Silo Season 3 Episode 1 Recap: Will Juliette Get Her Memories Back?

Life throws a curveball at us whenever we think things are going to be simple, and the same holds true for the world of Apple TV+’s dystopian thriller series, “Silo.” Just when it seemed like there would be better coordination between Juliette and her fellow residents of Silo 18 after she revealed the truth about the Safeguard Protocol in the aftermath of the events of the second season, the cover-up machinery persists in an unexpected way. New problems and some old ones emerge in Silo 18 while Juliette adjusts to her present circumstances, and a brief look at the past timeline traces the beginning of the apocalyptic end, which pushed humanity into the silos. Overall, the third season of “Silo” has begun with a banger, and has the potential to become the best season yet.

Spoilers Ahead

The Algorithm Acts As Puppetmaster

The last season ended on a cliff-hanger, Juliette returned to Silo 18 and warned the denizens about the truth regarding the outside environment. She came across a disillusioned Bernard, who was trying to leave the silo after learning the truth about the Algorithm and its failsafe programming. As the silo closed down on its own, the both of them tried to return and were nearly incinerated by the built-in security system of the silo. It has been three months since that incident; Bernard apparently didn’t survive, as his suit offered no protection from fire, unlike Juliette’s, which was a repurposed firefighter’s suit. Juliette, who has been suffering from a prolonged amnesiac episode since recovering from the incident, has been made the mayor. Everyone looks up to the symbol of hope who exposed the falsehoods and oppressive control of the silo authorities, but she can’t remember a single event of her past life. Camille is Juliette’s Chief of Staff, who is guiding her in every way. Sims – now the judge of the silo – has gained people’s trust by promising total reform in the silo to undo the damage done by past authorities. The Pact is being modified and rewritten by Sheriff Billings. The establishment of peace and harmony almost makes you forget that mere months ago, a violent rebellion was about to send the denizens to their doom. Committee meetings are conducted by bringing together different department heads in the presence of silo leadership, offering greater transparency under the new regime. There is this illusion that new governance is all about positive changes and greater balance between all the divisions, which has even convinced former rebel leaders like Knox about their intentions. Shirley can’t wrap her head around how Juliette is acting like a stranger with her, and has no recollection of her life in Mechanical whatsoever.  The most jarring aspect is how Juliette has cozied herself among the privileged Up Toppers, completely forgetting her roots in the Deep Down.

However, the dark truth hidden underneath the glimmering facade of change is way more disturbing than anyone would have expected. As the only person with access to the vault and Legacy, Camille is working from the dictates of the mysterious, all-powerful AI, the Algorithm, which wants to maintain peace by keeping Juliette in a deluded state. Under its command, Juliette is regularly given amnesia-inducing medication disguised as vitamin pills, which makes her forget about her past life, the time soent in Silo 17, Safeguard Protocol, the dangers of rebellion – everything. Camille and Sims lied to her about Bernard’s death, as Bernard was still alive after suffering burn wounds, and it was Sims who murdered him. Lukas Kyle, the only person other than Juliette who knows the truth about the entire AI control scenario, has gone missing, and has been declared a fugitive alongside relic dealer Patrick Kennedy. It is certainly a strange choice by the Algorithm to have former rebel sympathizer Camille act as its perfect stooge. Perhaps she is consciously choosing the practical option to keep the silo from tearing itself apart, despite knowing it requires her to play devil’s advocate? Sims doesn’t really have any power; he is merely limited to being an enforcer working under his wife. 

The Amnesia Connection: What Was the Oil Cloud Substance?

