In Silo 18, the ongoing conflict between Mechanical and IT is centered around starvation, a weapon of war. Bernard Holland, a stickler for hierarchical establishment and maintenance, is a key character in the story. He directs the safety and security of IT while dealing with the animosity and hostilities between Mechanical and IT. Sherriff Billing's subplot is primarily focused on the animosity and hostilities between Mechanical and IT. Despite his pursuit of truth and unbiased stance, the situation feels meaningless. Billings, played by Chinaza Uche, has the clearest arc as a puppet conscripted from the needs of body politics. However, his uncertainty is more evident than his physical condition. Lukas Kyle, who was once relegated to obscurity in the mines, is now back in action as an important character in both the books and the series. Lukas is responsible for unraveling the secrets of the Silo and is not wholly Bernard's creature. However, his role is currently boring, as he is trying to figure out obscure codes, secrets, and potential messages from long-dead Silo residents. Robert Sims, who spent most of his career pushing to become Bernard's shadow, is disappointed to see someone recently sentenced to the mines take his rightful place under Bernard's wing. The obvious schism between Robert and Bernard is further complicated by Patrick Kennedy spreading lies while Lukas slowly unravels the secrets of the Silo. In Silo 18, Juliette Nichols is working to prevent her people from repeating the mistake of Silo 17. Kennedy is planting seeds for the same mistake in Silo 18, driving the intensity of the story up a notch. Episode 6 is a step up from Episode 5, but the writers seem to have a knack for silliness here and there. These moments are often immersion-breaking, irrational leaps, which is not prevalent or pervasive throughout the series. In Episode 6, the two parties clash in Battle of Rohirrim style, with the leaders of the two parties having a simple and short conversation. Mechanical gains ten floors, one of which conveniently includes the farm, and the starving problem is solved. This is probably the greatest "WTF" moment in the series so far. Silo does better in its darker, more mysterious occasions, such as political back and forth and maneuvering that comes so naturally to human beings vying for power in a despotic system. Mechanical's minds continually outmaneuvering Bernard, but at the end of the day, Bernard is a glorified IT supervisor and a politician. Juliette Nichols is "out of sight, out of mind," with her lone scene coming at the very end of the episode and feeling jarringly out of place. The entire episode is dedicated to the goings-on of Silo 18, and jumping back and forth between Silos would be too immersion-breaking. Juliette's quest should always be the focus, as it was in the books. However, book readers rarely get their way, and the writers seem to have a knack for silliness in their storytelling.
