Silo’s second season is well underway, and the stakes are high. After Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson) was forced to go outside, the residents of her silo were in awe that she didn’t die. In fact, she walked farther than anyone else they’d ever seen, crossing over a hill, so they have no idea what happened to her. Of course, she survived and also discovered that they’re not alone. There are other silos out there. What this means for the future of the show is exciting, and fans who have read the books on which the series is based, Wool, Shift, and Dust by Hugh Howey, have an idea of where the Apple TV+ original might take it.
One indication of the drastic measures willing to be taken to keep the truth hidden occurs in Episode 4 of the series in the form of a tragic character death no one saw coming.
What Happens Leading Up to the Death in ‘Silo?’
Tensions are high in the silo following Juliette’s departure, and Bernard Holland (Tim Robbins) is trying to keep the peace and go back to normal. To do this, he needs the help of Judge Mary Meadows (Tanya Moodie). As head of judicial, it is her job to enforce The Pact and determine the sentencing and rulings for anyone guilty of breaking it. She also previously served as his shadow.
She is reluctant, but when she hears his speech putting a spin on the heat tape debacle, Meadows is impressed. She has one condition, however: she wants a suit with proper tape to go outside once the threat of rebellion is over. Bernard reluctantly agrees, though fans suspect he is not likely to make good on this promise. Bernard keeps up the ruse, measuring her for her suit in an oddly sensual scene between the two that suggests there’s romantic interest (or history) between them.
However, the wheels start to turn when Bernard learns that Robert Sims (Common) has been tracking his meetings with Meadows and knows the two have been growing close. He doesn’t like that Meadows agreed to have a meeting with citizens from mechanical as well as Lukas Kyle (Avi Nash), believing she isn’t to be trusted. Selfishly, Sims is also gunning to be the new shadow, and he sees Meadows as a threat to this career advancement.
While Bernard confronts Meadows, telling her these decisions send a bad message, Sims seeks counsel from his wife Camille (Alexandra Riley) about having Meadows removed from power, looking for grounds to impeach her. Camille explains that all he really needs is the threat of impeachment to get Bernard’s attention. It’s a brilliantly cunning idea.
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At the same time, the folks from mechanical are on their way up to the top level to meet with Judge Meadows, and a protest to have her impeached is already underway, clandestinely orchestrated by Sims. Once Bernard gets the message that impeachment banners are being erected in a lower level, his face says it all. He knows what he has to do. Visibly upset and torn by the news, he tries once again to reason with Meadows. He feels that even if she has no intention of giving mechanical what they want, the fact that she is even entertaining meeting with them goes against everything in The Pact. Never mind her earlier meeting with Lukas, which reduced his sentence (albeit mostly for the purpose of optics).
Bernard seemingly relents and suggests that he and Meadows discuss the next steps at dinner at his place, promising to have her suit to try on if she comes. Once Meadows hears the magic words “her suit,” she agrees to visit at seven, two hours before the people from mechanical are set to arrive.
The Harrowing Death Scene in ‘Silo’
When Meadows arrives at Bernard’s home, he is cooking a wonderful dinner. At first, it seems like a lovely meal with casual chatter. But as soon as Meadows asks to try on her suit, Bernard stares at her blankly. Her breath becomes shallow, and she realizes something is wrong. She instantly knows what is happening, and he admits that he added poison to the mushrooms.
“How long do I have?” she asks. “Minutes not hours,” he replies matter-of-factly. The tears stream down Meadows’ face as she pleads with him, asking why. “I must follow the order,” he insists, apologizing to her for doing what he felt he had to do. Showing her dedication to the preservation of the silo despite what is happening to her, Meadows urgently asks about the hard drive and what Bernard did with it. He claims to have destroyed it and begs her to reveal what was on it.
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She rushes to explain that it had to do with Salvador Quinn, the head of IT 140 years ago, when there was a rebellion. He penned a letter with an encrypted message written in code. But she refuses to tell Bernard anything else, despite knowing these will be the final moments of her life. She admits, however, that it all has to do with why she abruptly quit 25 years ago.
