Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for Silo Season 2 Episode 9.

Silo Season 2 is nearing its conclusion, and Episode 9 proves that this show has successfully navigated the notorious “sophomore slump” — that unsettling trend where a second season fails to meet the high expectations set by its predecessor. With this being the penultimate episode of the season, one might be cautious about making definitive statements. However, placing your trust in an Apple TV+ sci-fi series is a wise move, especially as this week’s episode elevates the already impressive Silo experience. Titled “The Safeguard,” this episode, crafted by Jessica Blaire and directed by Amber Templemore, delivers crucial answers to many lingering questions while cleverly leaving enough mystery for the highly anticipated finale.

Thrilling Twists Unfold in ‘Silo’ Season 2 Episode 9

The episode kicks off with a captivating flashback that recontextualizes Juliette’s journey throughout the season. Viewers are introduced to two of the three characters who confronted Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson) in the previous episode, alongside a baby and an older boy (Reggie Absolom), as they engage in a seemingly normal domestic scene. Suddenly, an alarm bell signals urgency, prompting the adults to rush towards their third ally, who has spotted an intruder breaching the Silo’s defenses. From a vantage point high above, the trio — identified as Audrey (Georgina Sadler), Rick (Orlando Norman), and Eater (Sara Hazemi) — witnesses a tense moment from Episode 1 where a newly entered Juliette is struggling to breathe and frantically removes her helmet. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes evident that they have been monitoring Juliette’s movements all along, with Audrey, the aggressive archer known for her “kill first, ask questions never” approach, attempting to sabotage Juliette by cutting her rope while she dangles precariously over water. This act of sabotage, rather than mere bad luck, intensifies the stakes. Meanwhile, Rick shows a more compassionate side, climbing down to the flooded levels to provide Juliette with a makeshift flotation device.

As they observe Solo (Steve Zahn) emerging from the Vault and pleading with Juliette to remain, Audrey expresses suspicion, questioning if he is “the Killer” and insisting on treating him with the same caution. A brief altercation between Rick and Solo during Juliette’s dive in Episode 8 leaves Solo alive but unconscious; Rick proposes keeping him alive long enough to gain entry into the Vault. While Audrey agrees to this notion, she remains adamant about Juliette’s fate, exhibiting disdain toward Eater, which influences Eater’s decision to go rogue and attack Juliette at the end of last week’s episode. As the action returns to the present, Juliette reassures her armed adversaries of her intention to leave once she retrieves a vital item from Solo. Rick cleverly turns the situation to their advantage, permitting Juliette to see Solo, but only if she agrees to break into the Vault first. Audrey adds a chilling ultimatum — Juliette must succeed before her baby cries out for feeding, or else Solo’s life is forfeit.

Unveiling Secrets: Juliette Discovers Solo’s True Identity in ‘Silo’ Season 2 Episode 9

After this pivotal exchange, Eater becomes attached to Juliette, expressing a desire to join her outside and offering assistance in cracking the Vault’s code. Their dynamic mirrors the initial bond between Juliette and Solo, with the inquisitive and lonely Eater asking Juliette questions and revealing critical background information. The bodies situated near the Vault’s entrance belong to Chase, Audrey’s father, and Tess, Rick’s mother. Eater’s mother has been deceased for even longer, having entrusted Chase and Tess with her daughter’s care prior to her passing. Although the group would have inevitably faced food shortages, Eater is unjustly blamed by the other children for Chase and Tess’s decision to attempt a break-in at the Vault, leading to their tragic demise at Solo’s hands — thus earning her the derogatory nickname, Eater, signifying just another mouth to feed.

While Juliette remains empathetic towards Eater’s plight, she probes for any useful information that could aid their mission to unlock the Vault. Upon learning that Chase and Tess documented all their failed attempts at the keypad, Juliette recalls the schoolroom chalkboard from Episode 3, where these records were kept. Building upon this information, Juliette calculates alternative code combinations and inputs her own two failed attempts. With only one chance left before being locked out for 24 hours, Juliette begins piecing together Solo’s inconsistent claims. After inquiring about the timeline of the rebellion and discovering that Eater’s mother was just a baby at that time, Juliette realizes that Solo is far more significant than IT head Russell Conroy’s (Nick Haverson) mere shadow — in fact, Solo is Russell’s son.

