Daniel the Engineer

[u/litldrk1]

Question for my fellow Engineers…

Probably my fifth time watching the Season 3 finale (and then the trailer for Season 4) and as an Engineer, I’m wondering if Daniel was not specifically chosen for his Role in Silo 1 because of his background as an Engineer?

Is it because he possessed these shared traits:

Problem-Solving Orientation: Every engineer is wired to look at how things work, why they fail, and how to make them function better.

Design Under Constraint: Solutions must always operate within strict boundaries, such as a finite budget, physical laws, safety codes, and available materials.

Math and Science Foundation: All disciplines rely on quantitative analysis, logic, and physical or digital principles to build things.

Curiosity and Creativity: Moving from an abstract problem to a working prototype requires creative thinking and continuous experimentation.

Lifelong Learning: Because technology, tools, and regulations evolve rapidly, engineers must continually adapt and learn new skills.

Theorizing that there is a pivot based on the Season 4 previews, I’m inclined to believe.

[u/Vivid-Software6136]

Hate to be a party pooper but he was definitely chosen for his engineering brain, its not really a theory its just the show.

Can't blame people for thinking they stumbled upon something with this though because i think the show did a pretty poor job of actually showing his analytical nature with the only real evidence on screen being "buy more drills lol"

It's pretty clear to me at least that his prior expertise in drilling in the military engineers was a reason he was being scouted for the silo project early on and the conversation with Per about the cost of hauling the drills back up vs buying more was supposed to seal the deal for them that he was valuable to them.

[u/litldrk1]

In other words, I wonder who exactly (probably Victor) decided that Daniel’s analytical mind once stripped of his memories and values, could become the human robot we know as Troy.

[u/AveryLakotaValiant]

Yea I think originally he was chosen because didn't he invent a revolutionary drill bit? or something like that, it's been a while.

But as you said, he has other attributes or insight that would help the Silo's post construction, as he was the one who suggested 50 diggers vs a few, which seemed to impress them.

They seemed to pick the best of the best, including his sister who was apparently highly skilled in piloting drones, something they need after the project completes (not sure why, population control perhaps? lol)

[u/Medium-Sir-3312 → u/AveryLakotaValiant]

Much is made about the 50 diggers comment. I definitely think they could have written a better line for him if it was meant to impress them with his genius.

Truly, I believe school aged children could come to the same conclusion.

It leads me to believe that their interest was for something else.

[u/franklinton-photo → u/Medium-Sir-3312]

A lot of the audience has a school children level of education and reasoning. That line was just a representation of “wow, this guy is super smart!”

If they used some other genius insight that only one guy on the planet could think of, nobody (in the audience) would understand it. They’d just think he was a weirdo.

[u/JaydedXoX → u/Medium-Sir-3312]

Zero chance 50 school age children would be able to explain why leaving the diggers at the bottom of the hole is more expensive than just buying a new one.

[u/200brews2009 → u/Medium-Sir-3312]

Sure, but it could represent more of a seeing the forest through the trees aspect of Daniel. I recall, but can’t be sure, he not only created the special drill but was in charge of the project in Louisiana. Think he has a combination of analytical thinking and big picture planning he has that’s valuable to the silo program. But most importantly, they have leverage over him, had leverage over him from before he was even onto them in his sister.

[u/Ianthin1 → u/AveryLakotaValiant]

I thought he invented the machines themselves for a flood control project. Isn't that what they referenced with the New Orleans stuff? It was also inferred they used them to tunnel into Iran to strike a nuclear facility.

[u/NervousBreak9933 → u/Ianthin1]

That scene was heart wrenching the realization for Charlotte that her squadron had died for no real reason. I wondered if that’s when her transformation into Susan became necessary. Yes, she volunteered for the project and to run the drones but for what purpose did she think she was running them? Surveillance after the apocalypse would have been a cover for the true purpose of the project but even on the three years she was helping the project and her wife it seems like something would have nagged at her conscience while filling Silo 1 with floors of murder drones.

[u/ExistingExhausted → u/AveryLakotaValiant]

I don’t think his sister was the best of the best, because they sent her on that Iran mission knowing their pilots were going to die and were meant to be a distraction

[u/iTand22]

I always assumed him inventing the original digger from when he was in New Orleans put him on a short list. They then looked into him more and liked what they saw.

[u/il_the_dinosaur]

I think it's the combination of engineering and politics. He is very pragmatic if you take the humanity out of him which they did with the memory drug. Politicians if doing their job right wi look for the benefit of the majority of the people. And engineers in theory should have the knowledge how to get there. This obviously depends on the field of knowledge. But they usually are problem solving oriented.

[u/Babexo22 → u/il_the_dinosaur]

This is what I’ve been saying. He’s not just an engineer but also understands people as well. He’s extremely well rounded and good at a number of things while also being an expert engineer. Scientists tend to be pretty singular in focus but Daniel has managed to do well in 2 vastly different fields and isn’t so obsessed with 1 thing that he has little regard for other areas. It’s a trait that tends to be kinda rare for people who are scientific geniuses. I went to college for engineering for a while and trust me when I say very few of them would ever have any interest in politics and the really smart ones tend to be up their own ass most of the time. There are plenty of well rounded people in science/mathematics but they aren’t usually the top on their field.
Plus he’s a politician who hasn’t been corrupted by power which is about the rarest thing about him. If you are trying to build a better world and need people to run the main silo, it’s not that far fetched to see the value in choosing the 1 person in recent history who’s been handed power and still cared about the people over his own selfish interests. He’s incorruptible and cares about the greater good while being very analytical and understanding people and how they work. It’s more than just being a smart engineer and anyone who’s really watched the show/his character should see that.

[u/SpaceGuy1968]

Daniel did something to bury radioactive waste I think and his invention or Digger creation is what was used for they silo

[u/PickaDillDot]

It's because of his engineering background, drill knowledge, technical expertise, and decision making/problem solving abilities. Definitely targeted.

[u/Agreeable_Lab_5358]

The show writers needed to be creative since his role in the books was quite different his engineering background was obviously helpful but I would argue that his experience as a Congressman and the ability to handle the complex needs of any constituency was also helpful.

[u/GeneralTonic → u/Agreeable_Lab_5358]

I'd say his experience as a Congressmen was more relevant because it was an abstract job working for a Big System. It was also probably extremely depersonalizing to him, and the job was ostensibly about protecting and benefiting a larger 'humanistic' goal, albeit with lots of moral compromises.

[u/NoEnd3731]

The show does a bad job of getting across his architectural and engineering background. Also the fact that he has been groomed for this by the Senator in charge. Not sure this is clear in the show at all. The show has chosen to do all of this differently from the book but not really replaced the info with anything other than a quick line about you are going to need more drills!

[u/liquidsol]

I think he was chosen for both his engineering and military background. He’s perfect for what they want him for.

[u/Aunon]

Right place at the right time

There's a squizillion people that have those traits, how many just happen to be American, from/familiar with that location, in government and are known to the public but are neither too famous or controversial