Silo season 2 episode 4 ending explained: Who killed Judge Meadows?

Silo season 2 episode 4 dropped on Apple TV+ on Friday, December 6, 2024, bringing one of the most gripping moments of the show's second season yet as one of the main characters dies. The latest episode also showed how the series' primary antagonist, Bernard, can forsake everything in the name of following The Order.

Tension has been brewing in Silo 18 since the citizens saw Juliette Nichols go over the distance while stepping outside to clean, something she did not do, in the Silo season 1 finale. It is unknown where she is or if she survived, and some want to have the same freedom she had, including Judge Meadows.

In exchange for helping Bernard stabilize the Silo, she wanted her own suit so she could go outside. Bernard promised her the same if she accepted being his shadow again, but everything ended in tragedy in Silo season 2 episode 4. Bernard killed Judge Meadows while they were enjoying the dinner he cooked especially for her.

However, he did not confess to the citizens that he killed the head of the Judicial Branch. Instead, he framed it on someone else, inciting even more chaos in Silo 18.

Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers for Silo season 2 episode 4. Reader's discretion is advised.

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Silo season 2 episode 4 saw Bernard poison Judge Meadows

Bernard plots against Judge Meadows in Silo season 2 episode 4 (Image via Apple TV+)

Silo season 2 episode 4 saw Bernard sacrifice his relationship with Judge Meadows in the name of protecting "The Order." He killed Meadows during dinner by poisoning her with the mushrooms he cooked.

Since Silo season 2 episode 2, it's been clear how Bernard values Meadows in his life, or, at the very least, her opinions. She was once Bernard's shadow before she quit the position and started getting drunk. In episode 2, as the rebellion from down-deepers started, he sought alliance from Judge Meadows. He wanted them to show a collective front to unite the Silo and halt any plans of rebellion.

However, Judge Meadows wanted something in return—freedom. She agreed to help Bernard and become his shadow again if he provided her with a well-made suit so she could safely go outside and explore as Juliette did. She had been hounding Bernard about the suit ever since, while he evaded her every time she asked him if it was ready.

However, the tension between them started intensifying when Meadows began questioning Bernard's choices or making her own decisions that he didn't agree with. For one, in Silo season 2 episode 4, she accepted a meeting with Lukas Kyle despite Bernard opposing it because he said that the man was "dangerous." She also accepted a meeting with Mechanical, which Bernard thought wasn't a good idea.

Judge Meadows dies in Silo season 2 episode 7 (Image via Apple TV+)

But what pushed him at the end of Silo season 2 episode 4 are the people in the upper half protesting and wanting to impeach him. So, he lured Judge Meadows to his apartment, saying that he already had her suit and that she could try it on there. Meadows was fooled, and Bernard made an entire show out of it. He cooked their dinner himself, but shortly after they finished eating, Judge Meadows started having trouble breathing.

Bernard poisoned her using the mushrooms, and when she asked him why, he said that he was only following "The Order." He said that her death would unite the upper half of the Silo.

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Bernard framed Mechanical for Meadows' murder in Silo season 2 episode 4

While killing Judge Meadows in Silo season 2 episode 4 was a pretty big move from Bernard, it wasn't the only ace he had in his card. The episode showed that he had a more sinister plan—blame the Mechanical for Meadows' death.

Shirley and Knox get framed for Meadows' death (Image via Apple TV+)

Back down under, Knox let Shirley see the wall with messages about the rebellions that happened many years ago. They discovered that Mechanical was always blamed for everything that happened in Silo 18, and Shirley thought that it was because they could shut the entire Silo down.

Bernard used the same "blame the Mechanical" narrative for Judge Meadows' death. When Knox, Shirley, Walker, and Carla went to the upper levels to see Meadows, Bernard only let Knox and Shirley enter his office. But when they got there, they saw Simms and the dead body of Judge Meadows.

Shirley realized that they were set up, and while Knox wanted to fight, she told him that they should escape as entering the room put both of them in trouble. Bernard and Sims could twist the reality and make it look like they killed Meadows, which was exactly what happened shortly after they left.

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Danger began for Knox, Shirley, and the rest of Mechanical in Silo season 2 episode 4

Danger brews for Mechanical in Silo season 2 episode 4 (Image via Apple TV+)

As Knox, Shirley, Walker, and Carla hightail it away from Judicial, Bernard instructed Sims to do his bidding. Sims went out and addressed the upper-level citizens who were protesting, telling them that Judge Meadows was dead and the people from Mechanical who just went into her office were the killers.

In front of the protesters, he accused them of wanting to go out, but when Judge Meadows refused, they killed her. He also painted a picture where Meadows died a hero because she protected the greater good of Silo 18. This further divided Silo 18's citizens—the upper-level conformers and the rebels in the lower levels.

By pitting the upper-level folks against the people in lower levels, Bernard killed any chance of the rebellion from reaching the upper levels.

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Silo season 2 episode 4 hinted that there could be someone else in Silo 17 besides Juliette and Solo

Intriguing camera angles in episode 4 hinted that there is someone else in Silo 17 besides Juliette Nichols and Solo. It could also explain other things that happened in the previous episode if proven true.

Juliette is still in Silo 17 (Image via Apple TV+)

As tension and danger kept building in Silo 18 in Silo season 2 episode 4, Juliette asked for Solo's help in retrieving a firefighter suit from the bunks underwater. However, Solo was acting strange the whole time, and it wasn't only his endless chattering. At one point, he felt anxious about whether or not he locked the vault when they left. It appeared like he feared that someone else could enter the vault.

Camera angles throughout the latest episode were also interesting. They seemed to be showing different point-of-view shots that weren't from Solo or Juliette. One example was when Solo was pumping air for Juliette underwater, a camera angle made it look like someone else was watching him.

As seen in Silo season 2 episode 3, Juliette pointed out that two of the dead bodies outside the vault were new ones. There was also a message on the wall saying, "We will get in sooner or later." It implied that someone else tried to break into Solo's vault, so it wouldn't be far off to believe that someone else was there with them. That said, it wouldn't likely be another Silo 17 survivor as the toxic air had been fatal for all the citizens except Solo, who was safe inside the vault.

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Catch Silo season 2 episode 4, now streaming on Apple TV+. Previous episodes of the series can also be watched on the platform with a subscription.