Words Tabatha Golat
This month’s Screen Scene recommendation, Silo, feels like descending into another world, where every level holds a new secret waiting to be revealed.
Based on Hugh Howey’s Silo trilogy of novels, the Apple TV+ series (two seasons, 20 episodes) brings viewers into a massive underground bunker with 10,000 inhabitants. At the heart of the story is Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson), a feisty “lower-level” engineer whose curiosity and intelligence draw her into the mysteries surrounding the silo’s past. As she investigates, she uncovers hidden truths about the origins of the silo, the strict rules that govern it, and the lengths people in power will go to protect or manipulate its society. Juliette tests the strict rules and hidden dangers of the silo as she seeks to answer the central questions: why are they living underground, what happened to the surface of the Earth, and why can’t they leave?
The series builds its world slowly, layer by layer, keeping viewers questioning the silo’s structure, rules and daily life. Life underground is tightly controlled, yet full of little moments that show the characters’ resilience. While the series sometimes slows to share more character-building moments, these pauses help expand the world and add emotional weight. The silo teases a subtle tension between order and curiosity, obedience and rebellion, that mirrors challenges we see in our world above ground. Careful though – each episode ends with a reveal or suspenseful moment, making it hard to stop watching!
Rebecca Ferguson delivers a standout performance as Juliette, displaying strength, vulnerability and determination. Tim Robbins is excellent as Bernard Holland, a powerful figure whose role in the silo as a senior administrator is both vile and sympathetic. Harriet Walter, as Walker, brings quiet emotion to her role as an agoraphobic, lower-level mother figure, adding depth to the series. The ensemble cast is strong, and the show isn’t afraid to put key characters at risk, heightening the suspense.
Visually, the series is striking, capturing the claustrophobic intimacy of life underground and the monumental scale of the silo itself. The sets, lighting and attention to detail make the dystopian world feel real, enhancing the sense of wonder as secrets are exposed.
Silo is a slow-burn dystopian thriller full of intrigue, offering a blend of suspense, mystery and social commentary. For viewers drawn to mysterious dystopian worlds and rich character-driven drama, this series is a must watch.
For similar shows to explore, check out:
1. Raised by Wolves, Crave
2. The 100, Netflix
3. Westworld, Crave
4. Station Eleven, CBC Gem
5. Dark, Netflix
