Silo Seasons 1 & 2 Review

Silo (2023-)

Season 1 - 10 episodes (2023)
Season 2 - 10 episodes (2024-25)
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Created by: Graham Yost
Starring: Rebecca Ferguson, Rashida Jones, David Oyelowo, Common, Tim Robbins, Will Patton, Harriet Walter, Chinzaz Uche, Avi Nash, Remmie Milner, Shane McRae
Rated: TV-MA
Watch the trailer

Plot
Men and women live in a giant silo underground with several regulations which they believe are in place to protect them from the toxic and ruined world on the surface.

Verdict
What a show; this has such an intriguing concept and it delivers. Season one is amazing from the very beginning. Each episode builds plot and characters as we find out what's going on, though several questions still remain. What's outside of the silo? Is the leadership covering it up? Even if Juliet discovers the answers, will she be able to get the people to believe? Season one is stunning and the final episode makes it even better. Season two expands the story, but manages to still keep two separate plots equally interesting. While we learn more about the silo program, we see the makings of a revolution as the leadership struggles to maintain control amid their duplicity. Through both seasons the characters are engaging, the show is riveting, and the big moments thrill. I didn't think this show's second season could be as good as the first, especially since it alters the premise, but this show delivers with every episode.
Watch It.

Review
This has such a great concept. This population has been underground in a silo so long that they've never been on the surface. All records were destroyed one-hundred forty years ago during a rebellion. That's already suspicious. Why would rebels destroy all history, books, and hard drives? That seems like a method of control. The government has even outlawed all relics from before. The only connection to the outside is a video feed that shows a burned and desolate landscape.

In the first episode of season one Allison (Rashida Jones) begins to suspect the video feed is a lie. One of the rules in the silo is that if you request to go outside, that request is granted. She requests to go, telling Becker (David Oyelowo) her husband and sheriff that if she cleans the window it's habitable outside and if she waves goodbye her request was a mistake. She cleans the window, despite the appearance but she soon faints. This first episode is amazing.

S1: Rebecca Ferguson, Chinaza Uche play Juliette Nichols, Paul Billings

Years later Becker has to confirm what happened. He leaves the silo and sees a lush world, but there's a contradiction between the body on the feed and the lack of body he sees. Also, haven't other people gone out before? Shouldn't there be several bodies? Becker goes out after talking to Juliet (Rebecca Ferguson) who questioned George's death in the silo. This backtracks to show us Becker's investigation. George found something in a restricted area. Could that be why he was killed?

The silo has a distinct class system. It's so large that it takes days to traverse from top to bottom. The governing body, judicial, resides at the top. Juliet grew up in the mids with her doctor father, but moved to the deep down to mechanical. Before Becker went out he named Juliet as his successor to the surprise of everyone. She initially refuses the assignment but later accepts it thinking it was a sign from Becker of a potential answer. Before she's even sworn in there's another murder of a high ranking official. Juliet hopes that pursuing that investigation will help her find who killed George.

S1: Will Patton, Rebecca Ferguson play Sam Marnes, Juliette Nichols

Juliet realizes judicial is trying to tank her investigation and she doesn't take the bait, in the process discovering they planted evidence. The "pact" governs all aspects of life, but it seems to be a method of control. The more we discover about judicial, the less their mission seems to be about governing people. Juliet is in the middle of it, threatening the illusion judicial has created. Will she be able to reveal the truth?

From the start this season is amazing. The tension continues to increase as Juliet discovers what's going on, though she doesn't know why. Knowing the answers puts her in danger, but will she survive long enough to reveal the truth? With each episode I kept thinking the intensity has peaked. I was wrong every time. The final episode of the season is a blast. It provides big answers. It also closes the loop on a minor plot that I wasn't sure why it kept coming up. It turns out it's a big deal. This is such a great season, and I didn't see how season two could even match it. I was excited for season two though cautious. A season this good is difficult to match.

Season two splits the story with Juliet leaving her silo, 17, behind and heading to silo 18. In silo 17 Bernard (Tim Robbins) is moving towards martial law as he tries to regain control after Juliet's disruption. Her departure was the beginning of a movement.

S2: Rebecca Ferguson plays Juliette Nichols

Often splitting the story adds unnecessary complication that detracts from the main plot. This show manages to do it effective by providing two equally compelling stories.

In silo 17 Juliet walked out, didn't clean the camera, and walked over the hill. No one had ever done either of those things. While Bernard tries to spin the story in his favor, rebellion is brewing. We find that there have been several rebellions, and they're usually blamed on mechanical. Bernard claims to be serving the silo and keeping order, but somehow that always involves sacrificing others and not himself. He'll do whatever it takes to stay in power.

In silo 18, Juliet realizes she may have given her silo false hope. She has to repair her suit and jump through several hurdles to get back and save them. She encounters a lone survivor that seems to have the mentality of a child. How long has he been trapped in silo 18? I soon began to suspect he's taking advantage of Juliet to repair the silo and improve his situation. Juliet is forced to make a deal with a guy she can't trust, but she doesn't have a choice.

Knox (Shane McRae) and Sherry (Remmie Milner) become the leaders of the rebellion, hunted by raiders and judicial. Despite that they manage to claim ten floors and a farm to ensure food production as Bernard tries to block supplies to the lower floors.

S2: Remmie Milner, Shane McRae, Chinaza Uche play Shirley, Knox, Paul Billings

I wondered about season two. It can be difficult for shows to maintain the quality when the story splits and new characters are introduced, but this show easily makes the transition. While the fundamental premise changes it's just as good, a logical evolution of the story plot. The plight of both sets of characters is fully engrossing.

In an attempt to regain control, Bernard gives Lukas (Avi Nash) full access. We discover that Bernard and judicial has access to the full history of Earth. The silo is built as a means of control. Lukas finds a potential way out, but it comes with a huge catch. He's not the first to discover it, but there's a reason it's never been used. Meanwhile Juliet discover more people in silo 18. That's a bit too cute that she didn't see them previously, but it's a means to expand on what happened in that vault.

The final episode is absolutely amazing, paying off everything this season has been building. While I don't like the rather ambiguous ending that implies main characters might die, I don't believe it. We also get a quick scene from before the world was destroyed. I have to imagine that's a preview for season three. Maye we'll see how and why the silos were constructed.

This show manages to maintain such a high quality from the start. The first episode is great, and the season never dips. It's a complete thrill ride. Season two evolves the story and takes a risk in doing that, but it remains just as good. This show is absolutely great.