Abhiroop Das
Created by Graham Yost, Apple TV+’s science-fiction series ‘Silo’ revolves around a world where thousands of people live hundreds of feet underground, with no concrete sense of time and space, save for the fact that the world outside is uninhabitable. Over the course of the story, Juliette goes from being a curious engineer to the silo’s sheriff, before being cast out in a death ritual, and ultimately surviving that too. At the start of the third season, though, we learn that she has lost a substantial chunk of her memory, including those of her time out of the silo. Among the many important details she doesn’t remember is the fate of Mayor Bernard Holland, whose final appearance in the season 2 finale is when he is trapped in an airlock chamber with her. Though we get an official explanation as to what transpired, Juliette soon realizes that the truth is an entirely different, concealed beast. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Bernard is Killed Not by the Flames, But by Robert in Cold Blood
While Bernard Holland’s fate was largely left in the dark by the end of ‘Silo’ season 2, the season 3 premiere all but confirms that he is dead. Where the true ambiguity lies, though, is in the nature of his death, as the show leads us to question both a natural explanation and the possibility of murder. The last we see of Bernard is when he is trapped in a burning airlock chamber with Juliette, and in retrospect, the former mayor’s fate is inevitable from that point on. Unlike Juliette, whose suit was specifically fitted by Solo to be fireproof, Bernard walks out wearing a regular cleaning suit, and the fire is quick to burn through it. As if that’s not enough, he is also exposed to the toxins of the outside world, which are known to be fatal to anyone, without exception.
The real twist behind Bernard’s fate, however, is that it’s neither the burn injuries nor the toxins that kill him, but Robert Sims himself. In a blink-and-you-miss-it sequence, we learn that Bernard, in fact, survived the fire incident and briefly regained consciousness after being carried down to the Deep Down. However, Robert is the one who put a plastic bag over his former boss’s head and slowly choked him to death. While we don’t know for sure if even this description of events is the true one, the bottom line is that Bernard is now out of the picture. What makes things more complicated is the fact that, in the book series by Hugh Howey, Bernard meets his end within the airlock chamber. The show, on the other hand, seems keen on deepening the mystery and potentially expanding on the lore of Silo 18.
Tim Robbins Has Most Likely Bid the World of Silo Goodbye
With Bernard Holland’s death now confirmed, veteran actor Tim Robbins’ time with ‘Silo’ has most likely come to an end. While he makes a small appearance in season 3, in the scene where we see his actual death, there likely aren’t any plot beats left that feature Bernard as an active character. However, seeing that the season is focused on bridging the past with the present, there might be a chance for flashback sequences with the former mayor of Silo 18. This season is also leaning more towards an original storyline distinct from its novel counterpart, which means that the possibilities are potentially limitless. However, given how important Bernard’s death is to the larger narrative, things are likely to remain the same.
Fans have speculated about the ways Bernard can miraculously survive the fire and come back into the fray since the finale of season 2, but with the confirmation of his death, the story is now left with an irreparable hole. Interestingly, this also means that the perennial question about Bernard’s character arc, that is, whether he was a good guy or a bad one, will also go without a concrete answer. Robbins himself wrestles with that dichotomy while pouring life into the character, and is fascinated by the burdens of Bernard’s leadership. However, with the confirmation of his death in season 3, it’s time for Robbins to leave his character behind.
Read More: What Book is Apple TV+’s Silo Based on?
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