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Juliette and Eater’s collaborative efforts succeed in convincing Rick to allow Juliette to visit Solo. Just as Audrey arrives, armed with her bow and arrow, Rick intervenes, eager to hear Solo’s account of why he killed their parents. In a gentle yet firm manner, Juliette confronts Solo with his true identity — Jimmy — and assists him in unpacking the trauma he has endured. At just 12 years old during the rebellion, Jimmy obeyed his father and remained inside the Vault, refusing to open the door even when the Silo’s sheriff (Ross McCall) fatally shot Russell right outside. Rather than a villain, Russell was merely a father attempting to protect his child, dispelling the myth of the noble Silo servant. This revelation softens Audrey’s hardened demeanor; conversely, the gravity of a baby and its parents needing food resonates deeply with Jimmy, breaking through the fog of his PTSD. As a result, he opens the Vault, which bears a striking resemblance to the Legacy from Episode 7. After returning Juliette’s suit, he acknowledges that he subjected her to unnecessary hardships while constructing a suit from scratch when an unused one was readily available in a locker. The realization that Juliette stayed behind to save his life creates an emotional moment for both characters, nearly pushing them to tears.

The Billings and Sims Families Make Pivotal Choices in ‘Silo’ Season 2 Episode 9

Returning to the old Silo, Paul (Chinaza Uche) and Kathleen Billings (Caitlin Zoz) debate the consequences of the controversial tourist advertisement for the Blue Ridge Mountains. They both firmly believe they deserve to uncover the truth about their planet’s fate, regardless of Pact regulations. Paul, determined not to conform to the expectations of those in power, extends his unwavering support to Knox (Shane McRae) and Shirley (Remmie Milner). Unfortunately, Shirley wisely points out that a sheriff who has publicly declared Bernard Holland (Tim Robbins) his enemy may not offer much practical assistance. On the other hand, Camille Sims (Alexandria Riley) could prove to be a valuable ally; if they can entice her with something significant enough to warrant her risking her safety, similar to her previous help to Knox and Shirley, she could become a key asset.

Understanding that appealing to Robert Sims (Common) with the promise of a valuable relic would be simpler than persuading Camille to meet for a direct discussion, Paul discreetly shares a picture of the mountains with Robert. In their quarters, the Sims discuss the possibility that if a thriving world exists beyond the Silo, they owe it to their son to align with the rebels. Furthermore, if Mechanical manages to undermine Holland, the Sims could potentially step into a power vacuum left by Bernard’s absence.

However, a troubling consequence of gaining Paul’s allegiance within Mechanical is that it prompts Knox to visit Martha’s (Harriet Walter) workshop. He informs Martha of Billings’ change of heart and assures her that they intend to rescue Carla (Clare Perkins) once they have gained a strategic advantage over Holland. Thanks to the reactivated camera in Martha’s workshop, a smug Holland overhears this conversation. In a subsequent scene, Billings’ ability to discreetly pass a note beyond the barricade leads Knox to suspect the identity of Mechanical’s mole — or so he claims. This prompts him to confront Martha again, accusing Teddy’s (Olatunji Ayofe) mother of being the traitor, although it’s hard to fault her for attempting to protect her family. As Shirley remains occupied, Knox reveals the rebellion’s plans for using the remaining gunpowder they acquired from Supply. This raises the question of whether his intentions are sincere or if he’s setting a trap for Bernard.

Lukas Uncovers a Shocking Secret in ‘Silo’ Season 2 Episode 9

In the realm of the IT department, Lukas Kyle (Avi Nash) has yet to crack Salvador Quinn’s code. After some additional investigation yields promising results, Kyle discreetly hides Quinn’s copy of the Pact with his mother before cleverly navigating through the barricade. He captures Shirley’s attention by mentioning Juliette’s name and her connection to George Wilkins (Ferdinand Kingsley) and proposes a deal: he will share details about Juliette’s potential survival in exchange for Shirley escorting him down to the lowest level of the Silo. Though skeptical, Shirley ultimately agrees. As Kyle reveals the information he has unearthed regarding Holland’s surveillance of Juliette’s helmet, he fails to mention that she had previously reached another Silo before losing contact. Shortly after, Kyle expresses his suspicion that the water levels at the Silo’s bottom are not lethal as suggested; rather, this is a deceptive tactic to deter curious individuals from discovering a hidden tunnel.

Shirley departs, leaving Kyle to explore the tunnel, where his instincts prove accurate. As he descends through the passage and approaches a massive door, he is confronted by a disembodied electronic voice demanding to know the reason for his intrusion. Kyle asserts that he is following instructions from Salvador Quinn. After a brief pause, the voice reveals that only three individuals have reached this door before him: Salvador Quinn, Mary Meadows, and George Wilkins. Notably, it states that it did not communicate with Wilkins and that Quinn and Meadows received the same directive that Kyle is about to receive. The voice warns him that if he divulges any details about this interaction or what he has discovered, they will be forced to initiate the Safeguard protocol. When asked if he understands what the Safeguard is, Kyle confirms that he does.

New episodes of Silo Season 2 premiere weekly on Fridays and are available to stream on Apple TV+.