Introduction to Silo Series
Imagine a mysterious future world, one where the exact time period is unclear but it's clearly marked by dystopia, the dark side of the future. In this world, humanity no longer lives above ground, but deep beneath it, inside a massive structure called the “Silo”.
The word “silo” might sound familiar in agricultural contexts, where it's used to store grain, but here, it takes on an entirely different meaning: a massive underground building with hundreds of floors, fully equipped with everything humans need to survive agriculture, industry, electricity, water, and even advanced technology.
And just as the Silo is made up of many levels, so too is its society. Literally and symbolically, people live on different layers, and each level houses a specific social group. The higher you go toward the surface, the higher your status becomes. This structure creates a rigid class system where physical elevation mirrors social hierarchy.
But the big question remains: why are people living underground? From the windows on the upper levels, we glimpse what is said to be the outside world a land completely destroyed and uninhabitable. We're told from the beginning that anyone who leaves the Silo will die almost immediately, simply by breathing the toxic air.
Beyond the Silo’s technical systems and its layered human society, there are strict laws in place. Of course, there's law enforcement and a judicial system to maintain order. And the most shocking of all the rules one that directly drives the story without giving away spoilers is this: anyone who requests to leave the Silo will have that request granted immediately, no matter their rank or role. Even if they change their mind, there's no turning back. Leaving means death.
This simple yet chilling rule is the spark that ignites the entire plot of Silo. It triggers deep questions and doubts about what's really outside, who built it, and why anyone would want to keep the truth hidden.
The Story Begins: When Someone Requests to Leave the Silo
We start the story with a character we get to know through the events, who requests to leave this place. The topic of leaving and making such a request is not something that happens every day or even every month; years often pass between such cases because no sane person would willingly choose to leave after seeing this destruction and knowing the inevitable death awaiting outside.
At the beginning of the episode, we witness this character’s exit and the consequences of their decision on the outside world. This sparks important questions for the viewers. More importantly, there is a character who somewhat represents the audience’s perspective and doubts the husband of this character, who is a policeman inside the silo. His suspicions and inquiries form the core of the story’s starting point.
We follow this policeman on a journey to uncover the mystery: Why does this silo exist? Who built it? What truths have the residents inherited, and which are merely myths without proof? This mystery is one of the strongest storytelling elements of the series. Even before diving into the events, the mere existence of the silo raises many questions, gripping the viewer’s attention to discover the history of this place, why people live underground, and what catastrophe devastated the Earth.
The silo itself is a massive structure composed of approximately 100 floors or more, with advanced infrastructure and technology. Its construction took many years, indicating that its creators were aware of an unavoidable catastrophe.
Inside this silo live about 10,000 people the last survivors of humanity. This fact raises further questions about the fate of the Earth and how humanity reached this state.
All these facts and questions are presented to the viewer within the first five minutes of the episode, even before the main plot unfolds, which is a remarkable narrative strength.
Following this, the series introduces many characters living on different floors and working in various departments. Through them, we learn how the silo operates: the significance of the IT and Information Technology department, the mechanical and electrical generator teams, how electricity and water are distributed throughout the floors, along with the medical center, hospital, judiciary, police, and others.
Characters in the Series SILO and the Actors’ Performances
The variety and distribution of characters in the series "Silo" were highly effective in building the world and played a major role in helping viewers follow the mystery throughout the episodes. One of the strongest aspects of the show, in my opinion, was the acting performances especially that of the lead actress, Rebecca Ferguson.
For those who may not remember her, Rebecca has appeared in several notable works such as "Mission Impossible" and "Dune", but my personal favorite performance of hers was in the movie "Doctor Sleep". In this series, she had the full opportunity to showcase her talent to a wider audience, and I believe she succeeded brilliantly.
Her ability to shift between strength and vulnerability was truly impressive whether it was physical or emotional strength, or weakness driven by emotions and difficult circumstances. Her performance was precise and she portrayed these contrasts with rare professionalism and grace.
On another note, there were other strong performances from several characters. One of the most compelling for me was a police leader we meet as the events progress. This character deeply believes in what's called “The Pact”, which acts like a constitution or even a religion that governs the lives of those living in the silo. It dictates all actions, laws, and responses to various situations, giving a unique depth to life in this closed-off world.
