Why Judge Meadows told Lukas Kyle about the stars and the universe and barely changed his sentence 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 thing about the outside world in Silo season 2, episode 4, 'The Harmonium,' and along with Lukas' reduced time in the mines, Meadows' encounter with Nash's character comes with a surprising number of layers. Nash had a more prominent role in Silo cast during the show's inaugural season, and Lukas being sent to the Silo 18 mines means his already reduced role in Season 2 could become even more trivial. However, before being taken away, his exchange with Judge Meadows reveals a lot about both characters.

Silo is one of the most mysterious sci-fi shows on Apple TV+. While certain puzzles from the first season have seemingly been resolved, the current run of episodes is raising some tantalizing questions, replacing the old mysteries. That said, all of the compelling issues at hand seem to be bleeding together to form a huge story that still has a while to go before reaching a satisfying conclusion. Silo finds multiple ways to move these dark plots forwardand 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 lively conversation about stars and planets in “The Harmonium”

With Moodie's character intending to leave Silo 18 after her assistance to the mayor is no longer needed, she finds herself trapped in the bureaucracy of her position. As such, she is forced to listen to Lukas as he enacts her right to appeal the sentence. Although the meeting begins normally, it quickly turns into something that goes far beyond what such an exchange between the judge and the man she sentenced should be.

It quickly becomes clear that Lukas will not have his sentence overturned, but something much less expected begins to happen. Instead of, Meadows presses Lukas on his theories about what the outside world is likebased on your observations about the “lights in the sky” seen from the cafeteria. Then, not only does she begin to tell him how correct he is, but she also explains what Lukas has already discovered. She is clearly violating the Covenant by doing this, but this only makes the moment even more exciting.

Why Meadows brought up the stars and the universe during her meeting with Lukas

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

Despite condemning Lukas to work in the mines, Meadows appears to have great respect for him. Nash's character is clearly very brilliant. Although he doesn't know all the technical terminology behind his theories, he can still achieve several key concepts about the universe simply by observing the movement of the stars out there. So, although Meadows can't realistically spare him years of hard work in the belly of Silo 18she 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 keep going. Although working in the mines is difficult, it gives him the chance to hold on to his dream of one day returning to his life and continuing to investigate the outside world and how it works. Of course, very little is known about the mines as they have not yet been shown on screen. So while it's possible that Lukas could continue this research while serving his sentence, it seems very unlikely.

Why Judge Meadows Halved Lukas' Mine Sentence

Tanya Moodie's character Silo was creating an illusion of justice

Meadows abruptly ends the conversation when Lukas asks if there is “other worlds“, and she returns to her authoritarian demeanor as she summons the agents back into the room. Officially, she reduces Lukas' sentence from a decade to “just” five yearsand the reasons she officially records is that he was outspoken and exhibited a “willingness to accept responsibilities.” However, during the judge's interrogation of the mayor at the end of the episode, she reveals the true reason for her apparent leniency.

Speaking with Mayor Bernard Holland (Tim Robbins), Meadows states that Lukas is “dangerous“, which confuses the mayor, with him asking why Lukas' sentence was changed 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 minesso the change in his sentence will solve the problems he presents and at the same time make it appear Judicial”fair“for most others Silo characters.