For the past few years, Apple TV has been quietly catching up with its competitors in the science fiction arena. Making a name for itself among prestige streaming juggernauts like Netflix and HBO, Apple’s original programming has caught viewers’ attention with elevated, high-concept sci-fi, including the hit show Severance and the recent release Pluribus. Yet even among its impressive lineup, one series in particular seems to have all the makings of a timeless sci-fi masterpiece.
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Produced by and starring Rebecca Ferguson, Silo was adapted from Hugh Howey’s best-selling novels. The Apple TV series has already delivered two gripping seasons, which depict the initial chapters of the high-stakes post-apocalyptic mystery box. Its promise, however, lies in the likelihood of our getting a fully realized story. With two more seasons already in production, and the original novels providing a blueprint, Silo is shaping up to be Apple’s definitive long-form sci-fi saga. Fans won’t have to worry about a premature cancellation or an aimless finale, meaning heading underground and into the Silo is likely to pay off.
Apple TV’s Silo and the Successes So Far
Created by proven talent Graham Yost (Justified, The Americans), Silo arrived in 2023. Set in a post-apocalyptic underground society where humanity survives in a self-sustaining bunker, the series slowly unravels its core mysteries: why are the characters in the silo, and who put them there? Season 1 stars Ferguson as Juliette Nichols, an engineer who becomes sheriff after the mysterious death of her predecessor. Critics praised the season for its production design, writing, performances (from Common, Rashida Jones, Tim Robbins, and the rest of the ensemble), as well as its relentlessly intriguing slow-burn pace.
Then Season 2 of Silo managed to do what so many sophomore seasons fail to: raise the bar. Premiering earlier this year and maintaining a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, the recent season pushed the narrative to even more compelling places. The steady IV drip of hints, revelations, and new questions kept viewers hooked, while Ferguson’s performance continued to anchor the story (this time from an unexpected angle). Cast newcomer Steve Zahn also gave one of the season’s standout performances as the mysterious Solo. Though never gaining as much buzz as other outings like Severance, the critical success of Silo Season 2 and the series’ growing cult following were enough for Apple TV to double down.
All Signs Point Towards a Great Ending For Silo
While it’s true that two good seasons of an unfinished show don’t necessarily indicate a masterpiece in the making, it’s reassuring that Apple has already renewed Silo for two additional seasons (which are currently filming back-to-back). Even better news is that the studio is planning for the series to end after Season 4, meaning we already know the story arc will be seen through to its conclusion, and not pushed beyond the existing story for the sake of a cash grab.
However, what truly sets Silo apart from most sci-fi series is the strong foundation of its source material. The show is based on Howey’s Silo trilogy (Wool, Shift, and Dust), a literary phenomenon that began as a self-published novella in 2011 before becoming a global bestseller. Howey’s series was celebrated for its intricate worldbuilding, complex characters, and perhaps most importantly, its satisfying conclusion. A good ending is something few prestige sci-fi series have truly seen. Many shows, such as Firefly, are tragically cancelled before their time; others, like Lost, have suffered from the network’s reluctance to end the series at all; and some, like Westworld, simply peter out without a clear roadmap to follow. Apple TV’s plan for Silo has seemingly already avoided these pitfalls by starting with good bones and giving the seasons an endgame.
While we can’t say just how closely the series will follow the books, we do know that Season 3 will be based on the second book, Shift, and Season 4 on the final book, Dust. According to fans and critics, Dust provides the story with a worthy ending, revealing the full scope of the mystery. If the series at least follows that basic trajectory, Apple is in a position to tell a complete story that doesn’t collapse under its own weight. Between Yost’s meticulous showrunning, Ferguson’s excellent lead performance, and Howey’s beloved source material, Silo is gearing up to become one for the ages.
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