‘Silo’ Recap: ‘Outside’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Rebecca Ferguson as Juliette Nichols in ‘Silo’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season One Finale of ‘Silo’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. This article contains discussions regarding suicide, which may be triggering to some individuals.
​
Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve talked at length about why it is so important to search for the truth, courtesy of the Apple TV+ series, Silo. For this brilliant and engaging dystopia story, one set below the Earth where the last vestiges of mankind fight to survive beneath the repression of an authoritarian regime… has made it clear that living without the truth, is no way to live. That we need the truth and freedoms to grow and show off our beauty and that if by chance… a hidden truth is keeping us from doing that, we should fight with every fiber of our being to grab hold of it and expose it to everyone and anyone, so it spreads far and wide and brings a regime to its knees, and frees us. 
​
But what the show hasn’t covered yet, is the sheer fact that there is some inherent risk in exposing the truth. Not the kind that we’ve seen Bernard and his lackeys exhibit, that’s the stuff we know, since those in charge rarely like being challenged or having the truth exposed. No instead, the show has yet to explore, the real emotional toll that comes forth from exposing the truth. Because the quest to find it can break a person down and having it in hand, can also be a difficult and painful experience. Because just like that… you have it, in the raw and in all of its blunt and powerful glory, and when it is a truth we are not prepared for… that can shake us to our core and leave us wondering if it was worth the search and well... it turned out… the show was saving that exploration for the season one finale. 

For the risk and the pain that accompanies uncovering the truth was put on full display in ‘Outside’, but only after Juliette Nichols, made life living hell for Bernard and Sims. Because she wanted to do what anyone would do that searches for the truth. Show it to everyone after it is uncovered and let it do its thing. Which was why she worked to have the video of the outside world displayed across every screen in the Silo. To start the conversation, to start the fight for freedom and create a shift in power. But alas, Bernard was too quick and put a stop to this, but not before Juliette gave him and his lackeys quite the scare. But his ability to shut her down, did lead to one final and desperate attempt to escape capture on Juliette’s part. One that failed when she finally made her way to Mechanical, and well… in order to make this mess as amicable as possible for both sides, so peace could return to the Silo, a deal was struck. The truth about George in exchange for submission and a cleaning and that deal broke Juliette’s heart.

---

Tim Robbins as Bernard Holland in ‘Silo’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Since she came to learn that George did everything, he could, to avoid capture and to avoid spilling the beans about the truth, going so far as to jump from above to ensure that the right person would lead the revolt and expose the realities about the world to everyone. Which Juliette was still hoping to somehow do, despite the fact that her day had come to clean. For that meant she would drop dead just as Holston and Allison did. Which meant that perhaps… all she could hope for… was to be defiant and inspire through that, and she did indeed stand tall and refuse to clean. And she opted to honor Holston and give him back his badge as a final act before dying and that… and an assist from Martha, changed everything. For her old friend stepped in before the big moment and made sure that the airtight suit wasn’t so airtight, informing us that something was mixed into the oxygen… to keep the truth from being displayed from those outside. A harsh truth in fact.
​
In that, there wasn’t sunshine and rainbows outside, that was a mere virtual reality experience designed to offer a pleasant view before that toxic oxygen did the cleaner in. No instead, what we learned is that the world was indeed devastated above, in fact, it appeared that a nuclear winter had settled in, making it seem as though Bernard was right and that his push to preserve life wasn’t done in malice, just through dubious decisions. But the reveal that there were multiple Silos near Juliette, just on the outskirts of a devastated city… meant that there was a chance that humanity wasn’t down to just 10,000 strong. There were likely others out there and more secrets about mankind’s past to uncover. But alas, the price paid for this truth was high. After all, Juliette no longer has a home to return to and is facing an uncertain future and unrest is indeed brewing back home, the kind that will divide these people, and draw blood.

But… she knows. She knows that Bernard is indeed manipulating people and keeping great secrets and that George gave everything for her to become a hero and well… that made for quite the powerful story. One that showed the glory and the horror of the truth and surprised us every step of the way. Since we didn’t see so many twists and turns coming and that ending is something else. Since it leaves us mad with desire to know the rest of the truth about this devastated world and the good news is… all we must do now is wait patiently to get those answers. For Silo has been renewed for a second season by Apple TV+, and it will be fascinating to see where this story takes us in year two. But while we wait, we can celebrate one incredible first season and one stunning finale. One that drew us into an incredible world born from our worst nightmares, since none of us would ever want to be in a world this bland and we are all now pulling, for the right kind of revolution to take place. To free these people from the horrors of the Silo and whatever brought the world to its knees. Until next season.

---

Powered by JustWatch