It was fascinating to see how people live by this Pact, especially this police leader who struggles between his faith in the law and his desire to do what’s right even if it goes against the "constitution."
There’s also the character of Tom Robinson, who might seem minor at first but gradually grows more prominent as the season nears its end, eventually becoming a significant figure in the story.
On the other hand, the least convincing performance for me came from the actor who played “Sims”. This complex and layered character had the potential to be one of the show’s strongest. He exudes authority and power, and while the actor did well portraying this dominant side, he wasn’t convincing in expressing the character’s inner vulnerability. I didn’t feel the fear or anxiety that should have surfaced in key moments.
Weaknesses in the Series SILO
Although the series Silo has many strengths, there are some noticeable weaknesses. Some of these can be overlooked, but one major flaw stands out, which I will discuss in detail at the end.
1. The Soundtrack
The music wasn’t bad, but it was too generic. We're dealing with a mysterious and isolated world, and it deserved a memorable soundtrack that could enhance the sense of mystery and claustrophobia within the silo.
Instead, the music felt ordinary, something you might hear in any other show. It lacked a distinctive identity that ties it to the world of Silo, weakening its emotional and thematic impact.
2. The Visual Environment
Visually, the show did convey a sense of confinement and darkness, making you feel like you were living underground. However, the actual design of the silo which supposedly spans hundreds of floors was underused.
Scenes rarely emphasized the vertical depth of the silo. Movement between levels lacked difficulty or variety. Though perhaps intended to show uniformity, this clashed with the show's message that lower levels reflect lower social status. Set design, lighting, and cinematography could have better highlighted this social hierarchy.
3. Lack of Daily Life Representation
We got to meet a range of characters, but we never truly saw the daily life inside the silo. There was little insight into how people live, how long they've been there, or how children and elders perceive this sunless world.
What is it like to live without sunlight for generations? How does it affect their mental health and physical well-being? These details could have added great depth and realism to the world of Silo, but they were mostly absent.
4. Slow Pacing and Weak Payoff
This is perhaps the biggest flaw of the show. With 10 episodes, the pacing felt very slow, especially considering how little plot progression occurred.
Most of the initial mysteries remained unanswered even by the end. We only received one real answer, which didn’t justify the time investment. The season could have been trimmed to 6 or 8 episodes, or at least each episode should’ve delivered more substantial developments.
Many episodes felt dragged or could have been merged without loss of content. This lack of narrative momentum ultimately made the ending feel less impactful.
Positive Aspects of the SILO Series
Looking back at the positive aspects again, I am really impressed by the way the plot is crafted, not just the storytelling, but the core plot development. Every character introduced was utilized in some way or another, and every element mentioned was used by the end in some form. There were beautiful foreshadowings early on that were effectively leveraged in the finale, and this always wins me over.
Also, the way the character's material and actions were portrayed today was successful. All these factors motivated me to continue watching the series, and it genuinely piqued my interest as I want to see what happens next. I definitely recommend watching it, and it’s clear we are heading towards a bigger experience in the second season at least. My rating for the first season of SILO is 7.5 out of 10.
Revealing the Secrets of Season One: Episodes and Main Plot Twists
Beginning to Discuss the Spoilers of Season One
I'm starting to talk now about the spoiler aspects in the story of Season One. When I watched the season from the beginning, the most amazing thing about this series was that it introduced a twist right from the start, and this twist later turned into a big mystery. We all know what lies behind this twist, but the most terrifying thing is that in the end it did a "twist on the twist."
The Initial Setup: Destruction Outside and the Strange Feeling
At first, the series showed us that the situation outside was destruction, and we saw two characters dying when they went out the policeman and his wife. But there was a strange feeling that something was not right, because through the policeman and his wife, we saw that the world outside the Silo was green and beautiful. So we wondered:
- Why are they locking themselves inside this place if the world is beautiful?
- Has the world recovered?
- Do they not know about this?
- Most importantly, if the world recovered and is green, why did the two characters who went out die?
The Deceptive Truth
In the end, we discover that the question we asked at the beginning was the wrong question. The facts presented to us deceived us not everything we saw was ever real. The last episode was truly amazing, as we saw that when Julia went out, she saw the same scene that the policeman and his wife saw a green and beautiful world.
