Let’s talk about Silo Season 2, especially that excellent ending

The first season of Silos it was special. Created by Graham Yost and based on Hugh Howey’s books, the Apple TV+ show has struck the right balance between social issues and cool sci-fi mysteries, all set against great backdrops, with sweeping sets and fun action to boot. Everything was pointing to a second season who will continue on this path. Alas, with the second season now coming to an end, we have to say – it was a disappointment. Ten episodes filled with repetitive time-wasting that thankfully led to a satisfying finale with a terribly tempting final tease.

Most of Silos season 2 felt like it was the same two stories over and over again. In the mysterious other silo, Juliet (Rebecca Ferguson) just kept going back and forth with Solo (Steve Zahn) about a bunch of different things. And in the main silo, the lower dippers – led by Mechanical – grew increasingly frustrated with the upper ones, led by IT boss Bernard (Tim Robbins), leading to the threat and eventual mounting of a mutiny.

Week after week one storyline will be a little more interesting than the next, almost like a seesaw where things go up and down but don’t really go anywhere. That slowly started to change in the last few episodes, leading up to the finale when the Mechanicals came up with a very cool plan to try and take over the silo, and when Juliet – finally and blissfully – was able to get back to her silo. Throughout the season, the audience continued to learn cool trivia about the world. How many silos were there, where the relics are kept, who knows what, etc. Everything we wanted to know. But we rarely see important characters learn or share this knowledge, which was disappointing. That was all set to change with Juliet’s return, except the finale ended before she could meet everyone else. Which is good. We can wait.

Most excitingly, though, Juliette’s long-awaited return wasn’t the end of the season. The season finale was a flashback that brought up all kinds of issues and questions in a way that made us remember why we were watching Silos in the first place.

The final scene of season two takes place in a much more modern Washington, as a young congressman named Donald (Ashley Zuckerman, best known for Street of fear movies) goes to a bar to meet a journalist named Helen (Jessica Henwick of Game of Thrones and Iron Fist). Now, right off the bat, given that society is still functioning, we’re at a loss as to why we’re going back in time. How does it tie in Silos?

As the two talk/flirt, we learn a few things. We learn that something big has happened. A 9/11 Pearl Harbor-style event that doesn’t need to be named to be recognized. We know that the military did something impressive to save the people of New Orleans. There are problems with Iran. For some reason, people don’t use the term “dating” anymore. We also learn that before joining Congress, Donald was in the military and has a master’s degree in engineering. Seems like an important educational focus if you want to, I don’t know, build 50 massive silos.

Donald soon realizes that this isn’t the blind date he thought it would be, and we get the biggest scoop. Helen wants to talk to him about something more serious. Mainly, whether or not retaliation against Iran is coming, and whether there was an inciting “radiological weapon attack” at all. (This immediately got us thinking about the big reveal of Fallout season one where we learn… something I don’t want to spoil here if you haven’t seen itbut it seems that this connection between corrupt governments and saving society underground is important. Is that where Silos is it going digressed.)

Donald decides to leave before things go any further and gives Helen a present. Just something he picked up at a local store. It’s a rubber duck Pez dispenser. Probably the same one now living in the silo we’ve been following for two seasons. (Oh, and the magazine Donald is carrying has a picture of someone in a hazmat suit like Doc Brown in Back to the future. Nice touch.)

Okay, so there’s a lot to digest, and here’s what we know. It’s really a flashback to some of the first baby steps in the origin of silos, which is the main focus of the second book in Hugh Howey’s series. Most of this book is the story of the creation of the silos, and Donald is a key player in that. and, as we now know both Zukerman and Henwick will be series regulars in the third season of silo, we can safely assume that’s where the next season is headed. Plus, assuming it’s the same Pez dispenser now owned by Mr. Sims’ son (Common), Helen or her family falls into that silo. Why did she keep it? Perhaps it reminded her of the global change led by the man who gave it to her. Like we said, a lot to digest.

Seeing how and why the silos were created in tandem with the revelations at the end of season two (mainly the “Safeguard” stuff and the omniscient voices coming from the tunnel) feels like a perfect fit for season three. Juliet returns and wants to know more about who created the silos and why. And we, the audience, will be one step ahead of her as we see it happen in flashback.

This is all very exciting. Almost enough, honestly, to allow us to forgive the largely disappointing second season and get excited for what third, and then fourth and lastseasons of Silos will hold. Do you agree Let us know below.

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