he Apple TV+ series Silo is the kind of TV series that has its way of grabbing one’s attention right away. A crazy ride through a mysterious yet mesmerising dystopian world, this sci-fi series strikes all the right notes, making one want to watch the next episode immediately and eventually end the entire series in a single sitting.

How does it do that? Well, each episode ends with just the right amount of mystery and a gripping cliffhanger to keep the audience hooked.

Silo is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans have sought refuge in a massive underground facility known as the ‘silo.’ The silo is where all the action takes place. It is a gigantic, multi-level complex. It is self-contained, complete with living quarters, agricultural areas, medical facilities and other sections necessary for survival. The creators of the show have clearly paid close attention to detail. The silo is situated in the imagination as a familiar, fully developed livable environment.

The silo provides shelter for the survivors but it is also a cramped, confined area. Therre is no access to the outside world. The underground setting of the series adds to its eerie and mysterious atmosphere by featuring dimly lit hallways and rooms. It has been around for over a century and one can really sense its history in every corner.

The world outside is shown throughout the series as a toxic wasteland. Residents of the silo are indoctrinated to believe that the outside air is poisonous and that those who step outside will die. This perception of the outside world adds to the tension and dread already present in the silo life.

As characters navigate there underground community, discover its secrets and wrestle with the riddles of the outside world, the juxtaposition between the confined, controlled environment of the silo and the unknowable perils of the outside world forms a bewitching backdrop. The series explores themes like control, censorship and the pursuit of truth.

Essayed by Rebecca Ferguson, Juliette Nichols is a blue-collar mechanic. She lives at the lowest levels of the silo and is fiercely driven to discover the truth about the silo and the outside world.

The plot is given an additional dimension by Rashida Jones and David Oyelowo as Allison and Sheriff Holston. It’s distressing to see them try to conceive and fail owing to the silo’s child-bearing rules.

The juxtaposition between the confined, controlled environment of the silo and the unknowable perils of the outside world forms a bewitching backdrop as the series explores themes like control, censorship and the pursuit of truth.

Then there’s Common, who plays Robert Sims, the chief of security for The Judicial. The viewer is never quite sure what he’s up to. The talented cast succeed in evoking interest in the series from the start.

But it’s not just the actors and the characters, the silo itself is hypnotising. It is a claustrophobic, self-sustaining underground society with such attention to detail in the set design that it is mind-blowing.

As one watches this underground structure over the course of ten episodes, one can almost smell the grime and feel the weight of history bearing down on its residents.

The central mystery of Silo holds the audience in suspense at every turn. Why was the entire history of mankind destroyed? What happened to the outside world? The show does a phenomenal job of providing just enough information to keep the audience hooked without giving away too much.

Thrown into this odd underground society with the characters, the viewer cannot help but anticipate uncovering the silo’s secrets. It is absolutely riveting, a bit like being on a discovery quest with a group of interesting characters as companions.

The plot is always one step ahead but not so far ahead that one should lose interest. The writing is truly top-notch. It’s the kind of narration that keeps one on the edge of their seat.

Silo’s charm? Sooner than later, one finds oneself watching episode after episode because one simply cannot stop. The series gets the viewers to reflect on the contemporary world. Control, censorship, and revision of history are themes that have a strong contemporary resonance and Silo doesn’t hold back in addressing these.

Who decides what historical events are important? Who is in charge of information flow? These are issues that the characters struggle with. These are also issues that viewers are compelled to think about.

The show feels tremendously relevant, especially in an age where information is controlled and manipulated. As a cautionary tale, it is extremely relatable.

Silo is a must-see even if one is not into sci-fi because there are no regrets about getting lost in this captivating underground world. The series has a fantastic cast, an arresting plotline and a setting as immersive as it is perplexing. Once the play button is hit, one is in for a wild ride.

The author is a freelance contributor