A star rating of 5 out of 5.
In the world of Silo, getting to the truth proves a murky affair. However, there is one truth that remains crystal clear for season 3: this is one of the best shows on television.
This masterful penultimate run of Apple TV’s dystopian sci-fi drama tackles two different timelines, continuing Juliette’s (Rebecca Ferguson) story while taking us back to the “Before Times” with new characters: congressman Daniel (Ashley Zukerman) and journalist Helen (Jessica Henwick).
Following Silo 18’s rebellion and the downfall of mayor Bernard Holland (Tim Robbins), new powers are now in charge. The Pact is being rewritten, and the silo is (seemingly) embracing democracy. However, as always, there’s more going on beneath the surface, with Camille Sims (Alexandria Riley), the new Head of IT, being influenced in a dangerous way.
Meanwhile, after quite literally playing with fire, newly elected mayor Juliette has lost her memory – including all traces of her journey to Silo 17 and her discovery of the deadly Safeguard. Now, the narrative she’s being fed doesn’t quite add up…
And she’s not the only one struggling for answers. In the past, Daniel and Helen (who, it was hinted at last season, were key to building the silos) grapple with a deadly threat facing the US and a tragedy that hits close to home.
The key question at the heart of the show – what happened to force humanity underground? – is still a mystery, but could the truth finally surface this season?
Memory loss can be a tired trope in TV, but it’s threaded beautifully here; as opposed to being a forced device, it provides a genuinely useful link across the timelines.
From Juliette’s amnesia to the struggles that Daniel’s sister Charlotte (Jessica Brown Findlay) endures after a failed military mission to Iran, to the moral dilemma Camille faces, showrunner Graham Yost asks a poignant question: who are we without our memories?
This season is based on writer Hugh Howey’s (arguably best) novel Shift. Although there are frustrating divergences, it’s clear they’re largely due to the limitations of TV as a medium. Some key details and events are omitted, and after a standout turn in season 2, Steve Zahn is criminally underused in his return as Jimmy.
But some changes from the book are for the better. Despite Juliette barely appearing in Shift, she shines with ample screen time here. And one of the best changes is the expansion of Camille’s role. She’s evolved from a minor character in the first season to one of the most important figures in the show. Considering many of her scenes feature Camille sequestering herself alone in a room, Riley gives a mesmerising performance.
Meanwhile, after a brief meeting at the end of last season, Daniel and Helen are introduced properly before fitting seamlessly into the story. Zukerman is charming as the congressman who’s just trying to do the right thing, while Henwick beautifully develops the role of determined journalist Helen.
There’s a lot of story to pack in, which results in some of the season’s early episodes feeling disjointed yet overall, the introduction of an entirely new timeline is a triumph. It increases the scope of the series while still ensuring the scenes in Silo 18 feel as claustrophobic as ever. As the season progresses, it only gets better before culminating in a stunning finale. To date, it’s the best episode of the whole show.
Fans of Howey’s novels will see some (but certainly not all) of the twists and turns coming but that does nothing to diminish their impact. Apple TV has never shied away from going big with its sci-fi shows, but this truly unforgettable third run proves Silo is in a league all of its own.
Silo season 3 starts July 3 on Apple TV – sign up to Apple TV now.
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