Parallel to the central narrative, a plotline set in the past, which focuses on the pre-apocalypse, pre-silo timeline three centuries ago, progresses, and focuses on the characters introduced in the final moments of the last season. Young Georgia based Congressman, Daniel Keen, meets with his naval air force pilot sister, Charlotte, who had set up his meeting with journalist Helen in the first place. As it turns out, Daniel used to be a talented army engineer, and his sophisticated subterranean shelter tech saved the lives of the people of New Orleans when Iran dropped a nuke on US soil. Charlotte’s involvement in the upcoming retaliatory strike on Iran makes her a valuable asset, and in her paranoid mind she thinks she is being followed by a mysterious person before reaching out to meet Daniel in secret. Charlotte wants Daniel to be a part of the Iran committee, as it seems she suspects something fishy is going on. Daniel meets Senator Thurman, who is in charge of this operation, and makes his pitch to have himself included in the committee. Thurman is revealed to be grateful towards Daniel for saving New Orleans, and she agrees to keep him in the loop. Later, things take a horrible turn during the mission, when Charlotte and her fellow fighter pilots are directed towards a different target at the last moment and come across a giant oil cloud at fifty thousand feet altitude, which messes with their jets’ systems and causes them to crash. While the news lies about the outcome of the mission, Thurman informs Daniel that Charlotte has survived the crash, and has been admitted to a specialized facility after being afflicted with severe brain trauma. Daniel meets his sister, and is shocked to learn that she doesn’t recognize him at all – and this amnesiac connection directly links the past timeline plot with the central narrative involving Juliette. 

It appears that in conjunction with “Silo” conspiracies, the Iran nuke incident might have been a ruse orchestrated by the government to give them a free pass to use their soldiers as test subjects. The black oil cloud might be the precursor to the amnesia-causing elements linked with silos to keep the masses deluded, and Charlotte became one of the first test subjects. The government’s self-sabotage conspiracy, to benefit from profiteering corporates who will become silo founders in the future, is not far-fetched at all when you consider the real-world situation is much worse in comparison. 

Will Juliette Get Her Memories Back?

A newly formed mask-wearing group of rebels, known as the Outsiders, who follow relic dealer Kennedy and want to spread the supposed truth about the outside world, have been making moves. Orchestrating supply raids and hanging banners with their slogan about exposing the lies, the Outsiders seem to be outlier elements and detrimental to the Algorithm’s schemes, even though the AI hasn’t acted alarmed about them just yet. However, the Outsiders’ banner jogs parts of Juliette’s memory, and she desperately wants to remember what kind of interaction took place between her and Bernard before his demise. Juliette directly asks Shirley to share whether she had any conversations with her linked to her fading memories in the past, and Shirley is too hurt to help her best friend. Camille shows Juliette some stock misleading suitcam footage of her taking shelter in a random refuge hut outside the silo before returning to her ‘home,’ and keeps her faith in the founders intact. The Algorithm appears concerned about Juliette’s memories returning, and asks Camille to double the dosage of amnesia-causing medication. 

Tensions arise when Harwood, the veteran chief of mining operations, and Orla, the young chief of supply, briefly lock horns. Harwood holds a grudge against Orla, who has replaced his corrupt daughter in the leadership position, and tries to belittle her. Orla, who suspects Harwood’s daughter might be a member of the group of miscreants who have been stealing high-value critical supplies, wants to report everything in detail to Juliette, as she trusts the new mayor to do the right thing. 

At night, Juliette finds a hidden note on her dinner plate, from an anonymous sender. The note directs her to destroy it after reading, place her bowl upside down, and arrive at the marketplace if she wants to learn the truth. Juliette follows the directions to the T – and the episode comes to an end, dangling the question of whether Juliette will eventually get her memories back. As for who sent the note, it could be someone from her Mechanical family, or Kennedy’s Outsiders might be involved as well. From what we know so far, fugitive Kyle Lukas might be the one trying to remind Juliette of the dangers of the silo as well. However, the crucial question is whether Camille knows about this, given that the vault’s surveillance system spies on everyone already. Sure, Sims has assured the masses he’ll dismantle the surveillance capabilities to do away with the oppressive past regime, but we know how much these promises are worth. Algorithm has already tried to kill Juliette along with Bernard, and if she happens to remember everything about her past and the silo’s mystery, she will attempt something similar once again. 

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