Holston's Pick is the second episode of the first season of Silo and the second episode of the series overall. It was released on May 5, 2023 along with the first episode, Freedom Day.
Synopsis[edit | edit source]
Juliette, an engineer, pieces together what might have led to a co-worker's mysterious death.
Plot[edit | edit source]
Holston prepares himself for his venture outside. As he steps through the airlock, he's no longer bound by the law of the Silo. Apologetic for the uproar caused, he girds himself for the uncharted world beyond. His journey takes him up the lengthy staircase, ready to face the unknown.
Inside the Silo, everyone gathers in the dining hall to watch Holston surface from the underground and venture into the barren wasteland. As he emerges, Holston exclaims, “Damnit Allison, you were right!” unbeknownst to everyone else, the outside is a surprisingly magnificent haven. He wipes the camera lens for the viewers inside the silo, directing it towards the majestic tree. However, everything is not as it seems.
Holston begins to gasp for breath, eventually collapsing. He is the first to have ever removed his helmet outdoors and as he crawls towards Allison's lifeless body, he seemingly perishes. The news of Holston's death incenses Juliette, prompting her to storm off in anger, accusing him of lying. She retreats to engineering, struggling to control her rage. In her fury, she inadvertently damages a pipe, causing a rush of clean water to flood the area.
The Sheriff's demise prompts discussions about his successor. The community is already on their 97th Sheriff, and the brewing discontent threatens to erupt in chaos due to the absence of law and order. Seizing the opportunity, a figure named Sims steps in, attempting to impose some semblance of order.
The narrative then rewinds three months to the death of George, an event that still haunts the community. Juliette suspects foul play and is convinced he was murdered. George had planned to reveal something to Juliette before his death, which involved a cryptic letter and a pez dispenser. When George fails to appear in her quarters, the tragic news of his death disseminates rapidly.
This retrospective aligns with the events of the previous episode, with Holston arriving to interrogate Juliette about George's death. The incident, which occurred at the unlikely hour of 3am, lacks witnesses as George supposedly fell 100 feet.
While suicide is deemed a crime in their society, Juliette is certain that George would never resort to such a drastic action. She entrusts this belief to Holston, revealing that George left something for her. Wanting to keep this artifact a secret, she persuades Holston to slightly manipulate the truth and maintain that he discovered it independently.
Juliette then shows Holston the letter from George, reading "Remember where you last saw this?" — a coded message only she can interpret. The message pertains to the pez dispenser and leads them to a concealed area situated behind a large sign. Descending a hidden tunnel, they arrive at a vast, open space.
In this area, Juliette unveils the remnants of a gigantic, arachnid-like excavation robot. The once formidable machine has been reduced to a shell due to the extraction of its valuable components. Nevertheless, this discovery significantly alters Holston's understanding of their world.
They eventually reach a temporary camp, which is the location indicated in George's letter. The camp houses various artifacts from the past, including a camcorder that Juliette has difficulty operating. Among these relics, Juliette discovers something unusual—a string leading to a metal beam with a bag of additional relics attached. Instructions for recovering erased files, written in Allison's handwriting, are found among the relics, along with a computer drive. However, Holston warns her of the potential dangers of their curiosity.
Holston's interest in this investigation is partly fueled by Juliette's relationship with George, and more specifically, George's connection with Allison. Seeing Juliette's fearless nature, reminiscent of his wife's, Holston advises her to keep a low profile. He pledges to quietly pursue the truth.
Back in the present, Deputy Marnes reveals Holston's final letter, endorsing Juliette Nichols as his successor and bequeathing his personal belongings to her. Given Juliette was anticipating a sign, this endorsement might be the hint she needs to accept the responsibility.
Juliette's previous outburst against Holston was rooted in her frustration with his lack of guidance in uncovering the truth about George's death. Now, the mantle of truth-seeker, previously borne by George, has been passed on to Juliette. As the episode concludes, Juliette proceeds to lower a length of rope down the suspended metal beam, preparing to descend. She believes this might lead her to the clues she needs to solve the mystery that surrounds them.
Cast and Characters[edit | edit source]
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- The episode shows that relics are not just confined to technological objects, but things similar as a pez despenser are considered relics.