Silo Season 2 Review: Complex Characters and Emotional Stories

After the devastating revelations of Season 1, Silo Season 2 is here with more questions, some answers and a ton of twists to leave us hooked. The second season follows Juliette as she wanders outside in the toxic wasteland of our post-apocalyptic world and tries to figure out the truth behind the state of the world. Meanwhile, inside the Silo, there’s a rebellion afoot as those who remain refuse to bow down to the authoritative powers that have controlled them for years.

The second season has 10 episodes, each with a runtime of around 45 minutes. The sci-fi, dystopian series is based on the Silo series by Hugh Howey.

Silo Season 2 Review

Season 2 of the Apple TV+ series Silo picks up right after the shocking events of season 1 and we see the fallout of Juliette’s choice to venture out into the world. The season follows two storylines which might seem different but come together somewhere – one involving Juliette finding a neighbouring silo and another featuring everything happening in silo 18 after her departure. Discussing politics and the need to assert dominance on unsuspecting people as well as Juliette’s discoveries, the season is action-packed, albeit a bit slow sometimes, and will leave viewers with a ton of questions once more.

Listen, Silo might not be for everyone – it’s slow paced and there’s not a lot of explosive action sequences taking place here. However, the series has a very distinct rhythm that churns out its twists and revelations at an even pace and can leave viewers thoroughly hooked. You relate to the situations and the characters because they are extremely realistic, so much so that it makes you feel a bit scared. The slow hum of the tension consistently keeps rising, with Juliette’s leaving the silo serving as the straw that broke the camel’s back. The grimy sets and the claustrophobic atmosphere adds to that reliability – there’s something about Silo series that leaves you feeling rather uncomfortable.

The series captures the hopelessness and the terror of being trapped in a confined space and the fear of the unknown in the outside world. Season 2 deftly encapsulates the feeling of hope that the residents feel for the first time as they see Juliette venturing into the unknown. There’s an underlying emotional touch in the series underneath the riots and the fear that truly tugs at your heartstrings. Whether it be silo 18’s residents learning about things that we have taken for granted and hoping for a better, more free world or Juliette’s adventures that (literally) open new doors, by the end of the season, you can’t help but feel emotional about everything.

But, as mentioned previously, Silo Season 2 can get extremely slow sometimes. There are long-winded exposition dumps all over the place that can get on people’s nerves and long stretches where nothing action-packed happens. This is a human story told in a very relatable way and that means that there isn’t something blowing up every 5 minutes. I acknowledge that about the series because it sets it apart from other similar shows however I can also acknowledge that I felt myself wanting to skip ahead to witness something more exciting at points.

The best part, however, of the series, as always, is its performance. Rebecca Ferguson takes a backseat this season, out on a dangerous new adventure that brings her close to some shocking truths and a few interesting people. Most of her time is spent fixing things around but she is still great in her scenes. Back at silo 18, Tim Robbins and Common leave an impact on viewers with their portrayal of their complex characters and I was blown away with how many different shades these people have to them. Robbins, especially, is not a Disney villain and for once, I felt some sort of way for him because his villainy hits close to home in today’s day and age.

Remmie Milner and Shane McRae play a more “active” role in this season and their camaraderie and their vision are really interesting. It ties in from season 1 and feels like a wave moving from the bottom pits of the silo moving to the top. Their determination to seek the truth and their ability to move those around them makes them interesting characters this season. Lastly, Steve Zahn joins the cast this season as a new character and without spoiling anything, he will make a space in your heart by the end of it all. Zahn is really good at playing the different layers of his character.

Final Thoughts

Silo Season 2 has some down moments that might make you skip ahead but overall, the storyline is complex and thrillingly relatable, so much so that it leaves you wanting more. It’s the human stories in the midst of the craziness that binds you to the series and the twists and turns will leave you hooked to find out what more is in store for our residents in silo 18. Does the series answer all of the questions you might have? Well, that’s for you to find out!

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