By Susan Granger
Since its debut in May, 2023, “Silo,” Apple TV’s sci-fi dystopian drama, has intrigued audiences. Now, it has been nominated for an Emmy once again – this time for Outstanding Main Title Design, a representation of the series’ themes and narrative.
Based on Hugh Howey’s self-published series of novels, it revolves around Juliette Nicholes (Rebecca Ferguson) who discovers that the 144-story cylindrical subterranean bunker where she was born and raised is actually Silo 18 in a complex of 50, shielded from the toxic and deadly world outside.
With two seasons down and two more to go, what we’ve learned is that these insular silos have been around for hundreds of years and, during that time, those in charge have passed down strict laws and codes – some of which are public, like ‘The Pact’ – and others are intentionally suppressed to keep citizens under control.
Each silo is strictly stratified with little change of upward mobility. Those in authority and the elite occupy the top floors. The white-collar labor force is in the middle; and the blue-collar mechanical workers are down below.
Over the years, frustrated lower-class residents have rebelled, only to be subdued by mass-execution or flooding the facilities with memory-wiping drugs.
In the current season, Juliette returns home to Silo 18, where she’s proclaimed a hero and becomes Mayor, having defeated the Big Boss Bernard (Tim Robbins). But she’s quite vulnerable, suffering from memory loss, due to drugs administered by Camille Sims (Alexandra Riley) under orders from some mysterious, disembodied voice whom Camille consults in a hidden chamber.
At this point, showrunner Graham Yost finally – through the use of flashbacks – hints at the silo program’s origin, connecting it to astute Army engineer-turned-Georgia congressman Daniel Keene (Ashley Zuckerman) who designed a bunker in New Orleans that saved many from an Iranian dirty bomb.
Daniel’s sister Charlotte (Jessica Brown Findlay), a top Navy pilot, is set to retaliate for the attack, when her plane is hit by viscous metallic goop. She winds up at a billionaire’s private, high-tech hospital in Fairfax – but her memory is gone – as the “Silo” story continues on Apple TV.
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Susan Granger
Westport resident Susan Granger grew up in Hollywood, studied journalism with Pierre Salinger at Mills College and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with highest honors in Journalism. In addition to writing for newspapers and magazines, she has appeared on radio and television as an anchorwoman and movie critic for many years. Read all her reviews at susangranger.com.
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