SIlo may solely be midway by its deliberate four-season run, however these 20 episodes have already established its sterling status as an excellent collection. Showrunner Graham Yost‘s adaptation of the Wool, Shift, and Mud novel trio by Hugh Howey is one in every of Apple TV+’s twistiest, most compelling and preeminent choices in a streaming slate that does not lack for groundbreaking, cerebral, and crowd-pleasing sci-fi (did somebody say Severance?).
In an period the place collection are fortunate to get six-to-eight episodes per season (not to mention a renewal previous Season 1), neither of Silo‘s 10-episode seasons really feel too rushed or too middling. Arguably, there is not any such factor as a nasty episode of Silo — solely the ten strongest and the perfect of the remaining. With out additional ado, right here is the cream of the crop of these episodes, ranked.
10
Season 1 Episode 3, “Machines”
Directed by Morten Tyldum and written by Ingrid Escajeda
Silo‘s pacing virtually unfolds like a novel. Every bit of this large puzzle connects like a spiderweb, and no phrase, gesture, or element needs to be neglected, irrespective of how inconsequential they appear. After the opening two episodes launched the collection’ setting — a dystopian future with a ruined, lethal earth — and the stakes for the hundreds of survivors huddled inside a silo, Season 1, Episode 3, “Machines,” begins laying the breadcrumbs.
After discovering the phrase “fact” carved into the again of former sheriff Holston Becker’s (David Oyelowo) badge, Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson) overcomes her reluctance and turns into Becker’s substitute because the silo’s new sheriff. Instantly, the higher-ups resist the speedy rise of this nondescript engineer from Mechanical, particularly Choose Mary Meadows (Tanya Moodie) and IT chief Bernard Holland (Tim Robbins) — two names that may quickly turn out to be important to Silo‘s narrative geography. Juliette additionally will get an impressively badass sequence when she restarts the generator, however this episode’s stomach-dropping shock comes when an unknown murderer poisons Mayor Ruth Jahns (Geraldine James). As she dies within the arms of Sam Marnes (Will Patton), the person for whom she had simply confessed her romantic emotions, Silo makes it clear that somebody in energy by no means desires the reality to emerge.
9
“Holston’s Decide”
Season 1, Episode 2
Within the months earlier than his demise, Holston Becker and Juliette start investigating the demise of Juliette’s lover, George Wilkins (Ferdinand Kingsley), the identical man who helped Allison Becker (Rashida Jones) dig up hidden info years earlier. Juliette insists that George did not die by suicide. Grieving, livid, and determined for solutions, she wanders right down to the very backside of the silo, stomping by its watery depths searching for the identical door George had been looking for. Holston, additionally mourning the lack of his vital different, makes the irreversible determination to observe Allison outdoors.
By means of his helmet, Holston witnesses the identical sight Allison did in her ultimate moments: a panorama nearer to a paradise than a ruined hellscape. Viewers who’ve completed Season 1 know the show is a lie. At this second, nonetheless, all we now have been our suspicions concerning the battle between fact and propaganda, and Holston, the person we thought was Silo‘s protagonist, dying subsequent to his spouse’s physique. The stakes are increased than we assumed — however greater than that, all bets about Silo‘s future are off.
8
“Order”
Season 2, Episode 2,
Each season opener for any collection has lots of catching up and foreshadowing to do. Silo‘s sophomore outing pulls double responsibility by splitting Season 2’s opening motion between two places and two episodes. The premiere follows Juliette as she explores the neighboring silo, whereas Episode 2, “Order,” traces the ripple results of her failed cleansing inside her previous silo.
Separating each views retains Silo‘s quite a few characters and their evolving relationships with one another coherent, with the added bonus of giving the vast majority of the all-star ensemble time to shine in relation to Juliette, however with out her presence. “Order” completely captures the other of what the phrase means — Bernard, the person fixated with sustaining order, prepares to wage struggle upon Mechanical to defend what he believes is the larger good. In the meantime, Juliette’s family members and allies keep on her affect by taking her title up as a battle cry, reacting with a plausible, advanced combination of grief, awe and pleasure at her accomplishment, and bittersweet defiance. The ensuing pressure is sort of a warmth wave visibly simmering above a blacktop street.
7
“The Engineer”
Season 2, Episode 1
Talking of season premieres — “The Engineer” defying expectations grants it an edge over its successor episode. After a flashback depicting the neighboring silo’s profitable revolt, the episode mercilessly cuts again to the current, the place Juliette walks over a crater crammed with the corpses of the individuals we simply noticed triumphantly rising. It is a harrowing tease concerning the wider world outdoors the insular silo we all know, and an ominous trace concerning the destiny that might befall Juliette’s family and friends.
As for Juliette herself, her mission is apparent and easy survival. It is all the time been marvelous to look at Ferguson play a bodily energetic heroine who’s additionally able to navigating threats together with her engineering experience, rigging pulleys and oxygen tanks out of deserted spare elements. The true grasp stroke of “The Engineer,” nonetheless, is the way it performs out in silence. Juliette does not discuss to herself as she ventures into the silo’s darkness, a selection emphasizing the silo’s eeriness and our protagonist’s sudden, all-encompassing isolation. It is haunting, and Ferguson captivates our consideration with out saying a phrase.