Meadows yearns for access to the outside and begs to go to the cafeteria to see through the camera one last time, but Bernard refuses the request. He does, however, pull out a VR headset with a video of Costa Rica. Meadows is instantly mesmerized by the realistic scene before her. He holds onto her, guiding and walking through everything she sees from top to bottom, left to right on the screen. Based on his running narration, it’s clear Bernard has watched this video himself numerous times.
Meadows is peaceful and smiling, enjoying the animals, greenery, and lavish scenes. Bernard’s voice grows sad as it’s clear he’s upset about making this decision to kill her. His decision to give her this experience, however, shows that he has some semblance of feeling and empathy. He embraces her in her final moments as she breathes her last breath.
What Meadows’ Death Will Mean for the Silo
Meadows’ death will have massive implications for the silo, notably due to how it was explained to others. After the deed is done, Bernard calls Sims into his office, where he prepares a knife. Bernard escorts Knox (Shane McRae) and his crew up to the level but only allows Knox and Shirley (Remmie Milner) in the room. When they arrive, they’re met with a gruesome sight: Judge Meadows is slumped down in a chair, obviously dead, with a knife in her chest. “They set us up,” declares Knox as they realize what’s happening. Bernard is going to pin the murder on them, turning the entire silo against mechanical and thwarting any rebellion against the leaders.
Meadows’ death means there’s one less person who knows the truth about the silo. She’s also potentially the only person who knows truths even Bernard doesn’t know. What she knows about the decoded message on the hard drive, why she decided to quit so abruptly 25 years prior, and what has troubled her so much all these years will remain a mystery unless that message is ever retrieved. Meanwhile, her death will spark a new rebellion, except this time, one against mechanical and particularly Knox and Shirley. The people of the silo will be led to believe that Knox and Shirley requested a meeting with the sole purpose of killing Meadows. They’ll believe they succeeded in this and be out for blood.
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Despite his reservations about killing her, Meadows’ death helps Bernard in many ways. She wasn’t so much a threat when she was holed up in her home, drinking her time away. But once she actually started to do her job and questioned decisions, she was getting in the way. He doesn’t have to worry about dealing with the fallout of her wanting to go outside, especially knowing that with the proper tape, she, too, would be able to walk further. Meanwhile, the heat will fall on mechanical now, and residents will forget all about their anger towards authority and what happened to Juliette as they redirect it towards Knox and Shirley, who are now presumed killers.
Meadows’ death proves both how ruthless Bernard can be but also that he truly did love her, potentially in a romantic way. Despite this, however, Bernard’s commitment to The Pact and maintaining order in the silo supersedes any other feelings he might have, and this act of murder solidifies that. He’s cold, calculating, and savage. But he also doesn’t have all the answers. Meadows was far more informed than he was, and deep down, he may have resented her for that.
What Else to Know About Mary Meadows in ‘Silo’
The character of Mary Meadows first appeared in the fifth episode of Season 1. She previously worked in IT and was promoted to Bernard’s shadow. In this position, she learned what the silo was all about and its history. One day, however, she disappeared for four days, returned, and told Bernard she quit. She said she could not be forever tied to him, though she revealed before her death that she lied, and there was another mysterious reason she felt she could not continue.
From there, she was transferred to Judicial and eventually rose up the ranks to judge, making the calls in the silo in terms of sentencing, punishments, and hearing cases and grievances. However, she was more of a figurehead than anything else, choosing instead to spend her days and nights drinking herself into a stupor. There was clearly something weighing on her mind.
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Meadows wanted to appoint Paul Billings (Chinaza Uche) after Holston (David Oyelowo) chose to go outside. But the rules had to honor Holston’s note naming Juliette as his successor. She met with Juliette as new sheriff on multiple occasions, including following the death of Mayor Ruth Jahns (Geraldine James) and deputy Sam Marnes (Will Patton) and after Juliette finds a relic in Douglas Trumbull’s (Henry Garrett) apartment. When Juliette requests the release of Gloria Hildebrandt (Sophie Thompson) for questioning, she finally realizes that Meadows isn’t sick at all and that she really doesn’t wield any actual power, or at least doesn’t have any plans to use it.
Meadows missed Juliette being sent out to clean, in bed the whole time. But it’s this moment, and seeing Bernard diffuse a threatened rebellion, that makes Meadows decide she no longer wants to drink. But she also wants to go outside on her own terms. Stream Silo on Apple TV+.
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