SERIES REVIEW – Things are looking grim. As the new year unfolds, there’s little reason to expect 2025 to showcase the triumph of human goodness—if anything, it’s a reminder of how much worse things could get. The return of Silo highlights this reality, plunging us deeper into its grim future where Jules (Rebecca Ferguson) leaves her silo behind, only to stumble upon another and meet a mysterious survivor (Steve Zahn). Meanwhile, her former home teeters on the brink of rebellion.
The first season ended with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger, and now, the much-anticipated second season has landed on Apple TV+. Rest assured, it’s well worth the wait.
Tension Reaches New Heights
Season two picks up right where the first left off, with Jules, brought to life by Ferguson’s gritty determination, fleeing to a neighboring silo. Here, she meets Solo (Steve Zahn), the sole inhabitant, and quickly learns that her original silo is just one of many, all plagued by rebellion and inevitable destruction. Back in her old silo, Bernard (Tim Robbins), the calculating mayor, teams up with the ambitious Judge Meadows (Tanya Moodie) and the no-nonsense security chief Robert (Common) in a desperate bid to quash the uprising. Meanwhile, Juliette is celebrated as a legend, a beacon of hope that humanity might once again thrive on the surface.
The first season was a masterclass in smart, inventive storytelling, but season two pushes the envelope even further. Its pacing remains deliberate, its visuals shadowy and oppressive—a series best watched in a pitch-black room on a vivid screen. Yet, these very choices intensify the claustrophobia of its subterranean nightmare, a world where the idea of fresh air or sunlight is worth risking everything.
Juliette’s daring escape inspires the silo’s residents to dream beyond survival. With proof that stepping outside doesn’t always spell certain death, their ambitions grow. But Juliette must act quickly to prevent them from meeting the same tragic fate as their neighboring silo, whose corpses litter the desolate landscape.
Expanding Mythology and Introducing New Faces
The first season, based on Hugh Howey’s dystopian novels, introduced us to Earth’s last 10,000 inhabitants, driven underground by apocalyptic conditions. The surface has been uninhabitable for centuries, and anyone who dared—or was forced—to leave the silo died within minutes, their final moments broadcast to the community.
Season two, drawing from Howey’s Shift, dives even deeper into this richly imagined world, fleshing out its mythology while adding fascinating new layers. Showrunner Graham Yost immediately cranks up the pressure, with tensions boiling over in the wake of Juliette’s exile. Bernard Holland (Robbins) finds himself grappling with mounting resistance, while scheming alongside his loyal enforcers.
Unlike the slower, mystery-driven approach of the first season, this chapter embraces a more action-packed narrative, without sacrificing its signature political intrigue, power struggles, and jaw-dropping twists. The immersive world-building remains stellar, with intricate details continuing to captivate.
Social Commentary and Power Struggles
What hasn’t changed is the show’s biting social critique. In a world where leaders manipulate truth, incite mob mentality in the name of “order,” and perpetuate class divisions, Silo offers an unsettling reflection of our reality. Robbins delivers a standout performance as the cunning mayor, while the evolving dynamics between him, Judge Meadows (Moodie), and Robert Sims (Common) bring compelling tension. Their morally dubious actions to “protect the silo” grow increasingly shocking, with Sims and his wife Camille (Alexandria Riley) embodying an almost Shakespearean opportunism.
That said, the web of power plays can sometimes overshadow Juliette’s personal arc. The burgeoning rebellion often takes center stage, leaving the mysterious events in the new silo underexplored. Still, Ferguson’s portrayal remains riveting, blending raw physicality with nuanced emotion. Her evolving bond with Solo, Zahn’s endearing yet enigmatic character, offers a poignant counterbalance.
The world of Silo continues to astound. Nicole Northridge’s production design is a masterclass in attention to detail, enhancing the visual richness of this underground dystopia. The second silo introduces even more intricate mechanical elements and moving parts, adding to the already immersive setting. The deepening mythology, complete with flashbacks and glimpses into another community’s history, delivers a thrilling, atmospheric journey into the unknown.
While this season raises more questions than it answers, it’s a testament to the show’s ability to enthrall. Each twist keeps viewers guessing whether there’s a shred of truth beneath the layers of deception.
Bold Narrative Risks
From the start, Silo has never shied away from risk-taking. The first episode famously centered on characters who never returned, with Ferguson only stepping into the spotlight at the very end. Season two kicks off with an almost wordless episode, showcasing Juliette’s desperate fight for survival in Solo’s makeshift refuge.
What truly sets this season apart is its heightened sense of urgency. Every character’s quest for truth and survival feels like a race against time. This is a world on the brink, where humanity’s last remnants could be extinguished by a single misguided idea spreading like wildfire. As the new sheriff succinctly puts it, “I didn’t cross the line—the line moved.”
A series where individual choices can lead to the collective’s destruction may not be the most comforting watch. Yet, Silo’s exploration of how bad ideas can devastate entire populations adds a deeply resonant layer to an already inventive sci-fi. And in our increasingly dystopian world, at least we can still step outside, take a deep breath—and come back to enjoy some riveting television.
-Gergely Herpai “BadSector”-
Silo Season 2
Direction - 8.2
Actors - 8.6
Story - 8.8
Visuals/Music/Sounds - 8.8
Ambiance - 9.2
8.7
EXCELLENT
The second season of Silo delves even deeper into its world, enriched by compelling new characters and a tense, gripping narrative. With its stunning visuals and sharp social commentary, this dystopian epic cements itself as a must-watch. A worthy continuation that elevates the series to even greater heights.
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