One of the best television shows in recent years is finally back. Apple TV’s sci-fi series Silo follows Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson) and the residents of Silo 18—who believe they are the only silo when, in actuality, there are dozens—as truths come to light about the history of the silo and the apocalyptic world outside that they’re avoiding. When last we saw Juliette, she had been exiled from the silo, accused of stating she wanted to go out after learning just a little too much about the secretive goings-on that the Head of IT, Bernard Holland (Tim Robbins), must keep from the residents. But, with some help from the “good tape,” Juliette became the first person in history to survive her trek outside and cross over the hill to where the camera cannot see.
After reaching this incredible climax, the primary question heading into Silo Season 2 is whether this momentum can continue onward or if the series will face the infamous sophomore slump. While viewing nine of the season’s 10 episodes (the finale was not provided for early review) it became clear quite quickly that there is no slump. In fact, this second season is better than the first in many ways.
Despite the story expectedly slowing down a bit, the world-building continues to be absolutely astonishing, especially as—picking up immediately off of the cliffhanger—Juliette stumbles into the horrific remains of Silo 17, greeted by the long-decomposed, skeletal remains of the residents. However, she isn’t alone in this dilapidated silo. Juliette meets a man, Solo (Steve Zahn), who remains, locked of his own volition, in the vault on the IT floor. She quickly learns Silo 17 fell after a failed cleaning, such as her own, where the man walked out of sight of the camera (not over the hill, but around the corner), resulting in a successful rebellion and an opened airlock. Thus, Juliette’s new goal is to find a way back to Silo 18 and prevent everyone she knows from following in 17’s footsteps.
Meanwhile, as expected, the residents of Silo 18, specifically those in Mechanical/the Down Deep, demand answers after Juliette’s disappearance, much to Bernard’s chagrin. As sentiment for a rebellion rises, we learn more about Silo 18’s history and the last failed rebellion—resulting in the books, files, and any other accounts of written history being destroyed—which was mentioned consistently throughout the first season. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the season is the simultaneous depiction of the rise of a rebellion in 18 and the ghastly aftermath in 17.
However, as excellent as the expansion of the lore and the immaculate world-building are, Silo Season 2’s primary strength is expanding on the series’ many characters. Last season, this world very much revolved around Juliette—sans the first two episodes that focused heavily on Sheriff Holston (David Oyelowo) and his wife Allison (Rashida Jones). Now, the Silo 18 story dives into many of the remaining players and their motivations. Shirley (Remmie Milner), Knox (Shane McRae), and Walker (Harriet Walter) all have very important roles to play, showcasing both their strengths and glaring flaws as they become the appointed faces of Mechanical.
Personally, as someone who hasn’t read the Hugh Howey series of novels that the show is based on, the most exciting developments to watch are the more unexpected ones. Characters such as Judge Meadows (Tanya Moodie), Lukas Kyle (Avi Nash), Camille Sims (Alexandria Riley), and Kathleen Billings (Caitlin Zoz) become so much more than they were able to be previously, emphasizing the impact of Juliette’s failed cleaning for everyone in the silo, not just those who knew her well.
Unfortunately, Juliette has essentially no character growth this season. This stands out, though not necessarily to the series’ detriment, after her superb evolution throughout the first season. So much of Juliette’s story in Silo 17—and there’s a pretty balanced split between the stories unfolding in 17 and 18—is her simply reacting to everything thrown her way. We don’t learn anything new about the character, which is somewhat understandable given the hell she’s experiencing, facing down things nobody ever has, but it’s ultimately a questionable decision given she’s the lead of the series. Nonetheless, the action unfolding in 17, paired with outstanding performances from both Ferguson and Zahn, is enough to keep the audience glued to the screen. While she may not have much growth individually, the story still manages to showcase Juliette’s finest character traits as a reminder of why she is seemingly the first in silo history to achieve these great steps forward.
Overall, Silo continues to be must-watch television. Even with limited time and an enormous dystopian world and story to build, the series succeeds where many others fail in our new world of streaming: Character and relationship development. In both the writing and the performances, there is such thoughtfulness put into every character and every interaction between characters, and every facet of Silo excels because of it. Many other shows put the plot before the characters, making it difficult to become invested, while Silo actively uses the characters as our lens into this world and this exceptional story.
Though the story slows slightly as it builds to another grand climax—which, after the penultimate episode of Silo Season 2, promises to be even bigger than Juliette’s survival—this season is undoubtedly stronger than the first. Every single player in Silo 18 is expanded upon in surprising ways, making unexpected and hard choices as the threat of a rebellion looms. Who wants the rebellion? Who is fighting against it? Each character has to answer. Everything is bigger, the stakes are higher, and the truth leads to some staggering and consequential events. Here’s hoping there are many seasons yet to come.
Jay Snow is a freelance writer. He has published many places on the internet. For more of his thoughts on television and to see his other work, follow him @snowyjay.
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