6
“Freedom Day”
Season 1, Episode 1
If there’s one factor Silo particularly excels at, it is exhibiting the remainder of the streaming world how the primary two and the ultimate two episodes of a season needs to be accomplished. “Freedom Day” flings us headfirst into this unknown future and its distinctive social system, laying simply sufficient worldbuilding groundwork for viewers to understand the fundamentals and crave extra.
Allison and Holston are the proper pair of viewers surrogates for this job, a healthful, on a regular basis couple nurturing their love and longing for a child regardless of the state of their world. Allison’s discoveries and pursuit of the reality spiral into breathtaking catastrophe. By the point she walks outdoors, keen to embrace sure demise in change for a glimpse of that lush, lovely panorama, we’re hooked.
5
“The Dive”
Season 2, Episode 8
Virtually everybody reaches a breaking level in “The Dive.” Bernard and Robert Sims (Widespread) proceed to ferociously conflict, Robert and his spouse Camille (Alexandria Riley) debate whether or not they need to play either side of the upcoming revolt, and Solo (Steve Zahn) forces Juliette to restore the silo’s broken water pump. In the meantime, Mechanical efficiently sews seeds of discontent among the many public, whereas Bernard and Lukas Kyle (Avi Nash) race to suppress Mechanical by fixing Salvador Quinn’s coded message.
Final however actually not least, Martha Walker’s (Harriet Walter) panicked worry over Carla McLain’s (Clare Perkins) well-being places her in Bernard’s blackmailing crosshairs. Watching the imitable Martha present vulnerability is painful sufficient, however figuring out Bernard intends to take advantage of Mechanical’s mental rock is Silo at its unpredictable finest.
4
“Into the Hearth”
Season 2, Episode 10
Appropriately, Season 2’s ultimate episode is when Siloo‘s season-long bubble bursts. Continuous however by no means rushed, “Into the Hearth” highlights most of this collection’ strengths and traits: twists, turns, character reactions, and iron-clad plotting. From Juliette and Solo discovering the harrowing fact concerning the Safeguard, to Martha revealing how they duped Bernard, to Mechanical’s first main character fatality by way of Pete Nichols’ (Iain Glen) emotional sacrifice, the pandemonium has hit its full swing.
Then, in fact, there’s that ending: Juliette and Bernard’s confrontation culminates with each of them trapped within the incinerator because it prompts. Many different collection would finish with that cliffhanger. Silo is a unique beast. Cue a jaw-dropping flashback and the introduction of Helen (Jessica Henwick) and Daniel (Ashley Zukerman), in addition to the primary hints about how Silo‘s world got here to be. Solely Silo might tee up extra solutions whereas nonetheless presenting much more questions.
3
“The Harmonium”
Season 2, Episode 4
Even for a collection characterised by its slow-burn pressure, “The Harmonium” is profoundly irritating to behold. It by no means appeared doubtless that Bernard would let Meadows depart his grasp, and every successive interplay felt like a lure closing round Meadows. Because the pair seemingly reached a truce, their contentious, difficult historical past got here to the forefront in essentially the most devastating approach doable.
Feeling pressured right into a nook by Sims main an impeachment marketing campaign in opposition to Meadows, Bernard sacrifices the one individual he appears to really look after and makes use of Meadows’ demise to border Mechanical. It is gut-wrenching to look at Meadows rush out her ultimate phrases and take within the visuals of an unhurt earth as Bernard cradles her, weeping over the physique of the lady he murdered. When Bernard hardens in opposition to Sims within the aftermath, it is much more chilling.
2
“The Safeguard”
Season 2, Episode 9
Bear in mind what I mentioned about Silo‘s mastery over premieres and finales? Season 2, Episode 9, “The Safeguard,” is like dynamite deployed at shut vary. Not solely does this audacious collection dare to drag the rug out from beneath us by recontextualizing Juliette’s facet of the season, when the reality about Solo’s previous and id emerges, it is each mortifying and cathartic. Greater than maybe every other episode, “The Safeguard” emphasizes the fragility of human existence and our feelings will shrivel up and starve with out real human connection.
Not eager to relaxation on the laurels of its emotional affect, nonetheless, Season 2’s penultimate episode has yet another trick up its sleeve. “The Safeguard” brings George’s seek for a hidden door full circle when Lukas discovers its location and finds himself greeted by the Algorithim’s eerie digital warning. If Lukas shares the knowledge he is about to study, the Algorithm has no selection besides to deploy the Safeguard protocols. Fasten your seatbelts, of us.
1
“Outdoors”
Season 1, Episode 10
Will Bernard really pressure Juliette to go outdoors? Can her allies free her? Will Juliette uncover the reality or simply crumble to her demise similar to the Beckers? And what do you imply, there are dozens upon dozens of silos so far as the attention can see?
It is troublesome for any collection to high an iconic and narrative-shifting second, however Silo‘s Season 1 finale is a masterful lesson in sticking the touchdown past only a matter of fervent watercooler dialogue. By rising from that crater alive, Juliette achieves the unimaginable. These ramifications earthquakes all through the subsequent season, and it is doubtless we have not but seen the top of them.
