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Silo Episode 4 Truth Explained- Who Killed Mayor Jahns, Holston’s Secrets, And What Happened To George

The best sci-fi series of the year has carved out a unique space between formulas that work and unexpected plot progression. A Juliette-centric Silo Episode 4 fleshed out who Juliette is and how she became the determined woman trying to get justice for George. Split between two timelines, we see who she was and follow her as the beginning stages of her investigation unfold. Mayor Jahns is dead, and Juliette is expected to pick up the pieces despite almost everyone resenting her presence. It’s another fast-paced episode that, through plot beats at us fast and hard.

Juliette’s childhood

Juliette originally had a mother and brother in addition to her father, the doctor. In the book series, Jacob was born premature and died. Shortly after, her mother committed suicide. In Apple’s series, Jacob probably died of some illness, like an asthma attack. In the opening sequence of Silo Episode 4, the entire family surrounds him as he lies on a table. He is unconscious, and his lips are blue. Juliette’s decision to leave her home and shadow Mechanics stems from a tragedy.

Juliette’s mother and brother were both lost around the same time. Although it is not explained in this episode, we can assume Jacob died, and Juliette’s mother committed suicide shortly after. Another possibility is something in their home killed them in an accident, and Juliette blames her father for not fixing it sooner. Either would be a reasonable explanation for why she becomes so angry with her father after becoming preoccupied with fixing the chair.

At just thirteen, she left home, presented a forged letter to Walker, and asked to join Mechanical. Juliette was determined, and because Walker knew her mother, he let her stay temporarily. Walker told her father, though, so he wouldn’t worry about her and they could decide together. It was interesting to see so many of the faces from the present timeline so young. Walker and Knox both made appearances. Juliette was escaping the grief of losing her sibling and mother back then. Throwing herself into exhausting work kept her from thinking about her pain. Now she uses that same ability to fix things to figure out what happened to George.

Sheriff Holston and Sheriff Juliette

Marnes is reeling after Mayor Jahns’s poisoning last week. He is convinced she was not the target, and considering he was attacked at the end of Silo Episode 4, I’m sure he is at least partially correct. Whoever was responsible for her death(Judge Meadows and Bernard) wants everyone out of the way. Bernard is the Mayor pro team following Jahns death, and he swears in Juliette, but likely this is the easiest means to his end. He expects her to be a failure and either quit or be killed, paving the way for Billings in IT to take over. He has a more subtle hand in contrast to Judge Meadows, who wants to force her out.

An uneasy alliance is formed between Marnes and Juliette when they tentatively agree to work together to solve Jahns’ and George’s murders. Grief and anger unite people better than anything. If Marnes survives the attack, he will be even more committed to helping her. In the book series, he appears to commit suicide shortly after Jahns’ death. When he makes and hangs a punching bag in his room, it references that event while changing it for the series.

Who attacked Marnes?

We don’t know who sent Marnes attacker, but it was likely the same person that tried to poison him and killed Jahns. Judge Meadows, who we have not met yet, has made an early impression. She is pragmatic to a fault and cold-blooded. She wants control over everything and needs Marnes and Juliette out of the way to put in Billings, undoubtedly a yes-man, in place. The wild card in all of this is Bernard, who may have a similar but personal agenda. Sims, a subtly menacing Common, has hands in many pies. He is well-connected and could be involved in the poisoning and the attack.

Who killed George?

The handwritten note in the file Holston left Juliette said, “Double the floves or flowes in front of the mirror.” It isn’t very clear, but that wasn’t the most crucial file he left her. George’s file was hiding in the air duct attached to the fishing wire. We don’t know the file’s secrets, but judging by her face, it is a whopper. In Wool, Juliette’s father changes his mother’s death certificate so it didn’t show suicide as the cause of death. This plot point may not be relevant in her story, but it may come back in George’s. Her father may have done something with the autopsy record and knows more than he lets on.

The hard drive is still missing, but Walker has powered up the device Juliette gave her. The biggest bombshells are about to drop. The purpose of the Silo, who has killed whom, and what for are secrets that can’t be concealed forever. Those who have read the series know that is the point. Humanity can’t be fixed with secrets and lies. The masses only stay obedient for so long before they demand answers, and someone smart and brave questions the inconsistencies.

Silo Episode 4
Courtesy of Apple TV+

A few exciting characters come to the forefront of Silo Episode 4. Holston’s assistant and now Juliette’s is a cantankerous ally in the making. She almost certainly knows more about the office than anyone thought. Pitting her against Juliette sets up a fantastic character arch and develops an intriguing relationship. Additionally, Rick Gomez’s Patrick Kennedy, who has his own vendetta against Marnes and Data Management, famous for losing something forever, will be important. Lastly, Lukas, who works in IT and should become a friend and ally with Juliette, is introduced.

Truth and trying matter in Silo Episode 4. The problem is the truth is fluid. There is the truth we tell ourselves. The truth we tell others, and then the real truth. Usually, the truth reveals itself in the trying of it all, which is why it is just as important. Motivations betray deceptions. Lukas’ comment that Shakespeare was a rumored rebel seems even more prescient with the writer’s strike ongoing. The why matters as much as the what. The truth always comes out. Our behavior and ideology betray us long before we spill our secrets. Find all our Silo coverage here.