Silo: Why Judge Meadows Told Lukas Kyle About Stars & The Universe, And Barely Amended His Sentencing To The Mines

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Silo season 2, episode 4, “The Harmonium.”Tanya Moodie’s Judge Meadows tells Avi Nash’s Lukas Kyle a surprising amount about the outside world in Silo season 2, episode 4, “The Harmonium,” and paired with reducing Lukas’ time in the mines, Meadows’ meeting with Nash’s character comes with a surprising number of layers. Nash had a more prominent role in the Silo cast during the show’s inaugural season, and Lukas being sent to Silo 18’s mines means his already-reduced input into season 2 could become even more trivial. However, before he is taken away, his exchange with Judge Meadows reveals a lot about both characters.

Silo is one of the most mysterious Apple TV+ sci-fi shows. Although certain enigmas from season 1 have seemingly been wrapped up, the current run of episodes is raising some tantalizing questions, replacing the old mysteries. That being said, all the compelling issues in question appear to be bleeding together to form one huge storyline that still has a while to go before it reaches a satisfying conclusion. Silo finds various ways to push these shadowy plots onward, and one of them happens during Meadows’ conversation with Lukas in “The Harmonium.”

Judge Meadows’ Meeting With Lukas Kyle In Silo Season 2, Episode 4 Explained

The judge and the prisoner have a spirited exchange about stars and planets in “The Harmonium”

With Moodie’s character intent on leaving Silo 18 after her assistance to the mayor is no longer required, she finds herself caught in the bureaucracy of her position. As such, she is required to hear Lukas out as he enacts his right to appeal his sentence. Although the meeting starts pretty normally, it quickly descends into something that goes far beyond what such an exchange should be between the judge and the man she has sentenced.

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It quickly becomes clear that Lukas isn’t going to have his sentence retracted, but something far less expected starts to happen. Instead, Meadows presses Lukas on his theories about what the world outside looks like, based on his observations of the “lights in the sky” seen from the cafeteria. Then, not only does she start to tell him just how correct he is, but she also elaborates on what Lukas has already worked out. She’s clearly in violation of the Pact by doing so, but that just makes the moment even more exciting.

Why Meadows Brought Up The Stars & Universe During Her Meeting With Lukas

Judge Meadows gives Lukas one last smile before sending him to the mines

Despite sentencing Lukas to work in the mines, Meadows seems to have a strong measure of respect for him. Nash’s character is clearly very bright. Although he doesn’t know all the technical terminology behind his theories, he still manages to hit on several key concepts about the universe simply by observing the movement of the stars outside. So, although Meadows can’t realistically spare him from years of hard labor in the belly of Silo 18, she can at least fill in the gaps in his knowledge before he goes, as a kindness.

It could also be argued that Judge Meadows is giving Lukas the hope he needs to go on. Although working in the mines will be tough, she gives him the chance to cling to the dream of returning to his life one day and continuing to investigate the world outside and how it works. Of course, very little is known about the mines as they’ve yet to be shown onscreen. So, while it’s possible Lukas could continue this research while serving his sentence, it seems very unlikely.

Why Judge Meadows Cut Lukas’ Sentencing In The Mines In Half

Tanya Moodie’s Silo character was creating an illusion of fairness

Meadows abruptly ends the conversation when Lukas asks her if there are “other worlds,” and she snaps back into her authoritative demeanor as she summons the agents back into the room. Officially, she reduces Lukas’ sentence from a decade to “just” five years, and the reasons she officially logs are that he has been forthright and has displayed a “willingness to accept responsibility.” However, during the judge’s debrief with the mayor later in the episode, she reveals the true reason for her apparent leniency.

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Speaking with Mayor Bernard Holland (Tim Robbins), Meadows states that Lukas is “dangerous,” which confuses the mayor, with him asking why Lukas’ sentence was amended if he poses a threat to the silo. Judge Meadow’s dark logic essentially boils down to the fact that Lukas Kyle probably doesn’t have what it takes to survive more than a year in the mines, so the change to his sentence will both take care of the problems he presents while also making Judicial seem “fair” to the majority of the other Silo characters.

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Silo

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.

Release Date

May 5, 2023

Cast

Rebecca Ferguson , Common , Tim Robbins , Harriet Walter , Christian Ochoa Lavernia , Avi Nash , Billy Postlethwaite , Chinaza Uche , Iain Glen , Remmie Milner , David Oyelowo , Rick Gomez , Ferdinand Kingsley , Shane McRae , Chipo Chung , Caitlin Zoz , Matt Gomez Hidaka , Angela Yeoh , Olatunji Ayofe , Khairika Sinani , Will Patton , Akie Kotabe

Character(s)

Juliette Nichols , Robert Sims , Bernard Holland , Martha Walker , Amundsen , Lukas Kyle , Hank , Paul Billings , Dr. Pete Nichols , Shirley , Sheriff Holston , Patrick Kennedy , George Wilkins , Knox , Sandy , Kathleen Billings , Cooper , Deputy Molly Karins , Teddy , Raider Jean , Deputy Marnes , Diego

Seasons

2

Showrunner

Graham Yost

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