Review: Silo ratchets up the tension with riots and revelations in Episode 205, “Descent”

Review: Silo ratchets up the tension with riots and revelations in Episode 205, "Descent"

As a seasoned viewer of countless sci-fi series and someone who has seen societies crumble under the weight of their own secrets, I must say that “Descent” was a truly gripping episode of Silo. The tension on the upper levels was palpable, reminding me of the claustrophobic atmosphere in The Martian or the political intrigue in The Handmaid’s Tale.

Today, another engaging episode of the series “Silo” is available on Apple TV+. By now, it’s hardly unexpected that it’s another excellent hour of television. As we move further into the second season of “Silo”, it’s becoming increasingly less necessary to extol its virtues; this has been a consistently strong season for Apple’s sci-fi production, and there’s no indication that it’s about to falter.

The intensity ramps up significantly as we hurtle towards what seems like a violent finale in the second part of the season. This escalation is largely due to the manhunt for Knox (Shane McRae) and Shirley (Remmie Milner), key figures from Mechanical, who were wrongly accused of Judge Meadows’ (Tanya Moodie) murder in the previous episode, “The Harmonium.” It would certainly suit Mayor Bernard Holland (Tim Robbins) if Knox and Shirley were lynched by an enraged mob he incited to restore the Silo to a tense truce. However, a daring escape and internal machinations within his own faction make such an outcome challenging.

Of course, we find Juliette Nichols (played by Rebecca Ferguson) working on a suit to navigate the poisonous environment beyond the Silos and return home. This week, she had an encounter with the lone survivor of Silo 17, Solo (portrayed by Steve Zahn), which has left me quite concerned about her well-being.

Read on for our full review of “Descent.” There will be SPOILERS.

Review: Silo ratchets up the tension with riots and revelations in Episode 205, "Descent"

Silo Episode 205 review: “Descent”

Most of the story in “Descent” unfolds within Silo 18, where disturbances are erupting in the upper zones after the assassination of Judge Meadows. Many suspect Knox and Shirley of this crime, a belief that benefits the true perpetrators – Bernard and Sims. Bernard sees the chaos as an opportunity to reestablish order by bringing Knox and Shirley to trial. Facing insurmountable challenges, Knox, Shirley, Martha Walker (Harriet Walter), and Carla McLain (Clare Perkins) must devise a plan to return to the secure lower levels; this quest gives the episode its name.

The current predicament is undeniably thrilling, marking the peak excitement for Silo this season yet. It’s impressive how skillfully the show manages to keep multiple storylines in motion, ensuring a cohesive narrative. While we delve deeply into Knox and Shirley’s group and Bernard’s experiences, we also witness the unfolding of mysteries as Sheriff Billings (Chinaza Uche) and Deputy Hank (Billy Postlethwaite) pursue Patrick Kennedy (Rick Gomez), the individual who was coerced by Sims to set fire to the jail in the lower levels several episodes ago. This man is one of the few who understands the extent of corruption within the Judicial and IT departments.

In the storyline, there’s Lukas Kyle (portrayed by Avi Nash), whom Bernard retrieves from the mines with the intention of repairing the shattered hard drive that caused Juliette’s exile in season 1 and holds a terrible secret as Judge Meadows informed him. I’ve been eager to see more of Lukas in season 2, and his interactions with Bernard were captivating. A recurring theme throughout this season is that Bernard longs for someone he can confide in, trust, and communicate with as an equal. Despite holding the reins at the Silo, the position is isolating due to all the confidentiality requirements. Lukas’ intelligence makes their candid conversations valuable, yielding some remarkable moments. Additionally, this leads Lukas to rediscover a letter that Meadows mentioned from Salvador Quinn, the former IT head during the previous uprising. The letter is encoded, but it seems inevitable before these two decipher it.

Next up is Doctor Pete Nichols, portrayed by Iain Glen. Known for his exceptional performances, Glen never fails to impress, making every scene he’s in even more impactful. A particularly moving moment was during his speech to Bernard about the Silo taking everything from him, but it can’t take away what Juliette represents to him and the others who were inspired by her. Glen delivers a stunning performance, and any actor fortunate enough to act alongside him benefits greatly. This is especially true when another talented actor like Tim Robbins is involved – it’s truly captivating.

One consistent factor behind the outstanding performance of Silo this season is its exceptional ensemble cast, backed by exceptionally sharp writing, allowing each actor to shine at their best. My favorite moments from this season are dialogue-driven scenes featuring actors interacting within rooms. In a time when television often emphasizes spectacle, it’s delightful that Silo is choosing to focus on intimacy in such a compelling manner.

Review: Silo ratchets up the tension with riots and revelations in Episode 205, "Descent"

That’s not to say that the show isn’t also crushing it at portraying action, too. The titular descent of this episode, where Shirley and Knox take illegal descender rigs and hurl themselves off the Silo’s stairs with steel cables while the new head of judicial tries to sabotage them from above, is thrilling and well executed. The two big riot scenes are also harrowing, especially the second one where the angered people of the upper levels break down the barricade that was meant to keep Shirley and Knox trapped upstairs in a fit of rage once they realize that they’ve escaped.

In this episode, Sims appears to stand out from the rest of the cast in an unusual way. Last week, an article on The A.V. Club suggested that Common’s character seems misfit among the stellar cast of Silo. I find myself inclined to agree with this assessment. There’s something about how Common portrays his character, delivers lines, and even the sleekness of his wardrobe that feels noticeably different from the rest of the cast, which can be slightly distracting. However, Robert Sims’ poor performance skills in the show serve to make Common’s stiff acting seem a bit more believable, albeit unintentionally.

