Juliette’s mysterious companion in Silo 17 finally reveals himself.

Last week I complained that the second episode of the new series of Silo had dropped the ball by moving away from Juliette’s struggle for survival in the seemingly deserted Silo 17 and focusing on the byzantine comings and goings of the neighbouring community. In part 3, thankfully we’re back where the action is, and Steve Zahn finally emerges – identifying himself as ‘Solo’ – nervous and uncertain, having been locked away on his own for what we suspect may have been decades.

It’s gripping stuff, with Juliette having to negotiate Solo’s fragility and sensitivity in her realisation that she somehow has to return to Silo 18 before disaster strikes.

Zahn and Rebecca Ferguson are actors who can easily sustain these two-handed scenes and the ebb and flow of their growing relationship keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat. Unfortunately we are now cutting between the two silos.

My issue with the Silo 18 strand is that I’m not really sure who everyone is, nor whose side I’m supposed to be on, nor whether I particularly care what happens to any of them. If I were Juliette I wouldn’t bother, and just let them get on with it and make the best of it with Solo as long as she can get him to have a shower. It’s an effort not to fast forward through those bits just to get back to Zahn and Ferguson whose drama I understand and whose fate feels emotionally important.

Verdict: I’m still in for the long haul but I hope that upcoming episodes can make me care a lot more about both sides of what ought to be a thoroughly engrossing story.

8/10 for Silo 17.  6/10 for Silo 18

Martin Jameson

www.ninjamarmoset.com