The following contains spoilers for Silo Season 1, Episode 1, "Freedom Day," and Episode 2, "Holston's Pick," now streaming on Apple TV+.
Apple TV+'s new sci-fi dystopian series Silo, based on the novels by Hugh Howey of the same name, starring Rebecca Ferguson and David Oyelowo, has been released, delivering a mystery box TV show with plenty of twists and turns. The combination of this format with familiar tropes and themes results in a fresh and riveting series.
Silo is centered on a group of 10,000+ survivors living in an underground silo after an unknown event renders the outside world toxic and uninhabitable. Conspiracies and murder mysteries soon arise after Allison (Rashida Jones), the wife of Sheriff Holston (David Oyelowo), gets sent outside for breaking one of their society's rules. Dystopian sci-fi has been on the rise lately, with series like Sweet Tooth releasing its second season and the upcoming sixth season of Black Mirror, which has featured episodes within this genre. Through its blend of genres and distinct context, Silo has already established itself as a contender in this field.
Apple TV+'s Silo is a Murder Mystery and Conspiracy Thriller
In this series, residents have lived in an underground community for over 140 years, adhering to strict rules and guidelines that dictate who can have children, be in relationships, and be sent outside. In Season 1, Episode 1, "Freedom Day," Allison and Holston have been trying to have a baby for some time when Gloria, an older woman who helps couples with fertility counseling, confronts Allison about some unsettling truths. Gloria insinuates that their fertility issues are intentional and carried out by those in charge and questions the place's history, which residents are not allowed to do.
Unfortunately, Allison's search for the truth leads her to be sent out of the Silo. After she leaves, the connections between these events and later conspiracies remain present. This is especially the case when a compelling murder mystery occurs, which surpasses the whodunit featured in the thriller series Saint X. In doing so, it explores themes and tropes commonly found within the dystopian genre, such as the questioning of power, societal division, and the suppression of the population. The efforts of Allison and later Juliette (Ferguson) also highlight the importance of individual autonomy in a rigidly regulated society.
Silo Uses the Setting to Tell a Story
One could describe the Silo as a character of its own, with its long spiraling staircase, shades of gray, and Soviet-style architecture. These architectural elements speak to the intentions of those who created and have authority over the Silo, which in its essence, is all about control. In Season 1, Episode 2, "Holston's Pick," when Holston ventures outside in search of his wife, it quickly becomes evident that the world described by those in power is false. This discovery adds more to the overall conspiracy, a recurring theme also present in the original run and reboot of The X-Files.
This revelation suggests a conspiracy to keep the residents inside the Silo, even though there isn't a need for it. Throughout this series, the Silo provides a unique and claustrophobic setting for these events to unfold. From the setting to the dystopian themes, the series explores questions of power and control through its location in an insightful manner. Along with this, the addition of conspiracy thriller and murder mystery elements in Silo effectively combine to deliver an enriched dystopian sci-fi series.
The first two episodes of Silo are now available on Apple TV+.