by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
At roughly the halfway point of 2023, TV finds itself at a crossroads. With so many prestige shows saying goodbye, others can help fill the void and become part of the national conversation similar to how Succession and Ted Lasso did. There are many contenders out there for a show that can create a weekly dialogue if enough people watch it, but is intriguing enough to keep people entertained and engaged for years to come.
If I was a betting person, I’d bet Silo will be one of those shows in the future.
Apple has lately been crushing it in the sci-fi genre. Between Severance, Foundation, and For All Mankind, the streamer is finding a niche by bringing to life some of the more interesting stories that sci-fi has to offer. Silo takes place in an underground silo to which a large swath of people were driven after a conflict between two warring groups, per the pact they signed. The silo is protected by Sheriff Holston (David Oyelowo) and Deputy Marnes (Will Patton). When a dead body turns up in the lower levels of the silo, Holston and Marnes enlist Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson), a mechanic on the lowest level of the silo. Together, they attempt to solve the mystery of the dead body and unlock some clues about the origin of the silo.
From a technical aspect, Silo is beautifully done, combining perfect music, sound, and cinematography to convey the mood and atmosphere within the underground cavern. The first things you immediately notice about the show are its gorgeous set pieces and the opening title sequence. The set pieces in particular are spectacular and have a true cinematic value. Certain levels portray the people that inhabit the layers of the silo as if they are an extension of the people living on that floor. Overall, the atmosphere of Silo is dazzling. It’s claustrophobic and suffocating, but there are moments when characters feel alone and hopeless in an infinite space.
As for the story, we have two core, connected mysteries at play. The first is the murder of someone in the silo and the investigation into what happened. As the sheriff begins to piece together what happens, another mystery comes up regarding what is happening within the Silo. It’s not particularly special, because a lot of other dystopian shows similar to Silo have done similar storylines. What makes Silo so compelling is that the deeper the audience gets to the origin of the silo, the more questions come up to push the story forward. The investigation feels organic as it pushes forward the narrative and keeps the audience guessing.
Although the murder mystery element is good, it takes a noticeable backseat after a while to the overall mystery of the silo. Murder doesn’t happen very often in the silo, and I wish they did more to explore how that is possible, considering the dire situation everyone is in living in an underground silo. Some context would have been helpful, especially since I never read the books by Hugh Howey. This leads to my only real complaint about the show, which is the lack of understanding of what life is like within the silo itself. We don’t get to spend a whole lot of time with people living their lives, except for in the pilot. It would help explain the gravity of why the murder is such a big deal, instead of the audience having to be told that it is a big deal by multiple characters.
I did find myself way more invested in the origin mystery, and learning more about the pact that created the silo against the failed uprising. Although I concede it’s nothing new, I enjoy how every discovery in the middle set of episodes helps bring some context to what and why everything is happening in the underground layer. This is a show where, if audiences pay close attention to everything going on, there will be a payoff in the final episodes. I love mysteries where people are rewarded for being savvy enough to pick up on everything.
On top of that, Ferguson continues to show why she is one of Hollywood’s best performers. She is having a spectacular year with Silo and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. Juliette is a complicated character to root for, but Ferguson brings such emotion to someone who could be one-note. She’s smart and deeply dedicated to solving the mystery, but Silo isn’t afraid of showing her make mistakes. Ferguson manages to balance everything for a complete performance.
I’m a bit curious as to how some of the other performers were used, though. Silo isn’t afraid to kill off characters, or to stash them away until later. One character that I’m still trying to figure out what to think about is Robert Sims (Common), who’s part of the Judicial group. Common does a great job with the role, but Robert as a character makes you scratch your head. He seems to have conflicting loyalties, and it makes me wonder if he will have a more prominent role to play in the future. Two other puzzling characters are Holston and his wife Allison (Rashida Jones). Both characters have interesting arcs, but they’re the only two characters where I wonder if there’s more to their story in the book, and I ultimately want more from them.
The final two episodes of Silo provide a great conclusion to a somewhat slow middle group of episodes, which is filled with exposition. The last two episodes, though, focus on the aftermath of a decision Juliette makes. In particular, the end of Season One is a real gut punch, and sets up a fascinating Season Two. It’s one of the best hours of television of the year because of a big reveal about the silo, and the implications moving forward. I applaud the showrunners for having some restraint, because they leave some questions unanswered. This could be frustrating for some, but it keeps me invested.
Silo is another winner for Apple TV+. The streamer is carefully racking up wins this year and showing it can contend with the best when it comes to original content. Between the rich performances, jaw-dropping visuals, and mystery that will keep audiences guessing, Season One sticks the landing. Season Two will be among my more anticipated projects moving forward, as the mystery only deepens during the season finale. Silo has the potential to be Apple’s best show moving forward if it plays its cards right.
Rating: Loved It
Silo is currently streaming on Apple TV+
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