Silo Season 2 Episode 6 - Barricades

 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 episode shows silo18 move more and more towards towards rebellion as both sides escalate. First with the ultimate escalation of murdering the judge and framing Knox and Shirley (in the last episode), now with rat poisoning in the food in supply while they stop shipments of food and supplies to the lower levels. The show centers around the growing resentment and escalation in the Silo with mechanical taking matters into their own hands and organizing to move the barricade with newly manufactured armor and weapons. 

The show does a good job of illustrating the complex political and behind the scenes ongoings of the silo and gives good character development to ensure the motivation of the actions for people to take sides. 

Analysis

The pace of the show is necessary to build the tension and to convince the audience that the characters can make the life and society changing decisions for civil war. The Silo seems to be on a never ending path towards this conclusion and it seems to be a sinister plan as outline in the Order. Bernard appears to be following this to a tee and has no plans to deviate.

Lukas seems to have been hastily chosen as Head of IT shadow on a whim based on impressing Bernard with his intellect but also due to the hastening events leading towards civil war. Recall that in Silo17, there was some drama whether Solo was actually the Head of IT shadow or not. It is possible he was later made the shadow and took on the name Solo as more and more chaos ensued.

Sheriff Billings seems to have less effects of the Syndrome. Could it be purely a mental thing? As you are more and more subjugated you develop physical manifestations based on psychological state? Seems like this is what it is. Does the syndrome only affect males in this matter? Judge Meadows could have developed the syndrome based on how subjugated she was.

The fake smile from Bernard is similar to the one he gave to Lukas before sentencing him to the mines. What will become of Camille and Bernard Sims?

There appears to be agents that can do secretive sabotage in the down deep, like poisoning the food supply. Will these be a more involved thing in the future or was it just for this episode?

Best lines from this episode

only 9 missed meals separate a functional society from a chaos

Fuck me, I've just lost the sheriff.

Mr. Mayor it wasn't optimum but they only got ten floors.

Characters of interest this episode

Jules Nichols - Originally from Silo18, she is currently in Silo17. She is only in this episode for a few minutes at the end when she awakens from her infective state and is being coerced by Solo to fix the pump and flooding in Silo17.
Solo - has been through major trauma as well as been isolated for (decades?). He was the shadow of Russell in Silo18, the head of IT. There is a suggestion he may be unstable and not who he claims to be. He is only in this episode for a few minutes at the end when he coerces Jules to fix the pump and flooding in Silo17.
Bernard Holland - He is head of IT and has been acting Mayor since the suspicious death of the former Mayor Jahns. He murders Judge Meadows and appears to be frustrated and losing control over the Silo.
Judge Mary Meadows - Alcoholic, shows she knows a lot about the previous outside world including the existence of the solar system.
Robert Sims - Was promoted to Judge and seems to be in a helpless situation. He does tip off the others about the ambush from mechanical.
Dr. Pete Nichols - Jules's father continues to be the caring father figure type as a physician caring for the newborn. He is being watched by IT just in case... Goes to the down deep to remove the bullet loged in Kennedy's shoulder. He will be stuck there as events lead to the civil war.
Patrick Kennedy - Was convinced by Judicial to throw a molotov cocktail to the deputy sheriff office and appeared to be murdered. He was taken the morgue but then his body is missing. He is later found by Billings and Hank. After a small discussion with Billings where he is shown the page from Jules's red level relic book, he begins to trust Billings, enough to tell him that everything in the Silo appears to be a lie.
Knox - strange leader in mechanical, he and Shirley appear to be leading the revolution. Is framed in the murder of Judge Meadows. Has organized the production of weapons and armor.
Shirley Campbell - has been angry about Jules's leaving the Silo and is willing to lead a rebellion. She gives the idea to move the barricade to level 120.
Sheriff Paul Billings - a person with "the syndrome" is another figurehead, similar to Judge Meadows. He knows the Pact forwards and backwards and is keenly aware of everything not adding up. Seems to be siding with the rebellion as he was told that everything appears to be a lie, from Kennedy.
Walker - part of the four that ascend the stairs to speak to Judge Meadows. Significant because she previously never left her workshop and now does. She continues to be a "mother figure" that commands respect among the mechanics and engineers in the down deep.
Carla - part of the four that ascend the stairs to speak with Judge Meadows, she works in supply and had the "good tape" that saved Jules. She was caught this episode, willingly, so that the others may make it. 

Is Knox a sex symbol?

They certainly took pains to "show off" his body in this episode. Will he catch on having the exposure in the #1 rated show on Apple+?

Trivia and interesting tidbits

Caesar shift is a cool little trivia fact as mentioned by Bernard. With so much internet cyber crimes and emphasis on internet security, it was nice to see in this episode as a pure dropping of science. There were little if any introduction of modern/newer technology. Though we do see the grapple wire as used to rip open the door as well as the saw used to cut the cement.

The current barricade is on 120 just above the lower mids farm, from level 130.

Unanswered questions

• Who is Salvador Quinn and what is the significance of his letter? It must be important for Judge Meadows to mention it and say she cant tell him and for half of it to be in code.
• Who is the wheelchair guy that can make weapons and what is the second request? He is there to make weapons and armor.
• The display showing the illusionary perfect world died as Jules walked a certain distance but Bernard was still able to see what she saw. How come? The assumption was the wifi signal was too weak. It could be the video as made for the display simply did not take into account a person would go that far and past the simulation.
• How long has Silo17 been dead?
• Did someone cut the rope from Episode 1? If so, it likely wasn't Solo, he could barely walk across the platform. Who was it?
• Dr. Nichols will likely be caught, since he is being watched so closely. What purpose does this serve for the plot? He seems to be in a dont care or under the radar point of view at the moment, but he keeps being put in some questionable situations, now in the down deep.
• Who is part of the ring of people that hacks the Silo's security network? It appears its just a large amount of normal citizenry that are intentionally breaking the cameras.
  
• Who was helping Jules escape by turning off the cameras at key opportune moments?
• What is the syndrome?

Review of previous episodes:
Season 1

Season 2 Episode 1 - The Engineer
Season 2 Episode 2 - Order
Season 2 Episode 3 - Solo
Season 2 Episode 4 - Harmonium
Season 2 Episode 5 - Descent
Season 2 Episode 6 - Barricades