Warning! Spoilers ahead! I have not read the book series this show is based on, so this is a highly speculative review and summary.
This week's episode picks up the pace even more from before as the plot advances...
This week opens not with a flashback, but a dream scene, from a presumably throw away character from episode 1. The last few episodes have pretty much dispelled my complaints from earlier in the season.Namely the pace of the show, the attention to the plot and the interest factor. Only 3 episodes remain and many questions I have from before have been answered but some important ones remain including the overall question of the show.
This episode gives us more insight into Gloria Hildebrandt, the character from episode 1 that was just there to get Holston's wife, Allison, to leave the Silo. It masterfully builds character depth on characters that are long gone, namely Gloria Hildebrandt, Sheriff Holston, George Wilkins, George's mother, Anne Nichols even Judge meadows. It also advances the plot while making your heart race in the process. Jules, Holston's pick, begins to piece together some of the clues he left behind as she investigates the children's guide relic which had Gloria's name in it and the coincidence of her name being in George Wilkin's file.
Jules visits Judge Meadows in her apartment which is full of relics and it appears Judge Meadows is more depressed than actually sick. She also appears to not have as much control and power as thought in previous episodes.
Jules also figures out a way to get the information she needs from Gloria Hildebrandt and finds her prize, the hard drive, cleverly hidden by Holston in the vent.
The plot advances as Jules figures out more of the secret underpinnings of Silo society and realizes the mirrors are cameras. She also is in grave peril as Sims is now fully engaged as her foe and likely the main and real ruler of the Silo.
What is great about this show is that it requires you to backtrack, to rethink your thoughts and assumptions, to re-analyze and above all else, question and be curious. And so, I was incorrect in thinking that Sims was NOT the man in charge of the camera room and the camera room is indeed inside the Silo as part of the Janitorial suite via secret door. I had previous believed that the Silo was under observation and control by an outside organization which could still be true. However, everything still appears to be self contained and the outside can still be a toxic barren wasteland or a green, lush life filled utopia.
The Silo is under more strict control than you could believe with maintenance crew that are there to ensure everyone is under strict control. The mirrors and everything in front of them is kept clear and clean so that a good camera view is always available. Jules's father makes the statement "I sometimes wondered if they wanted to just punish the ones they picked" in regards to the reproduction lottery.
The show ends with Jules in grave danger as "the raiders" make their way to arrest or worse, deal with her.
The Nautilus shell
The nautilus shell is in the children's book and is also a tattoo on George's arm. It is one of the oldest known mollusks and has been around for at least 500 million years. It lives by creating a sealed compartment and once it goes to the next stage of life it advances into that compartment and completely seals the previous compartment off. It has taken a new age role of representing a spiritual journey. In a way the characters of the show through their quest for forbidden knowledge, that once obtained will mean they will be sealed off from their previous stage.
What make the choice of the Nautilus shell as imagery and use in the show significant is that it is the embodiment of "the golden rule" or Fibonacci sequence. It is the what is found in every thing from the shell to hurricanes to galaxies. It is also considered one of the most efficient ways to pass information, which is what the Silo in all of its efforts tries to stop from happening. It could mean that the Silo in all its attempts can not stop information from passing as it is unnatural.
Character development
Paul Billings - Appears to be a stand up guy, despite being a pawn in the middle of it all.
Dr. Pete Nichols - "You shouldn't be talking like that. It's dangerous. I can't do that....There are consequences to asking questions." He certainly has known more than he lets on throughout the season and puts himself in danger for the love of his daughter. Appears to have made a large amount of sacrifice for his daughter who blames him for the death of her mother.
Hanna Nichols - surprising that she was allowed to have children, she was not a flame keeper but had the same curiosity as one. She built a magnifying glass/device that was confiscated by Judicial. George's mom Anna helped her build it.
Jules Nichols - we learn about her extremely curious nature, she is beginning to question everything. She wants to know more about the stars, her engineering mind is at full force.
Bernard Holland - was threatened by Judge Meadows, or so it seems.
Judge Meadows - Not the all powerful person as she seems to be. She appears to be a puppet/figurehead
Robert Sims - seems to be more powerful than conceivable. Is he the head kingpin? He can certainly order "the raiders" to move in on someone and he runs the camera spy newsplex responsible for listening. Going back to episode 3, we are introduced to his son who is afraid of the dark and he gives the statement "The dark is nothing to be afraid of" which is quite telling but also could mean that Sims, in his extreme actions, may truly believe he is acting in the best interest of the Silo.
