Let’s talk about season 2 of Silo, especially that excellent finale

U first season of Silo it was special. Created by Graham Yost and based on the books by Hugh Howey, the Apple TV+ show has found just the right balance of social issues and cool sci-fi mystery, all of which unfold on fantastic sets, with large-scale set pieces and fun action to boot. Everything pointed to a second season which continues on that path. Alas, with the second season coming to an end, we have to say it was a disappointment. Ten episodes full of repetitive time wasters that thankfully led to a satisfying ending with a terribly enticing final joke.

Most of Silo The second season felt like it was the same two stories over and over again. In the mysterious other silo, Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson) kept going back and forth with Solo (Steve Zahn) about a bunch of different things. And in the main silo, the down-deepers-led by Mechanical-were increasingly frustrated with the up-toppers, led by the head of IT, Bernard (Tim Robbins), which lead to the threat and ultimately , the mountain of a riot.

Week to week, one story would be a little more interesting than the other, almost like a seesaw where things would go up and down but really go nowhere. That slowly began to change in the last few episodes, leading to the finale when Mechanical came up with a very good plan to try to take over the silo and when Juliette – finally and happily – made it back to her silo. Throughout the season, the audience continued to learn interesting things about the world. How many silos were there, where the relics are kept, who knows what, etc. All the things we want to know. But we rarely got to see the crucial characters learn or share this knowledge, which was frustrating. She was ready to change with the return of Juliette, unless the finale ended before she could meet again with everyone else. That’s good. We can wait.

Most excitingly, however, Juliette’s long-awaited return was not the end of the season. The end of the season was a flashback that raised all kinds of issues and questions in a way that made us remember why we were watching. Silo in the first place.

The final scene of the second season takes place in a much more modern Washington DC, as a young congressman named Donald (Ashley Zukerman, best known for the Road of fear movies) goes to a bar to meet a reporter named Helen (Jessica Henwick da Game of Thrones and Iron fist). Now, right off the bat, considering that society is still functioning, we are on our feet because we are going in time. How it binds Silo?

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

Soon, Donald realizes that this is not the blind date he thought it was and we have the greatest information. Helen wants to talk to him about something more serious. Mainly, whether or not retaliation against Iran will come and whether an inciting “radiological weapons attack” has occurred. (This immediately made us think of the great revelation of Fall out the first season where we learn… something I don’t want to spoil here if you haven’t seen itbut it seems that this link between corrupt governments and the safety of the underground society is important. That’s where Silo are you going I digress.)

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 Pez dispenser of a rubber duck. Presumably, the same one who now lives 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. A nice touch.)

Okay, so there’s a lot to digest, and here’s what we know. This is actually a flashback to some of the first steps of the child in the origins of the silos, which is the main focus of the second book in the series of Hugh Howey. Most of that book is the story of the creation of the silos and Donald is a key player in that. And, since we now know both Zukerman and Henwick will be series regulars in the third season Silo, we can safely say that’s where it’s going next season. In addition, assuming that this is the same Pez dispenser now owned by the son (Common) of Mr. Sims, Helen or his family do in that silo. Why did he keep it? Perhaps it reminded them of the human-led global change that gave it to them. As 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 . Juliette is back 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.

All that is very exciting. Almost enough, frankly, to allow us to forgive the largely disappointing second season and get excited about it third, and then fourth and finalseasons of Silo will hold I agree ? Let us know below.

Want more io9 news? Check when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Warsand Star Trek free, what is next for the DC Universe in film and TVand everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.