But the trick was that this scene repeats the same movements bird movements, tree movements and it was the same video that existed on the hard drive, which made Julia doubt that this world was real, but rather just a video.
As we know, virtual reality technologies like Apple's latest glasses show you a reality different from what you actually see, and that is exactly what happened. What we saw from the beginning was just an illusion, while the truth is different.
The Real Destruction Outside
If we remember, all along we saw the bodies of the policeman and his wife lying next to each other, but when seeing the scene through Julia, there were no bodies in the beautiful scene. And when Julia placed the policeman's badge on the grass, the scene started to change and revealed the real reality: the destruction and devastation outside.
In the end, we discover many essential things: Julia is now the only one able to walk, and there are multiple silos like the Silo she is in, and it is not the only one there are many silos in the same place. The Silo that houses ten thousand people is very important because it represents the last of humanity.
We see from afar a city with abandoned skyscrapers, which indicates that humans left this city and built the silos to live underground.
Unanswered Questions: The Disaster and Dark Truths
This brings us back to the most important question I asked since the beginning of the season:
- What is the disaster?
- How did they know about it?
- Since when have they been building these silos underground?
- And why are they lying to the people?
All these questions have not yet found clear answers.
Bernard and the Hidden Truth
The only person who knows the full truth is Bernard, known from the series "Westworld." Even Simms, the assistant who monitors people, does not know what is happening outside the Silo nor is aware of the existence of other silos.
Evaluation of Season One: Beautiful Twists but Lack of Answers
Despite the beauty of the "twist on the twist" that the series offered, the answers provided after ten episodes were not sufficient. The series kept presenting several possibilities about the reality outside the Silo, and after the last episode, we confirmed that the destruction is real. However, the questions I raised at the beginning still remain, and curiosity towards the next season has only increased.
I loved how the series portrayed the details accurately, such as that Julia's father is a doctor working at the medical center, and how she returned to him when she needed help. Also, the story of the woman who raised her, who had a connection to one of the workers in the supplies department, and how she fulfilled her requests despite having lived inside the Silo for twenty-five years.
Introduction: An Unsatisfying Plot and Unanswered Questions
Annoying ending, events were structured, but the storytelling style wasn't fitting. Ten episodes didn't deliver enough. But now we must take a step back and ask:
Why did the sheriff and his wife die within seconds after going outside?
And why did Juliette survive after going out and even continued walking?
We saw the scenery with her... There are two possibilities, and I’m not yet 100% sure which is true.
The Key Difference Between Juliette and the Other Characters
Duct tape is the key
But before diving into possibilities, let's first see the fundamental difference between Juliette and the other two characters.
The crucial secret is: duct tape.
This duct tape was mentioned multiple times in the series, especially by IT Director Bernard.
Accusations Against Juliette and Misunderstanding the Tape
The first time he found out the sheriff died, he quickly nominated Juliette as sheriff without any qualifications.
He called her a thief because she took the duct tape without permission.
He exaggerated the matter, even her colleagues down below said:
It's a trivial issue, something simple. She just needed the duct tape and took it.
Juliette Clarifies the Type of Tape
Even though Juliette clarified that the duct tape she took was weak,
not the strong duct tape they usually use in the mechanical workshop down below,
and that the supply team didn’t give them their usual duct tape.
Why the IT Director Exaggerated the Situation
Suspicions About the Source of the Duct Tape
This brings us to the core doubt:
Why was the IT Director, the one in control of everything, blowing the issue out of proportion?
What was he afraid of? That someone got it from outside the department?
If we take a step back what is the duct tape even used for in the series?
We saw it used in multiple ways.
Use of Duct Tape on the Protective Suit
We see that this duct tape is used on the suit the one they dress the characters in before sending them outside.
They put on the full clothing, gloves, all of it, and then apply duct tape to seal any gaps.
The Radical Difference in Juliette’s Preparation
Martha and Her Past Relationship
The main difference between Juliette and the first characters who died is that the duct tape used on Juliette was different.
Before surrendering, Juliette went to talk to Martha.
We didn’t see exactly what she said, but something strange happened.
I liked the writing here Martha had lived in fear for 25 years, never leaving her place.
Martha's Unexpected Move and Getting the Different Tape
The only time she left her apartment and went up floors was after Juliette’s visit.
She confronted a character with whom we previously saw some kind of relationship.