Sheriff Holston - we further learn that he was a good Sheriff and followed up on everything anyone asked. In episode 1 he was asked to find out why Gloria Hildebrandt could not get pregnant after 3 successful lotteries. This seems to validate his thoroughness and his competence.
There is quite a political power play going on and Meadows, Bernard and Sims seems to be in the middle of it. A similar power dynamic existed before when Mayor Jahnes was around as well.
Numerology?
Either by design or by accident, the show has an interesting choice in the use of numbers. I didn't know what to make of them and after quite a bit of google searches, the hits that have the most information show up under angel numbers.
Gloria Hildebrandt lives in 1727 -- the angel number for love between man and woman -> fertility
Jules stole H57 tape -- the angel number 57 which represents someone making bold choices and changes in life.
The third episode mentions level 80 and the farms which number represents abundance. Additionally "Recycling" is on level 61 which represents completion of old projects before starting new ones and items here are moved onto new places. It also represents new beginnings and young Jules visits this place when she starts her new life without her mother. In episode four and as Sheriff, she goes to recycling again but on level 20 and this number also represents "new beginnings."
Episode 6 shows Patrick Kennedy living in 22131 floor 22, room 131 -- 22 represents being on the verge of finding spiritual wisdom, and 131 is that your current disappointments and discouragement will be lifted, perhaps going to Patrick Kennedy and eventually finding out about Regina Jackson and subsequently the "real" relic was the meaning.
Episode 6 also shows Douglas Trumbell living in 36321, floor 36, room 321 - this I could not find a relation to any numerology or fruitful google searches
Judge meadows lives in room 15133 , floor 15, room 133 - 15 represents harmony, source of power, 133 represents enlightenment, awareness and security
The hard drive has numbers 501334 on it. number 5013 is a call to bring faith and dignity back into the world and number 34 states you are on the right path and you are doing what you are supposed to be doing. The hard drive has a lot of forbidden knowledge that shines light on things of the silo and its oppressiveness. This type of knowledge would definitely bring dignity and faith back, after a tumultuous time, of course.
Richard Ellis, the bully that was "dealt with" by having the whole family relocated to floor 125. 125 means new beginnings, fresh starts that will lead to great success. It was this moment when Sims, for all intents and purposes, goes from being a Janitor's son to the start of being the possible head kingpin.
George Wilkins apartment 141232 - number 141 meaning breaking something from the past and stepping through a door which you can not return, 232 represents the past holding you back and that you are soul searching and a quest for truth.
Mysteries solved
The hard drive was the biggest mystery and we see that Sheriff Holston laid a clever trail to Jules, first to call her attention to the vent in her room and second to then use the same area of concealment for the prized relic, the hard drive. Of course many mysteries remain...
- Who is Jane Carmody and why was she sent out to clean?
- What is the mystery in the Nichols family involving the deaths of Jules's brother Jacob and her mother?
- What about the door that George had presumably found?
- What was the point of the scene with Jules climbing down and hanging from the rope?
- Who is Walk's love interest and why did she stay in her room all this time?
- Are the Flamekeepers the rebels who lost the war?
- What is really outside?
Genetics and the Syndome
The show has teased the concepts of genetics since the first episode introductory credits with images of helices and statements of who "they" allow to breed. The previous few episodes speak more in depth about "the syndrome" which seems to show with difficulty in muscle control and may lead to poor judgment and that presumably is the reasoning why the PACT does not allow for people with the syndrome to be in certain jobs.
The latest episode mentions curiosity and that no matter how hard "they" try, they can not breed it out of humanity. And indeed, it is one of the main ideas behind what it means to be human. The Flamekeepers is an interesting new twist to the story and paints the rebels in a better light than what the Silo government would have you believe. The Flamekeepers and the Silo government are an interesting take on cancel culture gone awry. As Gloria states "...they erased us. They put something in the water so memories would fade. The people who fought back, who kept things, like this book. To keep their memories alive."
Of course this led me to do a series of google searches on medications that can cause you to lose memories and the biggest offender are date rape drugs. Long term use of which could give problems with muscle control as well as memory loss. This could be the underpinnings of what is causing "The Syndrome."
Or, it could be the side result of recessive genetics in the attempt to breed out those that ask questions or are not as subservient.
I will leave you with this: There is also a facebook group that is the official fan group which author Hugh Howey frequents as well.
Review of previous episodes:
Episode 1 and 2 - Freedom's Day and Holston's Pick
Episode 3 - Machines
Episode 4 - Truth
Episode 5 - The Janitor's Boy
Episode 6 - The Relic
Episode 7 - The Flamekeepers
Episode 8 - Hanna
Episode 9 - The Getaway
Episode 10 - Outside