‘Silo’: A Unique Story That Proves The Truth Is Always Worth Paying For

The review is made possible by advanced screeners of episodes 1-10 of Silo, provided to Agents of Fandom by Apple for review purposes.

“If the lies don’t kill you, the truth will.”

What happens when a society has been buried in secret for so long that no one remembers why they’re stranded in the first place? Silo, made for television by Graham Yost and based on the series of books with the same name by Hugh Howey, is a thrilling post-apocalyptic commentary on deep-seated government corruption, immorality, and forbidden love.

What is Silo about?

Silo from AppleTV+ is the story of the last 10,000 people remaining in a world that is no longer fit to inhabit. The people inside the silo live a mostly comfortable life, everyone is assigned jobs designed to benefit all people in the silo and allow their society to not only survive, but thrive. The kicker is: no one knows why they’re forced to live underground, and any questions regarding the past are met with swift and terrifying repercussions.

Beautifully crafted TV

In keeping with the theme of other AppleTV+ shows, Silo is very well-written through the lens of compelling characters to root for and against, while also building up to incredible moments of tension that don’t feel forced or unearned. The story has a tendency to drag at times, but if you find yourself in a bit of a rut, take solace in knowing that something crazy probably isn’t far down the pipe.

Silo really shines in its core premise and the central story with an early hook. From the onset, viewers are dropped headfirst into a story where the more you learn, the more questions you’re left trying to answer. This is a fine line to tread, and lesser creations have crumbled under the weight of such intense mystery, but writer/showrunner Graham Yost delivers a masterclass in executing the story to the very end.

I cannot speak highly enough about the ending of this show. As each episode airs, fans will drown in theories about why they’re living underground, who’s keeping the secrets, and what things are really like on the outside. The last five seconds throw a monkey wrench in every theory and expectation in the best way possible, leaving the door wide open for multiple paths forward. In an era where many conclusions rely on cheap fan service and cameos, it’s refreshing for something to break the mold of expectation and rely on nothing but pure creative genius.

The cast delivers and then some

While the show doesn’t boast an overly impressive A-list cast like other productions of late, everyone is on top of their game. Due to the massive variance in quality of life within different levels of the silo, no two characters feel remotely similar. Each person has something unique to offer and is given a chance to shine; when the opportunity arises, everyone is up to the task. Rebecca Ferguson’s performance in Silo is sure to have her phone ringing off the hook in the coming months.

Silo stars Rebecca Ferguson (Dune, Mission: Impossible – Fallout), Tim Robbins (Shawshank Redemption, Mystic River), Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Jack Taylor), Common (John Wick: Chapter 2, Smokin’ Aces), Chinaza Uche (A Good Person, Dicksinson), and more.

AppleTV+ may have another hit on their hands

Silo is structured in such a way that if it gets into the mainstream media, it can easily dominate the conversation. Between some well-placed humor, incredible tension building, and chilling cliffhangers, this show offers all genre buffs something to keep them satisfied.

Fans won’t want to miss the intense speculation and theories that are bound to occur week-to-week. From the pilot to the closing credits, Silo sticks to what works and delivers a thrilling drama with comprehensible narrative layers to peel back like an onion.

The two-episode premiere of Silo streams exclusively on AppleTV+ May 5, with episodes 3-10 following each Friday.

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