As Sims faces challenges, his wife Camille (Alexandria Riley), proving herself to be potentially more formidable than her husband, subtly sabotages the attempts to apprehend Knox and Shirley. By secretly aiding their escape during a riot, she prevents what could have been a tragic lynching. Moreover, she deceives Sims, inflating his confidence by claiming that if he were leading the manhunt, they would already be in custody.

I find this recent turn of events truly captivating! As someone with years of experience dealing with cunning individuals, I can’t help but be intrigued to witness how Bernard navigates this situation, given that he now knows it was Camille who allowed Knox and Shirley to slip away from his grasp.

Review: Silo ratchets up the tension with riots and revelations in Episode 205, "Descent"

Who is Solo?

As Silo 18 edges towards open defiance, I, a devoted fan, find myself following Juliette Nichols’ arduous journey towards home and averting the impending disaster – all chronicled in “Descent.” In this installment, Juliette embarks on a quest to locate a suitable helmet that can seamlessly join with her firefighter suit, which she recovered in Episode 204. This quest sends her on an apartment-rummaging adventure within Silo 17, where she encounters both assistance and obstacles from Solo.

In this setting, Juliette encounters a startling revelation: Solo isn’t the man he claims to be. Initially, in the episode, Solo introduces himself as Cole Myers and shares an endearing anecdote about his nickname, Solo. However, when she stumbles upon a photograph in one of the apartments depicting a woman called “Tiny” and her partner “Solo,” who is an entirely different individual than the one we’ve come to know, Juliette questions Solo about it. Mentioning that he told her he was the IT shadow, Solo reacts violently, screaming at her in a disturbingly unbalanced manner that leaves her shaken. This incident marks the most unsettling moment for Solo this season. It’s evident that he harbors more secrets, and given his instability, it will be challenging for Juliette to delve into them without putting herself at risk.

He also tries to convince her to stay and help him even though she desperately needs to get back to her own Silo. Silo 17 is slowly flooding; in 10 months, Solo’s IT room will be underwater. That’s a pressing concern for him, but Juliette is trying to stop a revolution that will likely happen in a matter of days. The tension between these two is growing and it has me nervous. Ferguson and Zahn play off each other really well.

I’m also nervous for Juliette’s health. All episode, she gradually gets sicker and sicker until she finally collapses on the floor after finding a usable helmet. Her arm wound is pretty gnarly-looking when she takes the bandage off to examine it. I’d imagine it’s infected, since she just went for a swim in some grungy water last episode. But the fact that she’s passed out means she’s probably once again at Solo’s mercy, which is great, just great.

Silo is progressing rapidly, both substantially and subtly, making it an engaging spectacle thus far. I can hardly wait for the upcoming episode of the week!

Review: Silo ratchets up the tension with riots and revelations in Episode 205, "Descent"

Silo bullet points

Solo tells Juliette that IT has its own generator with power that comes from outside the Silo. When Lukas later cracks into the hard drive, it seems to confirm this: he finds two cables running out of the Silo 18 on the schematics from IT and Judicial. He also finds a tunnel at the bottom but has no idea where it leads.
I love that items which once belonged to Juliette are now a hot commodity in the Silo. That’s a cool little bit of world-building.
I also really like the way Silo handled the simmering romance between Carla and Martha. They’ve dropped a few small hints so far, but I’m glad they got a kiss in before Carla made her stand to buy everyone else time. Let those old ladies have some love!
It’s a fun touch that after the barricade falls, Martha just casually walks through the chaos to get back downstairs. Remember, no one knows what she looks like on the upper levels because her agoraphobia kept her in her apartment for 25 years straight.
Billings’ hands are shaking as he reads The Pact before he and Deputy Hank trade incriminating secrets. Hank is good friends with Shirley and Knox and doesn’t believe they could have killed Meadows; Billings has the Syndrome, which should automatically disqualify him for his job. It’s been fun to watch the rapport between these two slowly develop. I really like them as a pair of cops just trying to do the right thing amidst constant scheming.
Another interesting development was seeing Billings’ wife Kathleen (Caitlin Zoz) helping people who were injured in the riot and subsequently running into Doctor Pete Nichols. I hope we see more of these two together in coming episodes, because they had some fun chemistry and it was nice to see Kathleen in a different setting.
A final shout out for the opening shot of the episode, which was a beautiful sweep over the rioting people of the upper levels that panned to show Shirley, Knox, Martha, and Carla hiding on a balcony. I’ve spent a lot of time talking up the acting and writing on Silo, but the cinematography remains excellent as well.
My leading theory about Solo is that he was actually the kid we saw in the cold open for the season, and he fled back into Silo 17 after his parents and everyone else started dying outside. I haven’t read Wool by Hugh Howey, the book on which Silo is based, but I’m expecting some kind of jaw-dropper reveal about Solo to come sooner or later.

Verdict

In the heart-pounding episode titled “Silo“, chaos erupts when inhabitants from the upper levels, driven by frustration, decide to mete out justice themselves, not knowing if the targets were truly guilty. This season of “Silo” has been fantastic, and “Descent” ranks among its best episodes yet. I can’t wait for next week to arrive!

Episode grade: A-

2024-12-13 17:41