'Silo' Season 2 Review - Rebecca Ferguson's Sci-Fi Drama Is Still One of Apple TV+'s Best

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Silo

Among the many sci-fi shows on streaming, Apple TV+ has firmly established itself as a powerhouse for compelling, mind-bending storytelling. Between its critically acclaimed hits like For All Mankind and Foundation, the service has undoubtedly set a high bar for others, blending ambitious writing with top-tier production that feels cinematic in every frame. Joining the ranks of shows challenging conventions through stunning visuals, nuanced performances, and innovative story is Silo, starring Rebecca Ferguson. With Season 2 set to premiere this month, the stakes are higher as the show continues to prove itself as a standout on the streamlining platform. Deepening its exploration of survival through edge-of-your-seat suspense and penetrating tension, the Graham Yost series remains as grounded and human as it is immersive and striking.

Based on Hugh Howey’s New York Times bestselling trilogy, Wool, the highly-anticipated sophomore release is as palpable and claustrophobic as its first season, never once letting the audience feel disconnected from its characters. Across the first nine episodes available for review, the Justified showrunner has crafted a tense experience that thrives most lustrously on its rich source material. But while there is a lot placed on Juliette’s (Ferguson) exile, the season progresses most absorbingly into a thought-provoking character study thanks to sharp dialogue and moments that amplify the novel’s best. As the adapted series is by far one of the finest to date, Silo builds so much of the books into its story while carefully pacing itself. Because of how Season 2 challenges conventional storytelling outside the silo with dynamically charged characters and an atmospheric world-building element that is far beyond what we could have comprehended when the show first premiered, it’s no secret this remains one of the best sci-fi TV shows today.

What Is ‘Silo’ Season 2 About?

As Season 2 delves deeper into the mystery of the silo’s origins, the premiere episode “The Engineer” picks up where the first season ended. Having just been exiled while also framed by Mayor Bernard Holland (Tim Robbins) and Robert Sims (Common) for violating their humble abode’s cardinal rule, the former sheriff is outside to “clean” with no way of getting back in. As she grapples with life outside the silo, which we learn is just a graveyard for former silo residents who attempted escape, Juliette begins to explore the desolate halls of Silo 17. Rundown yet a ghost of her former home, the silo is dark and abandoned — at least she thinks. As viewers soon learn, Juliette finds herself face-to-face with an unexpected ally, carrying a secret that challenges her beliefs of the silo’s rigid world.

During Juliette's exploration of the rundown home, we are treated to her backstory and learn she is a rather lonely young girl following her mother’s alleged suicide. No one spoke much to her, except a young Shirley (Ida Brooke) and Walker (Harriet Walter), who also took care of her most maternally. In many ways, the premiere plays out like a silent film where we learn through Ferguson’s greatest expressions how she truly feels being by herself. Through furrowed brows and frowns, and just the simple shot of a weighted gaze, her natural deposition is reflective of the lone, singular silo, abandoned in the dark. As someone who maintained this bravado to others, this is another complexity of Juliette's rooted traits that opens her up in an impressive way. Not to mention, as this season continues to raise the stakes, bringing to light new characters and unexpected alliances within hidden factions, viewers can expect a lot more suspense through tense confrontations and power plays.

If the premiere is something to keep viewers hooked, the second episode truly sets things in motion as tensions flare with citizens stirring about. The people of the Down Deep, long relegated to silence, begin to rise following whispers of Juliette’s defiance and a shared hunger for answers, led by Shirley (Remmie Milner). As the episode artfully combines political intrigue and personal stakes, Silo is setting the stage for a season rife with suspense and a mystery that explores the cost of truth in a society built on secrets.

The Cast of ‘Silo’ Is the Cornerstone of the Series

Enriching the narrative through strong emotional depth and complexity, the performances in Silo are nothing short of captivating and the true bedrock of what makes the sci-fi drama so much more real. While it is an ensemble through and through, at the center of it all is Ferguson’s Juliette, who embodies a profound sense of isolation, shaped by her mother’s death and the ensuing silence around her. Masterfully conveying the internal conflict she faces following multiple losses, including that of her partner, George (Ferdinand Kingsley) last season, the actress offers a profound and affecting performance mixing vulnerability with determination. It’s why we root so much for Juliette, because she is trying to do the right thing. Ferguson’s ability to express and create relatability through subtle shifts of emotion draws us in while being notably striking in scenes where Juliette is forced to confront the stark reality she’s in.