This person works in the supply department, which provides duct tape to those who need it.
A Special Request to Change the Duct Tape
We also saw Martha, before leaving, holding that different duct tape.
It even had a jagged edge on top, suggesting Martha requested her old contact to do her a favor: to change the duct tape that would be used on Juliette’s suit.
The Result: Juliette Was Protected from Poison
So the duct tape used on Juliette was the strong tape, not the weak one.
Meaning: this tape completely sealed out air, toxins, or contamination from reaching Juliette.
That’s why she was able to walk without getting poisoned.
The Coded Message That Motivated Her to Leave
What encouraged Juliette to do this was the message she received inside that box the one containing cookies and hush puppies.
The message was general, but its meaning was clear:
“Don’t be afraid” or “Supplies are good now.”
Meaning: the duct tape you're getting for the suit is the strong tape.
Unanswered Question: Is the Outside Air Really Poisoned?
But as we said earlier, we are faced with two possibilities and a question that remains unanswered: is the air outside truly poisoned, or is it something else?
What’s interesting is that every character who exits, even Juliette before she steps out, encounters something like a mist or air blast just before leaving. This is typically done for decontamination, when someone enters a clean zone from a contaminated area. But in our case, it's the opposite the character is exiting a sterile environment and entering a contaminated one.
So why are they being decontaminated while going out?
Theory One: The Air Is Safe, But They Are Poisoned Before Exiting
The first possibility is that anyone who requests to leave is intentionally poisoned before going out. This is done so they don't discover the truth that the air outside is actually safe.
Because the tape sealing the suit is weak, the poison can seep in quickly. Once the person is out, they only survive for a few minutes and then die.
This is likely what made Bernard say it’s not a big deal she will die soon enough anyway. He just needed to stall for time.
Theory Two: The Air Is Truly Toxic, But Juliette Survived
The second possibility is that the air is truly contaminated. When Juliette went outside, Bernard waited until a specific time for the toxic air to take effect.
However, Juliette didn’t die which suggests that the tape used on her suit was stronger and kept the poison out. This explains everything we’re seeing so far.
The Mystery of Sims and His Wife
But new questions arise. For instance, Sims and his wife clearly have a hidden agenda. His wife tells him not to worry because their goals and ambitions are much greater.
Is their goal to take Bernard's place or is it something else entirely?
We also discover that Sims doesn’t know everything he doesn’t hold all the secrets that Bernard does.
The Importance of Disk #18
Later, we see a hard drive labeled number 18. Why is this number so important?
Because it’s linked to Bernard, the man who controls everything in the silo. Even his tools his key and chain are marked with the number 18.
When Bernard finds out that Juliette didn’t fall and had discovered the truth, he rushes to the cooling chamber and tries to open a room labeled "Server Room."
We didn’t see what’s inside, but based on the reflections in his glasses, it seems like a large room with many lights and servers everything connected together.
What Is Silo 18?
From outside, we saw that there are many locations out there. That means there could be multiple silos and this one is specifically Silo 18.
Paul and the Syndrome
By the end, everyone knows that the sheriff, Paul, has that syndrome the one that causes him to tremble.
Although it’s illegal for someone with this illness to have a job, especially as a sheriff, they allowed it. Why?
Because now Sims and Bernard control him. They can use him as a puppet to do what Juliette did.
Paul's Behavior and Role in Season Two
But look at Paul's behavior now he's no longer normal. He even burned the magazine with the photos and all the information about the outside world, leaving only one page.
What will be his role in season two?
The Mysterious Door Below
More importantly, what is the door that Juliette mentioned at the bottom?
When Bernard heard about the door below, his facial expression changed as if he didn’t know it even existed.
What is that door? Where does it lead?
Are there doors connecting the silos together?
Could it be that there's another Bernard-like figure inside every silo?
Do all silos know about each other?
We still don't know. That's why the questions are growing, and the answers remain scarce.
The Excitement Remains
But the illusion, the suspense, and the curiosity are still strong.
We’re truly looking forward to season two, and the best part is that it’s based on books. That means no random made-up endings what we’ll see is already written in the novels.
And usually, when a show is based on completed novels, it turns out to be better than most.
Final Thoughts
At the end of this discussion, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
What do you think of the series?
How would you rate it out of ten?
This was Mehr Moush, see you in the next episode!