Editor’s Note: Spoilers ahead for Silo Season 2, Episode 4.
The stakes have never been higher than withSiloSeason 2. The series, adapted from theHughHoweydystopian novels, with its claustrophobic intensity and intricate world-building, is only getting better. TheApple TV+ seriestakes a sharp turn into uncharted territory this season, exploring themes of survival, rebellion, and what it truly means to hold power. While Juliette Nichols, played byRebeccaFerguson, is at the heart of it all,TimRobbinsandCommonas the enigmatic Bernard and the fiercely loyal Sims, respectively, bring layers of complexity and moral ambiguity as they tell Collider exclusively. Their characters embody order and chaos while wrestling with difficult choices as the silo teeters on the brink of collapse. The two actors break down the ethical dilemmas they face and what it means for the remainder of Season 2.
With Episode 4,“The Harmonium” delivering a game-changing moment in the series that shifts the balance of power, Bernard (Robbins), the calculating mayor of Silo 18, crosses a line that leaves viewers questioning whether his endgame is survival or sheer domination. In a jaw-dropping twist, Bernard poisons and kills Mayor Meadows (Tanya Moodie) after we learn she “wants to go out to clean.” Knowing very well this will create chaos in their community, he murders her andplaces the blame on Shirley (Remmie Milner) and Knox (ShaneMcRae)in a carefully orchestrated move that shakes the fragile ecosystem of leadership in a move Robbins says is “pretty effed up.”
Why Did Bernard Kill Meadows in ‘Silo’ Season 2?
“He has to do things that he doesn’t want to do,” Robbins says.
But Bernard’s actions aren’t just about removing obstacles;they mark a decisive turn toward authoritarian rule, setting the stage for an explosive power struggle.As we learn across the first four episodes of Season 2, the dynamic between Robbins’ character and Meadows is about more than just being coworkers. It’s also subtly revealed thatthey were once romantically involved, further complicating what happened and what it means for Bernard.
“I think he’s doing it because he’s trying to save the silo. No question. This is the tragedy of the character. He has to do things that he doesn’t want to do,” Robbins says. “It’s a pretty effed-up place [to be in]. But it’s an insight into what it is to have the responsibility that Bernard has. It’s not fun — let’s put it that way.”
Robbins adds that Bernard is in a position where, “what we celebrate as what is human, the better natures of the human being, the ability to nurture and to love and to plan for the future in that way, according to his instructions and according to his responsibilities, are things that can lead to weakness, andso that’s a rough place to be.”
What Sims’ Response to Bernard’s Actions Really Mean
Naturally, thisshocking betrayal leaves Commons’ Sims in an equally precarious position. As Bernard’s right-hand man, Sims has to navigate the fallout, wrestling with his loyalty to a governing power that’s becoming increasingly ruthless. As the simmering tension between the two characters is bound to reach a boiling point, Common admitsSims truly believes there is good in the choices he makes.
“I mean, what Sims truly believes is that, ‘I need to do what’s good for the silo.’ If I’m going out saying something that I know didn’t happen, inside I know that is not the truth, but a greater truth that Sims believes is that ‘I need to say this so that I can make sure that these people’s lives are saved.I need to make sure that these people are protected,’” he explains, adding how his character is a human being first. “He knows when [Bernard] is lying, but it’s the greater truth thathe believes in that he will lie for, kill for at times, and will just try to maneuver. But it’s not like he’s just looking to do that all the time.”
What Comes Next for Bernard and Sims in ‘Silo’ Season 2
With Meadows’ murder setting a dark and unrelenting tone for the remainder ofSiloSeason 2, Bernard’s secretive nature, hinted at by Robbins adds a layer of intrigue to his character.The Shawshank Redemptionactor acknowledged his character’s isolation, stating, “I have a certain knowledge that I have to hold onto that is a secret, and I would love to tell [Sims] about, but I can’t.”
As Bernard’s ruthlessness intensifies, this strain leaves Sims in a precarious position as detailed by Common. Sims,guided by a sense of family and balance, represents a sharp contrast to Bernard’s increasingly authoritarian approach, making their dynamic both compelling and volatile. “We’re alike in ways where we really do want what’s good… but Bernard’s in an even more lonely place because he doesn’t have the family that I have.”
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While Sims’ loyalty is tested as Bernard’s actions grow more extreme,the growing dissent among the silo’s residentsputs added pressure on their leadership, both individually and together. Looking ahead past Episode 4, Robbins and Common teased that their characters’ arcs take surprising and intense turns by the season’s end.
“Things are going to accelerate. It’s interesting where both these characters wind up at the end of the season,” Robbins says, adding how, as an actor, “it gives you so much interesting stuff to play” with. His co-star, Common, adds thatthe way things conclude by Episode 10 is “very interesting,” to say the least. “Definitely, as Tim said, when I was reading, I was like, ‘Oh, this is good!’ Our characters are dealing with a lot withinandoutside. So, it’s a lot to take on.”
For more on this episode, watch the spoiler-filled interview above. New episodes ofSiloSeason 2 stream Fridays on Apple TV+.
Watch on Apple TV+
In a dystopian future, men and women reside in a vast underground silo governed by strict regulations, believed to shield them from the hazardous world above. The series delves into the complex social order within the silo and the mysteries surrounding their subterranean existence.
