Apple TV+’s dystopian sci-fi drama Silo has just wrapped up its intense second season. After the shocking conclusion of Season 1, where Juliette (played by Rebecca Ferguson) was forced to leave Silo 18 against her will, Season 2 expands the story further, revealing the hidden truths about the world Juliette thought she knew.
In Season 2, Juliette’s quest to uncover the secrets of the silo world she grew up in takes unexpected turns. From her discovery of Silo 17 to the introduction of her new friend Solo (played by Steve Zahn), Juliette learns there are 50 silos in total, and that the silos were not built by chance.
The world she grew up in seems to have been part of a much larger and darker plan. This season also sees Juliette’s rebellion inspire a series of events, leading to an escalating conflict that places everyone she loves in danger.
Season 2: The Rebellion Begins
At the start of Season 2, Juliette’s departure from Silo 18, which sparked a rebellion, is shown to be part of a larger movement. Her refusal to clean before leaving the silo, which was seen as an act of defiance, set off a rebellion. This rebellion becomes a central force in the storyline.
Juliette and her new ally, Solo, begin to see the broader implications of the events unfolding in the silos. In particular, Solo reveals that there are 50 silos, not just the two they know about. This discovery introduces a new layer to the mystery of the silos.
One of the most striking elements of the second season is how similar the current rebellion is to one that took place in Solo’s own silo. Juliette discovers that this earlier rebellion had devastating consequences and that the same risks are present for the rebellion in Silo 18.
As Juliette learns more, she realizes the danger is not only to her but also to everyone she cares about. This ticking time bomb is something Juliette has to address before it’s too late.
Season 2, Episode 10: War Breaks Out
In Episode 10, titled “Into the Fire”, the stakes get even higher as war breaks out in Silo 18. The rebels of Silo 18 are officially at war with the forces led by Bernard (played by Tim Robbins), who is working from the upper levels of the silo.
This episode brings to the forefront the conflict between order and chaos, as Bernard’s forces try to maintain control, while the rebels are fighting for the truth they believe has been kept from them.
Martha (played by Harriet Walter), who has been working as a mole for Bernard, plays a pivotal role in the episode. She reveals the rebels’ plan to blow up the generator if they do not receive the truth they seek, leading to the arrest and detention of the rebels.
However, Bernard is unaware of the larger plan that is in motion. The rebels have a strategy to lure Bernard’s forces to the lower levels while they destroy parts of the silo. As the rebels blow up levels 90 to 92, they manage to gain control of the upper levels, leaving Bernard’s forces powerless.
Bernard’s intelligence and pride are central to his character, but they also become his downfall. His belief that he is keeping order for the greater good blinds him to the fact that his methods are increasingly ineffective.
Meanwhile, the rebels are willing to risk everything to uncover the truth. They believe the answers they are seeking lie outside the silo, even though Juliette knows this might lead to their deaths.
The Secrets of the Lower Levels
As the battle between the rebels and Bernard’s forces intensifies, other crucial developments take place in the lower levels of the silo. Lukas Kyle (played by Avi Nash), Bernard’s IT shadow, returns from the lower levels, bringing new and shocking information.
Lukas has spent time down in the depths of the silo, where he made a terrifying discovery that shatters Bernard’s view of the world.
Lukas reveals that he has solved the code of Salvador Quinn’s letter, which had remained a mystery for so long. He decides to resign as Bernard’s shadow, acknowledging that his discovery is too much for him to ignore.
Lukas’s findings in the lower levels pertain to a secret called the Safeguard. This term is not just a random concept; it has significant implications for everyone living inside the silo.
The Safeguard, as it turns out, is a mechanism that can kill everyone in the silo at any given moment, especially when a rebellion threatens to overthrow the established order. Even more terrifying is the revelation that an outside entity controls the Safeguard.
This outside entity may be monitoring every single silo, suggesting that the inhabitants are not only trapped within their silos but are also under the watchful eye of an unseen force. This realization forces Bernard to confront the fact that he is not in control of the situation as he once believed. Instead, he is just a pawn in a much larger scheme.
Juliette’s Return to Silo 18
In the season finale, Juliette makes her triumphant return to Silo 18, just in time to warn her people that it is unsafe to go outside. Her return marks a turning point for the story. Juliette is not only the spark of the rebellion but she is also seen as the future leader of Silo 18, should she survive the challenges ahead.
However, as she tries to make her way back into the silo, she faces one final obstacle: Bernard, who is waiting for her with a gun in hand.
While Bernard believes that everything is lost and that the situation is beyond hope, Juliette surprises him with her knowledge of the Safeguard. She knows that there is a way to stop the Safeguard from being activated and that this knowledge could save everyone in the silo.
But before they can discuss how to prevent the Safeguard from being triggered, they are trapped in an incinerator chamber. The flames quickly engulf the screen, leaving the fate of Juliette and Bernard uncertain.
The final moments of the episode are intense and leave viewers on the edge of their seats. With Juliette and Bernard trapped in the incinerator, the fate of Silo 18 hangs in the balance.
The question of whether they can stop the Safeguard and save the people of the silo remains unanswered, setting up a tense and suspenseful wait for the next season.
The Mysterious Closing Scene
The closing scene of Season 2 is one of the most mysterious and intriguing moments of the entire show. After the dramatic fade to black, the scene shifts to Washington D.C. This version of the city is not post-apocalyptic but looks much like the historic city we know, complete with the White House in the background.
A man enters a bar, but before he can sit down, he is scanned for radiation. This man is Daniel (played by Ashley Zukerman), a congressman who is meeting with Helen (played by Jessica Henwick), a reporter for The Post.
The meeting between Daniel and Helen seems like a casual date, possibly arranged through a dating app, but there is clearly something more going on beneath the surface. During their conversation, they discussed a radiological attack by Iran on the U.S. that changed the course of the world.
Helen asks Daniel if the government plans to retaliate against Iran and whether the attack even came from a foreign country. Daniel avoids answering these questions, and instead, he gives Helen a gift: a PEZ dispenser with a rubber duck on it.
This PEZ dispenser is not just a random gift. It’s a key clue for the audience. It’s the same PEZ dispenser that George Wilkins (played by Ferdinand Kingsley) gave to Juliette in Season 1, with a note saying that he had found what he was looking for in the lower levels of Silo 18. This connection hints at a larger story about the creation of the silos and the people behind them.
The Bigger Picture: The Founders and the Silo Project
The introduction of Helen and Daniel in the closing scene provides the audience with a view into the “before times” and the events that led to the creation of the silos. It is clear that they have some connection to the silos’ origins, and their conversation suggests that they may have had a hand in the creation of the silos, or at least in the events that led up to it.
The mention of the radiological attack hints that the silos were possibly created in response to some global disaster, possibly a nuclear war. However, the possibility of the silos being part of some sick experiment by those in power also remains a strong theory.
The connection between Helen, Daniel, and the PEZ dispenser gives us our first real clue about the people behind the creation of the silos.
It’s possible that they were involved in the early stages of the silo project and the class structure that governs each silo. While much remains unclear, the closing scene sets up several intriguing possibilities for the future.
Looking Ahead to Season 3
The mysteries of Silo are far from over. As the series continues in Seasons 3 and 4, we can expect to learn more about the secrets of the silos, the outside world, and the true purpose behind their creation.
The show’s intricate plot, compelling characters, and suspenseful twists have kept viewers hooked, and with Season 3 on the horizon, fans are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this attractive story. Both seasons of Silo are available to stream on Apple TV+ in the U.S.
