The fact that Silo is ending with season 4 almost guarantees that the next two installments of the Apple TV+ series will avoid repeating season 2's biggest storytelling mistake. Silo season 1 rose in the ranks to become one of Apple TV+'s most successful sci-fi shows because it managed to keep viewers on their toes throughout its runtime. By unfolding one mystery after another, Silo season 1 perfectly displayed the scope of its source's overarching storyline while immersing viewers in its dark post-apocalyptic world.

Silo season 2 initially continued the first installment's momentum by starting on a strong note. It not only intrigued viewers with the introduction of new characters like Solo but also expanded the franchise's lore by revealing a lot about the hierarchy of power in Silo 18. Unfortunately, the more Silo season 2 progressed, the more it faltered. Although Apple TV+ sci-fi show's next two seasons will avoid having the same issue.

Silo Ending With Season 4 Forces The Show To Cover Two Books In Two Seasons

Silo Season 2's Ending Aligns With The First Book's Conclusion

There are three books in Hugh Howey's original Silo trilogy: Wool, Shift, and Dust. Surprisingly, instead of covering more than one book in its first two seasons, Silo only adapts the story beats from Wool in seasons 1 and 2. While Silo season 1 went a little beyond the halfway mark of the first novel, season 2 bloated its runtime with the remaining arcs from the novel along with several original story beats. While only time will tell how the show will adapt the remaining story arcs from the books, it seems likely that seasons 3 and 4 will have no room for fillers like season 2.

Silo season 2 managed to earn critical acclaim because of its performances, relatable character beats, and compelling closing arcs. However, many viewers could not help but complain about Juliette's story because of how slowly it unfolded. For several episodes, the season only walked through Juliette's struggles with returning to Silo 18. This made Silo season 2 seem redundant and often quite tedious before its final arc finally moved the narrative flywheels.

Since it has now been confirmed that the Apple TV+ series will end its run with four seasons, Silo only has two more seasons to adapt the remaining two books from the Hugh Howey trilogy. With so much ground left to cover, it seems unlikely that the show will have enough time to introduce more fillers and explore unnecessary subplots. After season 2, Silo will likely deviate from the source material in more ways than one. However, it will still have many underlying story beats and mysteries to resolve in seasons 3 and 4, preventing it from repeating season 2's mistake.

Silo Will Likely Avoid Following Its Source Material's Storytelling Structure

This Change Will Allow It To Cover Two Books In Two Seasons

At its current pace, it would be fair to say that Silo will struggle to cover all the story beats from the original novels. However, it seems unlikely that the show will loyally follow the storytelling structure laid out by the novels. Hugh Howey's second Silo book, Shift, unfolds more like a spin-off that harkens back in time and explores the origins of the titular silos. It introduces a new set of characters and gradually unfolds all the overarching conspiracies and political developments that led to the silos' construction.

While the show's past timeline will disclose the secrets behind the silos' history, the present will focus on Juliette's efforts to save herself and her people.

For obvious reasons, the show cannot take the same approach as the book because audiences would expect Juliette and other main characters to appear in all Silo seasons. Owing to this, it seems likely that Silo's remaining two seasons will go back and forth in time to unfold two parallel timelines. While the show's past timeline will disclose the secrets behind the silos' history, the present will focus on Juliette's efforts to save herself and her people. With this approach, Silo will comfortably cover both Shift and Dust in the remaining two installments.