I'm Concerned Apple TV+'s Silo May Not Be Able To Cover All 3 Hugh Howey Books In Four Seasons
Even though Apple TV+'s Silo has been incredibly gripping, I am concerned whether it will be able to walk through all three Hugh Howey books in four seasons at its current pace. Like many book-to-television adaptations, Silo has not shied away from taking many creative liberties and drifting away from its source material. However, despite this, the show stays true to the essence of the original books, perfectly capturing the political intrigue, action, and compelling mystery drama of Hugh Howey's stories.
So far, Silo has had no dull moments and kept me invested in all of its story and character beats. Although Juliette's arc has not progressed much in season 2, the show has found creative ways to keep me hooked by making her face one challenge after another throughout its run. However, despite being content with how the Apple TV+ sci-fi show has unfolded so far, I cannot help but question its pace. Considering the narrative ground Silo seasons 1 and 2 have covered, it is hard for me to believe that four seasons will be enough for the show to explore all arcs from the original Silo books.
It Has Taken 2 Seasons To Cover Two Silo Books
Silo Season 2 Does Not Have Time To Cover Anything Beyond The First Novel
Hugh Howey's Silo book series consists of three installments: Wool, Shift, and Dust. While Silo season 1 covers a little over half of the first book, Wool, in its 10-episode runtime, season 2 adapts the remaining chapters of the same name. Even though Silo season 2 still has two more episodes before it ends its run, it seems unlikely it will be able to adapt anything beyond the first book in the original trilogy. Given how Apple TV+ has confirmed that season 4 will mark the end of the series, I am concerned that the remaining two seasons will struggle to adapt two whole books.
Name of Silo book | Parts |
Wool |
|
Shift |
|
Dust | Serves as a singular book. |
When Silo season 2 was first announced, I could not help but believe it would wind up the remaining chapters of Wool in its first half and jump ahead to the second book, Shift. Since Shift unfolds more as a spin-off that reveals the history and origins of the titular silos, it would also have made sense if Silo season 2 had gradually portrayed its events through flashbacks. However, season 2 has stretched the second half of Wool's story to fit it into its 10-episode runtime, leaving two books for seasons 3 and 4 to adapt.
Silo Seasons 3 & 4 Will Face The Challenge Of Adapting One Book Each
They Might Have To Skip Some Story Arcs
All three books in the Silo trilogy are almost equal when it comes to the length and depth of their storytelling. Owing to this, if it has taken two Silo seasons to merely cover one book, it should logically take four more seasons for the show to walk through all the story developments from Shift and Dust. However, since Silo will only have a total of four seasons, seasons 3 and 4 bear the responsibility of adapting one book each to be able to explore all the important plot developments from the remaining Hugh Howey books.
I can see how this could spell trouble for the Apple TV+ sci-fi show because it will have to significantly increase its pace in seasons 3 and 4 to cover the remaining two books. An increased pace and a limited runtime might also force the show's creators to floss over crucial character developments and plot points, which could disappoint many viewers familiar with Hugh Howey's novels. A sudden shift in pace could also reduce the emotional heft and impact of many key moments from the overarching story, making the show less memorable than the books.
How Apple TV+'s Silo Can Avoid Pacing Issues In Future Seasons
The Second Book's Story Can Be Saved For A Spin-Off Series
Since the second Silo book, Shift, features a new set of characters and unfolds a completely different timeline than Wool and Dust, its story can be covered through a spin-off show. This would allow the remaining Silo seasons to comfortably cover the final book in the trilogy. However, the problem with this approach would be that the Apple TV+ show would risk not resolving many unanswered questions about the titular structures' origins and purpose in the parent series.
Silo seasons 3 and 4 can also avoid taking the books' approach and gradually reveal the events of Shift through flashbacks.
As a viewer, I would be disappointed ifseason 4's credits rolled before revealing the truth about the world of Silo and what happened to it before the underground structures were built. Siloseasons 3 and 4 can also avoid taking the books' approach and gradually reveal the events of Shift through flashbacks. While this could work wonders, it may again cause pacing issues since seasons 3 and 4 may not have enough time to cover every detail from the two remaining books.
In a dystopian future, men and women reside in a vast underground silo governed by strict regulations, believed to shield them from the hazardous world above. The series delves into the complex social order within the silo and the mysteries surrounding their subterranean existence.
- Cast
- Rebecca Ferguson, Common, Tim Robbins, Harriet Walter, Christian Ochoa Lavernia, Avi Nash, Billy Postlethwaite, Chinaza Uche, Iain Glen, Remmie Milner, David Oyelowo, Rick Gomez, Ferdinand Kingsley, Shane McRae, Chipo Chung, Caitlin Zoz, Matt Gomez Hidaka, Angela Yeoh, Olatunji Ayofe, Khairika Sinani, Will Patton, Akie Kotabe
- Showrunner
- Graham Yost
- Directors
- Morten Tyldum, David Semel
- Seasons
- 2
- Streaming Service(s)
- AppleTV+
