What The Legacy Is In Silo & Why It's Kept Secret

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Silo season 2's episode 7.

Bernard finally gives Lukas access to the Legacy in Silo season 2's episode 7, which, to Lukas' surprise, turns out to be far more fascinating than he had imagined. Lukas' story took a dark turn towards Silo season 1's ending moments when Bernard punished him for not reporting his encounter with Juliette. Infuriated by his betrayal, Bernard sent the IT employee to the mines in Silo season 1's final arc. However, in Silo season 2's episode 6, Lukas gets the opportunity to redeem himself in Bernard's eyes when the Head of IT asks him to decode Salvador Quinn's cryptic letter.

Despite having limited to no knowledge of cryptology, Lukas puts his thinking abilities and curiosity on full display by using the Caesar shift cipher in Silo season 2's episode 6. Although the method does not work on the letter, his ability to solve problems convinces Bernard that he can become his Shadow. Therefore, in Silo season 2's episode 7, Bernard sets him up for the role by giving him access to the Legacy.

Silo's Legacy Program Explained

The Legacy Contains A Massive Database Of Information From The Past

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In Hugh Howey's original Silo books, the Legacy is introduced more as an encyclopedia that contains information on myriad topics. The show, however, seems to change this in an intriguing way by introducing the Legacy as a massive database containing thousands of books and resources one can use to research and learn about various aspects of the Silo and even the outside world. Bernard gives Lukas access to the Legacy, hoping that he will use it to crack Salvador Quinn's coded letter.

Although the show has not revealed what is inside Solo's vault, he, too, seems to have permission to use the Legacy, which would explain how he knows so much about the world.

Since Lukas is now his new shadow, Bernard will also expect him to eventually put his thinking abilities to good use and use the resources from the Legacy to find a way to help him suppress the growing chaos in Silo 18. The Legacy and its access are kept hidden from the people of the Silo. One can only seemingly use it after entering the Vault in Silo 18's IT. In Silo 17, Solo seems to have access to a similar vault. Although the show has not revealed what is inside Solo's vault, he, too, seems to have permission to use the Legacy, which would explain how he knows so much about the world.

Is Legacy An AI System?

It Seems To Have Elements Of AI

Custom Image by Dhruv Sharma.

Many story beats from Silo season 2 suggest that the Legacy is a lot more than a massive storage space for information. For instance, season 2's episode 7 reveals that Lukas can ask questions to the Legacy, suggesting it is driven by some level of intelligence. When the people of the Mechanical launch their rocket in Silo season 2's episode 7, the Legacy also announces that Silo 18 is experiencing a delta event, confirming that it is designed to identify a fixed set of algorithms and accordingly respond to specific events in the Silo.

Related Silo's Judge Meadows Explained: Mayor's Shadow, Red Relics & Why She Wants To Go Out Since Judge Mary Meadows is one of the main characters in Silo season 2, it is hard not to wonder how her arc will tie into the overarching narrative.

After Bernard poisons Judge Meadows in Silo season 2's early episodes, he also asks her if she ever used a VR headset when she "sat with the Legacy." The fact that Bernard almost anthropomorphizes the Legacy suggests that it may be more intelligent than a regular algorithm-based dataset. How the Legacy, as a potential AI system, will tie into the show's overarching story is yet to be seen. However, it is intriguing how Silo season 2 has been gradually revealing that its timeline is set hundreds of years in the future.

Why Bernard Keeps The Legacy A Secret From The Rest Of The Silo

Bernard Wants Silo 18's People To Stay Naive

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The fact that Bernard has to officially pledge Lukas as his shadow in Silo season 2's episode 6 to give him access to the Legacy suggests that, according to the Silo's Pact, not everyone can use the Legacy. The primary reason behind this law is that the Legacy contains sensitive information about Silo 18 and the outside world. Most regular citizens of the Silo would not be able to handle the truths contained in the Legacy because they are accustomed to sitting in the dark.

In the original Hugh Howey Silo books, Lukas and Bernard's relationship never goes downhill. Owing to this, Bernard makes him his Shadow soon after Juliette leaves Silo 18.

Others would potentially turn rebellious because the information in the Legacy would open up their eyes to the exploitative nature of the Silo’s leadership and the oppressive system they live under. As seen in Silo's earlier episodes, Judge Meadows serves as the perfect example of this. She was willing to become Bernard's shadow before she gradually gained access to more and more information about their world. Using the Legacy, she also deciphered the message in Salvador Quinn's letter, which exposed her to the unsettling realities of their world and the purpose of the silos' creation.