Warning: This article contains spoilers for Apple TV+'s Silo.Tim Robbins' character in Apple TV+'s Silo seems to be an antithesis of one of his best movie roles. Introducing the veteran actor as Bernard, Silo Episode 3 splits its runtime into two arcs. While one revolves around Mayor Ruth defying Bernard and considering Juliette as the next Sheriff for the Silo, the other focuses on Juliette and her engineering team, who overcome many odds to fix the Silo's turbine. The two narratives collide when Juliette fully displays her leadership skills and knowledge of the Silo to convince Mayor Ruth that she is a worthy successor to Holston's position.
Although Silo episode 3 focuses on Juliette's heroic antics, it subtly hints at how Tim Robbins' Bernard could be one of the primary antagonists of the series. Despite knowing that it is not his job to elect the next Sheriff, Bernard keeps warning Ruth that promoting Juliette to the role would be a grave mistake. The end of Silo episode 3 also hints that Bernard hates taking no for an answer and will do almost anything to retain his sense of control over the underground city. Considering how he reacts to the world around him, Tim Robbin's Bernard in Silo seems the complete opposite of Shawshank Redemption's Andy.
Tim Robbins' Andy Dufresne In Shawshank Redemption Contrasts Silo's Bernard
Tim Robbins brilliantly portrays Shawshank Redemption's Andy Dufresne as a calm, collected man who always finds opportunity in adversity. Silo's Bernard, on the other hand, comes off as an angry and reactive antagonist whose hunger for power often blinds him from considering the well-being of others. While Andy is looked up to as a leading figure by his fellow prisoners because of how gracefully and modestly he carries himself, Bernard contrasts him by exerting control over others and misusing his power.
As Shawshank Redemption's storyline progresses, Andy Dufresne becomes a symbol of hope, resilience, and resistance against the corruption that runs rampant inside the prison. In contrast, Tim Robbins' Bernard mirrors the morally skewed authorities that Andy strives to fight in Shawshank Redemption. Unlike Andy, who exposes the dark underbelly of the Shawshank State Prison, Bernard leads an oppressive system in the Silo that was designed to keep the powerless and poor in the dark.
How Tim Robbins' Negative Role Makes Silo Even Better
Tim Robbins does an incredible job at capturing Bernard's authoritative demeanor in Silo. With his acting forte, he perfectly shows how despite being a leading figure in the Silo, Bernard cares less about the people and more about his power-hungry pursuits. This, in turn, effectively creates a dichotomy between virtuous leaders like Mayor Ruth and immoral forces like Bernard, establishing the complex power dynamics inside the Silo. More than anything else, Robbins' portrayal of Bernard's nefarious motives also raises the stakes for Juliette's journey toward finding the truth since it highlights how Bernard will do everything to stop her and sustain his reign in Apple TV+'s Silo.
New episodes of Silo release Fridays on Apple TV+.