Warning! Spoilers ahead! I have not read the book series this show is based on, so this is a highly speculative review and summary.
At the beginning of the season I was hungry for a good story, I was willing to gulp down the story like I would a cheap beer, but now with only two episodes left, I remind myself to savor what I have for it will soon end, and I will be longing for the next season. Each show is a sip of beauty as if from a finely aged wine. I find myself saying each week that this show is the best yet in the series and I would not be lying. This episode could have been named "Revelations" and it would have been fitting as there were so many reveals this week.This show has been relatively under the radar for most of the season but has been gaining more and more notoriety and ratings as word has spread and with good reason as it has been exponentially thrilling!
Last week, Jules was seemingly to be captured by the Judicial raiders as she was visiting Gloria Hildebrandt, but as we see this week, she evades capture. She then goes through several obstacles and checkpoints cleverly hiding the red level relic (hard drive) from Judicial. She is about to make it to the bottom where she can see Martha Walker however she is betrayed by Bernard Holland and is captured under a trumped up charge in an effort to be walked outside, presumably a death sentence. As they walk her up she escapes due to Billings's weakness during a small "syndrome" attack, she grabs the bag containing the hard drive and jumps off the side of the stairwell.
The episode, named after Jules's mother has exposition on her life and shows the Nichols family tragedy as her mother builds a manification device, as mentioned in episode 5 and operates on a rabbit to close a birth defect in its heart, to prove how useful it is. It is revealed that Jake Nichols (Jules brother who died at 10) also had a similar hole in his heart that could theoretically be sewn up similarly to how they did with the rabbit. The tragedy comes when Judicial raiders storm the Nichols family apartment and destroy her microscope and in so doing destroy her spirit. Her son eventually dies from his heart condition and her mother later commits suicide. The family blame Dr Pete Nichols (the father) for telling judicial raiders. But now we know that the mirrors have cameras and THAT is how they know (and listen). However it is this that rips apart the Nichols family and shapes Jules.
The scene where Robert Sims and Paul Billings look over the stairwell is reminiscent of Empire Strikes Back when Luke jumps, seemingly to his death.
Plot advancement
We see how oppressive life is in the Silo. We realize who is really in charge, namely Bernard Holland and how Sims is his lackey. That Judge Meadows is merely a figurehead. We also learn that Judicial and IT are in it together along with maintenance. We also learn that mechanical seems to be the lone organization that presumably rebelled. We also see how masterful of a villain Bernard Holland is and how conflicted Paul Billings is.
Character development
Paul Billings - he has the Syndrome. He is forced to choose between Jules and Sims and slowly finds himself having to choose between his values and Sims.
Jules Nichols - our protagonist. Is again alone as a potential ally has betrayed her. This appears to be a theme in her life as she can not seem to trust anyone, as is life in the Silo. She shows she is willing to use Lukas Kyle in her search for the truth and is willing to break the mirror to prove her point. She also shows she has extreme courage and arrests Sims.
Gloria Hildebrandt - rats out Jules not out of fear or her beliefs but due to years of drug addiction as caused by Judicial.
Dr. Pete Nichols - The devoted father of Jules and wrongly maligned by the family for the death of his wife. Believed to have been an informant to Judicial he finally receives heartwarming vindication as Jules finally believes him after realizing it was the mirrors that spied on them all. Personally this was so gratifying to see as he is continually in a role of emotional distress (Ser Jonah Mormont in Game of Thrones). He and Martha are probably the most dependable allies of Jules at this point.
Hanna Nichols - The source of strength, courage and stubborness we see in Jules.
Martha "Walk" Walker - She again shows herself to be the mother figure for Jules and cares for her so much that she is willing to overcome her agoraphobia by trying to leave her apartment. She clearly has been terrified and traumatized, likely by Judicial, could they have killed her love interest?
Bernard Holland - former head of IT, currently major at large, the big bad, cleverly hidden until this episode. It is he who Judge meadows fears and he has manipulated everyone around him since the start of the season. He is likely the person behind all if not most of the murders and he who quickly instated Jules to be the Sheriff so that she can find the hard drive relic for him. He is still my favorite supporting character, mostly due to the masterful acting of Tim Robbins.
Robert Sims - the purely evil person, there is not much more we learn from him this episode, as we know he is already willing to go to great lengths to achieve his purposes. He sucker punches Jules and exemplifies the horror of a fascist government society. He shows his pettiness as he whispers threats and taunts to her while she is being arrested.
Lukas Kyle - Is he Jules's new love interest ? He appears to be more important to the story as he has had time spent on him in each episode. He will likely be more prominent in the next two episodes especially since he is connected to IT.
Shirley Campbell - Jules bestfriend through childhood, has a file on her in Judicial, but unclear what it contains. She states something kind of interesting and that is "Knox said they'd eventually punish us for the rebellion."
Star Trek Reference
When watching I am always thrilled when I see references to other Sci-Fi. It is a nod of respect and adds richness to the show for me as a viewer.
A nod to Hugh Howey
Numerology?
Last week I focused a bit on the use of numbers in the show. It still is not clear that it is done on purpose but it is fun to look into nonetheless. This week the only number that stands out is Sheriff Jules Nichol's apartment (and Sheriff Holston before her), Room 613. Number 613 can be interpreted as a sign or message that your angels want you to assess your situations and circumstances from a higher perspective. They want you to be broad-minded in your approach and look at things differently to see the bigger picture.
The mystery of why there is no mechanization of ascending the Silo as stated in the PACT seems to be due to the desire to keep the lower levels logistically inferior and unable to quickly ascend. If indeed the mechanical levels were a major part of the rebellion, this would make sense, but if so, then Walk would not wonder why this rule exists in episode 5.
Mysteries
- Who is Jane Carmody and why was she sent out to clean?
- 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?
- What is really outside?
Other thoughts...
The judicial file on Hanna Nichols states she is the daughter of Frank and Joyce Haslam, a surgeon with exemplary behavior and was under investigation for relics and for her magnifying device. It does suggest she committed suicide.
The camera in Sheriff Jules Nichols apartment is very advanced technology and would fit in with today's standards. With high resolution and ethernet antennae, it would require broadband access and the microchips in the camera requires advanced semiconductor technology. It is likely an oversight by the show, but if not, it would be indicative of outside access to supply materials either in plain sight or behind the scenes.
The SysOp is a reference to BBS's from the 1980s.
The rabbit is a common symbol for luck and also for spiritual awakening and quest for knowledge. It is shown when Hanna Nichols invents her microscope and learns to sew shut a cardiac hole but also after her mother dies and when she is captured. It seems to serve a dual purpose of representing luck and the quest for knowledge.
With only two episodes left, now is time to savor and enjoy the remaining episodes.
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 - Hannah
Episode 9 - The Getaway
Episode 10 - Outside