Silo Season 1 Episode 5 - The Janitor's Boy

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.

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.

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. 

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 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.

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.

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

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. 

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.

There is still a matter of:

• The hard drive
• The flowers (doubled?)
• The door at the end of the tunnel

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.

Otherwise, last week's discussion can be found here.

Review of other 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