With its 10 episodes this season, the Silo world is truly expanding and the supporting performances amplify so much of the stakes. As teased in the trailer, Steve Zahn as the “new kid on the block” brings a layer of complexity to the situation Juliette is in. Exemplifying a sad and almost heartwrenching portrayal of loneliness with a childlike wonder, the actor is at his absolute best in a barren playground where his character, Solo, creates the rules. It’s the chemistry he shares with Ferguson that creates a dynamic sort of interplay that contrasts her serious demeanor with a spirited and lively approach. He is every bit a compelling counterpart to Juliette, and one we see most terrifically evolve across the series.

But while Ferguson and Zahn open up the narrative of Silo with this new dynamic, it’s Robbins’s chilling performance as Bernard that sets a darker tone for Season 2. Without spoiling what’s ahead, the framing of Juliette was just the start of his character’s descent, proving how Robbins masterfully balances Bernard’s cold pragmatism and makes him so much more than a one-note villain. Through some rather ruthless actions this season, viewers will be left wondering about his choices that tap into the show’s broader themes of authoritarian control and the moral compromises made in the name of order. Moreover, there is a lot of room for Juliette’s friends from the Down Deep to grow this season, as seen in the standout performances by Milner, Shane McRae, and, of course, Chinaza Uche, who is giving us a superb taste of what it looks like to be the man caught in the middle. While he brings a strong, silent grit to the series, Common conveys a unique gravitas in how he effectively portrays a man grappling with the expectations of authority and personal integrity. He delivers a remarkable performance and one that sharply contrasts the chaos unfolding around him through multifaceted complexities.

‘Silo’ Weaves Complex Stories With Atmospheric Visuals

With a combination of strong writing and direction, Silo is elevated beyond the usual sci-fi fare. As a poignant exploration of what it means to seek the truth and connect with others in a fractured world, Yost effectively creates pointed storytelling that pushes the audience to confront uncomfortable questions about whether control at all costs can ever be justified. While Season 2 starts as a harrowing discovery of the fate of other silo members, there is a deep exploration of self-discovery that takes place this season for everyone. It’s this absorbing, ambitious writing direction that delivers a provocative character study that highlights the emotional turmoil of silo life. The inhabitants’ need to break out speaks strongly to our purpose, but it’s the struggle within these lines of truth that intensifies the circumstances for quality storytelling.

Complementing this narrative are the show’s impressive visual aesthetics both inside and outside the silo, which create an essential element to the haunting and dystopic atmosphere. Through Juliette’s eyes, we get a rather personal and intimate understanding of the claustrophobic spaces she finds herself in that evoke a sense of decay and despair, oftentimes mirroring the emotional landscapes of the silo’s residents and their emotional welfare. With Silo 17 being a ghost of its former self in how Silo 18 appears, the dark, chilling juxtaposition between the two enriches the story this season, especially as we learn more about Solo, further immersing viewers into complex webs that initially serve as a secure haven. But nothing is what it seems, as Silo Season 2 raises strong questions that align strongly with the show’s deepest themes.

Each episode challenges both the characters and the audience to consider how much they’re willing to risk uncovering hidden realities, weaving moral complexity into every layer of these characters who rebel against authority. By grounding its Orwellian elements into tense yet relatable human struggles with razor-sharp writing, Silo continues to surpass the genre, asking viewers to question not only the motives of those in power but the strength of their convictions. Emerging as a masterful exploration of isolation and survival, Silo creates a compelling tapestry of tension through Ferguson’s nuanced portrayal of a character wanting to make things right, while powering through some truly dark and eerie mysteries that affirm the show’s greatness.

Silo Season 2 premieres on Apple TV+ on November 15, with new episodes releasing weekly every Friday.

Silo stands out as one of the best sci-fi series of our time, redefining the genre with an unmatched intensity.

Pros

Silo crafts a uniquely immersive environment, drawing viewers into its confined, dystopian world with meticulous detail.
Rebecca Ferguson, Steve Zahn and Tim Robbins give standout performances this season.
The pacing builds tension effectively, keeping viewers invested as secrets slowly unfold.

Cons