‘Silo’ Season 2 Review: Rebecca Ferguson & Steve Zahn Shine in Scattered Sci-Fi Tale

This review covers Episodes 1-6 of Silo Season 2.

Apple TV+ has proven itself to be one of the premium distributors of sci-fi television, and now one of its finest offerings is back for another round. Rebecca Ferguson stars in Silo, Apple TV+’s dystopian sci-fi thriller detailing the lives of people who live in an underground silo under strict rules and regulations due to the surface world no longer being inhabitable.

Silo Season 1 finished with one of the most shocking plot twists of the last few years when Juliette Nichols (Ferguson) was sent out to clean — essentially a swift death sentence on the toxic surface world — but she didn’t immediately perish, sparking debate amongst the citizens of the silo that perhaps the outside world was indeed inhabitable.

Silo Season 2 picks up immediately where Season 1 left off, with Juliette wandering the outside and the people of Silo 18 dealing with the fallout of her seeming death/departure. The first season of Silo was a hit, registering scores of 88% from critics and 65% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, but does the second live up to its predecessor? Find out in our Silo Season 2 review.

‘Silo’ Season 2 Gives Its Supporting Cast Much Greater Duties

The first thing you notice right off the bat in Silo Season 2 is that the supporting cast, including Tim Robbins as Mayor Bernard Holland, Common as Robert Sims, Shane McRae as Knox, Chinaza Uche Sheriff Billings, and Remmie Milner as Shirley, all have much more responsibility. Juliette is no longer in Silo 18, and it’s now up to them to shoulder the load of carrying their own story without an A-list star like Ferguson in the mix.

We’ll get to the performances later, but this is where Silo really struggles to maintain the same level of exquisite balance and pacing that made the first season such a success. The constant shift between what’s going on in Silo 18 and Juliette’s journey on the outside and in the new silo which she stumbles into is quite disorienting at times. There are multiple storylines in Season 1, but nothing quite this jarring.

However, Silo does just enough to keep you invested in both its A and B stories, which alternate depending on what’s going on in each episode. At times, Ferguson takes a backseat and puts in 5-10 minutes of screen time in a 50-minute episode, while at others, she’s the focus for the entire duration. Still, Silo Season 2 never quite finds the right mixture of pacing to give each story the attention it needs or the time away to make the audience long for more.

There is still a lot to love about Silo Season 2, especially the further developing mystery from Hugh Howey‘s novel brought to life by writer and showrunner Graham Yost. Even though we know and progressively learn more about the outside, Silo Season 2 introduces more question marks and plot twists to keep the viewer at least cautiously curious at all times.

Steve Zahn Is a Hilarious Breath of Fresh Air Opposite Rebecca Ferguson

Steve Zahn is the true all-star of Silo Season 2. Juliette quickly meets Zahn’s character on her adventures outside the silo, and he’s had a rough go of things that have led to him being alone for years. Juliette is his first company in quite some time, and it shows. The two constantly bicker at one another with poor communication often the cause, yet there’s a tenderness to their bond brought to life through Zahn’s innocent but shielded desire to grow closer to her.

Even in a smaller role, Ferguson is every bit as encapsulating as Juliette Nichols. Juliette is perhaps the only one resourceful enough to survive outside the silo, and Ferguson displays a competent intensity but also a passionate desire to see her mission through to the end. Although her screen time is significantly lower this season, she puts on yet another Emmy Award-worthy performance — we can only hope the Television Academy does right by her this time around.

The rest of Silo‘s stars all return to familiar roles albeit in larger capacities, with Tim Robbins and Chinaza Uche in particular delivering noteworthy performances. Game of Thrones veteran Iain Glen once again shines in a guest-starring role as Juliette’s father, Dr. Pete Nichols, a man who has lost everything but still has a little something to give. Remmie Milner is also commendable as Shirley, Juliette’s former best friend and leader of the budding resistance in Mechanical.

Silo Season 2 also delivers more exquisite visuals thanks to Apple TV+’s willingness not to skimp on production design. These sets are even further expanded with the addition of different areas such as the outside of the silo and more. Even when things in Silo 18 are undeniably grim, it’s still a treat to admire the architecture and stunning cinematography that is so glaringly present in each episode.

‘Silo’ Season 2 Is a Net Positive for Apple TV+

While Season 2 may not blow the doors off any metaphorical silos as its predecessor did, it’s still a worthy follow-up to the first season that passionate fans of the series will enjoy. Silo has also been confirmed to run for at least four seasons, meaning this second chapter could still very well be the beginning of something much greater. Nonetheless, when Silo Season 2 premieres on November 15, it’s worth watching if you’re a fan of sci-fi or just good television.

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