopeia?

Finally, we are left with another revelation and that is the technology in the relics are more advanced than what they have available in the Silo, with a stipulation in the PACT that they can not possess any devices to magnify past a certain power. We are left, at the end of the show wondering if they are truly in a free society at all and what plans Jules has on her mission to uncover the death of George Wilkins.