Warning! This article contains spoilers for Silo season 2's finale.

Bernard's key stops blinking toward Apple TV+ sci-fi show's season 1, its presence denotes it holds immense significance in Bernard's role within the silo's leadership structure.

Even season 2 does not initially focus on the key but constantly hints it will eventually tie in Bernard's journey as Silo 18's leading figure. Towards Silo season 2's ending arc, the key, which previously glowed red and vibrated on several occasions, suddenly stops blinking. This makes it hard not to wonder why it glowed in the first place and what suddenly made it stop in season 2's finale.

Silo 18's Key Not Blinking Is A Sign That Bernard Officially Failed In Silo Season 2

The Key Indicates It Is Too Late For Bernard To Do Anything

In Silo season 1's ending moments, Bernard's key starts glowing red and vibrating as soon as Juliette defies the cleaning protocol. With what follows, he seemingly rushes inside his vault to understand what he should do next. Something similar happens almost throughout Silo season 2. Every time something goes wrong in Silo 18, and the people inch closer to unleashing a full-fledged rebellion, the key blinks, and Bernard disappears.

Although the show never explicitly reveals where Bernard goes when the key blinks, it seems like he heads to the vault and talks to the Algorithm. The glowing key is more or less of a warning that Bernard needs to act quickly before things escalate in the silo. The Algorithm probably helps him decide his next course of action after his key starts glowing.

He is seemingly considered incapable of saving his silo towards the end, which makes him unworthy of getting the warning signs from the Algorithm.

In Silo season 2's ending arc, Bernard keeps checking his key as things gradually crumble in Silo 18, wondering why it is not blinking. However, towards the final moments of the season, it becomes evident that the key is not glowing because it is too late for Bernard to do anything. He is seemingly considered incapable of saving his silo towards the end, which makes him unworthy of getting the warning signs from the Algorithm.

Why Bernard Gives The Key To Robert Sims

Bernard Realizes He Has Failed To Protect His Silo

After learning the truth about the Silo system from Lukas and realizing that the founders never really cared about the survivors, Bernard, too, gives up. He feels powerless, understanding that he personally can do nothing to save his people. Therefore, he its his defeat and accepts the fact that they are all doomed.

As a result, he gives the key to Robert Sims, believing that it does not matter who leads the silo after him. Before he sets out to leave the silo and embrace a few moments of freedom in Silo season 2's finale, he sheds all his responsibilities and walks away from the burden of his leadership by giving away the key.