For fans of dystopian sci-fi dramas, Apple’s new series, “Silo,” is a welcome addition to the genre.
Adapted from the acclaimed “Wool” trilogy by author Hugh Howey, the novels have finally been brought to the screen 12 years after their initial publication. “Silo Season 1” premiered on Apple TV+ on May 5th, quickly garnering an impressive 8.2 rating on Douban and a soaring 90% on Rotten Tomatoes after just two episodes.
Rebecca Ferguson (“Mission: Impossible 5”), who stars as the lead and also serves as a producer, brings a captivating blend of coldness and mystery to the screen, drawing viewers into the post-apocalyptic world.
Storyline: A Glimpse into the “Silo”
Centuries ago, humanity engaged in a cataclysmic war, unleashing weapons of mass destruction that devastated the Earth’s ecosystem.
Before the disaster, some humans sought refuge in underground bunkers, a massive silo stretching dozens of kilometers deep with over a hundred levels. Equipped with advanced technology, this silo provides for all the inhabitants’ needs.
For generations, humanity has lived within this silo. The old world has been forgotten, and a new class system has emerged. The silo is divided into three tiers:
- The first tier: Administrators responsible for population control.
- The second tier: Technicians responsible for maintenance and repairs.
- The third tier: Ordinary citizens who work and are forbidden from procreating.
The new generation is taught that the outside world is a desolate wasteland filled with toxic air, where humans can’t survive for more than three minutes.
“I want to go outside” is the ultimate taboo within the silo.
Three years prior to the start of the series, a woman “went mad,” declaring “I want to go outside!” She was sentenced to be released, and died in full view of the silo’s inhabitants.
When a murder occurs within the silo, Juliette, an engineer, begins to investigate. As she delves deeper, she uncovers the truth behind the silo.
More Than Just Sci-Fi: A Suspenseful Thriller
“Silo” is a captivating suspense story. Let’s delve into the plot, but don’t worry about spoilers – even after watching the first two episodes, the mysteries remain.
Episode 1: Seeds of Doubt
Sheriff Holston locks himself in cell number three, gazing at the desolate landscape outside the silo. Despite the apparent lifelessness, he is determined to go outside to see his deceased wife, Allison (the “mad” woman).
(The image of Allison in a spacesuit, juxtaposed with Holston witnessing others in similar suits dying outside, suggests that Allison met her end in the outside world.)
(The plot implies that the outside world is toxic, but Allison suspected this was a lie, prompting her to venture out.)
As the sheriff, Holston is responsible for maintaining order and enforcing the rules. However, his wife, Allison, was a “curious” individual, putting him in a difficult position.
The arrival of Juliette changes Holston’s perspective and plants seeds of doubt.
Holston regrets not listening to Juliette three years prior. The episode delves into Holston’s memories, revealing the story of Allison and Holston living in the silo.
Episode 2: Juliette’s Theory
Episode two focuses on Juliette. What is her theory? Why does she change Holston’s mind? In fact, it was Holston who told Juliette his thoughts, which is why Juliette shouted “liar” when she saw Holston die!
Another character, George, wanted to show Juliette something before his death, as if he had suddenly discovered a major secret (it is later revealed that George may have found the door to the outside).
Perhaps the authorities noticed George’s unusual behavior (George had a history of “curiosity” and was likely under surveillance), leading to his “accidental” fall.
Juliette finds something left by George in his room (including a note). George’s discovery is even more dangerous: “a door” (a blueprint in the hard drive data, George saw a passage).
Juliette seeks help from Sheriff Holston, and they become acquainted. Holston realizes that George’s death is related to Allison, and some evidence leads Holston to believe that the outside world is beautiful, which is why he tells Juliette about George and Allison’s theory, and then he wants to go out.
But he later died outside, which is why Juliette said Holston was a liar when she saw Holston die, because Juliette was very disappointed.
The Rules Within the Silo
The first episode reveals the strict rules within the silo. When Allison publishes an article about (recovering deleted files about their past), she is immediately warned, indicating that any information about the past is not allowed to be discussed or questioned within the silo.
Holston also says that Allison is violating the rules. Why is Allison’s behavior criticized?
According to Holston’s initial monologue, the people here have questions but dare not ask, “We don’t know why we are here, we don’t know who built the silo, we don’t know what the outside world is like, we don’t know when it will be safe to go out, we only know that day is not today.”
Therefore, the residents here live comfortably with doubts, but to put it bluntly, it is like being manipulated and deliberately concealing the need to abide by the rules, without doubts, without questioning, and without seeking answers.
The Core of the Show: The Hard Drive
Whether it’s Allison, George, or even Holston, their deaths are more or less related to the content inside.
In the show, Freedom Day is called “Suppression Rebellion Day.” Literally, Freedom Day is the day when everyone gains freedom after the rebellion.
What happened during the “rebellion”?
The highest leader of the silo, the “Mayor,” claims that the rebellion was because rebels wanted to destroy the hard drive, burn the library, and everything here, but was stopped by the founders. This statement is to make people believe that history has been preserved.
But is that really the case? Could it be that the history they thought they were trying to protect is actually fake? A fabricated event? Because the document that Allison and George saw was about the construction of the silo and what happened here.
At 6:06:06 140 years ago, it was the moment when the silo regained freedom, but this event did not happen outside and make them live in the silo, but a rebellion that happened inside the silo, because some people wanted to open the door to the outside world.
So, has history been erased? Or was it deliberately created? This is what makes this show interesting.
Why Do People Who Go Out Always Come Back to “Clean the Glass”?
This design is really special, because after Holston went out, he realized that Allison’s theory was correct, the outside world is really beautiful.
But the air is still unknown, and it has beautiful colors. Holston said when he came out, “Everyone must see this scene,” so he wiped the silo window, wanting to tell everyone how beautiful the outside world is (which is why the people inside say why everyone who goes out wipes the glass).
But the problem is that the authorities have turned the window screen black and white, so the outside still looks desolate.
But why do people who go out die? Does the protective suit release toxic gas? The screenwriter has buried a huge suspense about the outside world.
But I think one thing is very special. There is Allison’s body on the black and white screen, but there is no Allison in Holston’s helmet view. It was not until Holston took off his helmet that he climbed to Allison’s body again.
Is it possible that what they see with their helmets on is a fake beauty? Is the outside world really desolate and toxic?
Perhaps this is why the Mayor said: “Everyone who goes out says they won’t wipe the glass, but they always do,” which should also mean that the picture in the helmet is a fake beauty.
Mysteries Left for Us
Is there toxic gas in the outside world? Who built the silo? Why was it built? And what is the truth about why they are in the silo?
Perhaps whether there is poison in the outside world is not what “Silo” wants to explore, but the reactions of those living in the silo under such circumstances of truth shaking and overturning, and the humanity in the silo, may be the focus of “Silo” wants to dig and portray.
Those who live in the silo have contradictory feelings. They feel comfortable and acquiesce to the life in the shelter, but they also have doubts and want to explore the outside world (especially every time someone wipes off the dust on the window, everyone cheers).
Assuming that, as Allison said, the authorities use the miserable situation outside the window to give the people inside the illusion that the silo is beautiful.
Therefore, is it possible that the outside world is actually very beautiful, so only some people can live there? Is it a punishment to send the people who are considered troublesome and bad to live here?
Therefore, those who want to go out and are sent out are actually an execution, because they know the truth or suspect the truth, so the authorities create an illusion that the outside world is terrible and the living environment inside is happy.
This show is worth watching again for its plot and the scenes it creates! What is the truth? Please pay attention to the follow-up plot!