Apple TV+’s sci-fi dystopian series Silo returned with its second season on November 15, 2024. Based on Hugh Howey’s novels, the show tells the story of Juliette Nichols, an engineer-turned-sheriff who lives in an underground silo along with 10,000 people after toxic waste fills up the world outside.
The show deviates significantly from its source novels, so much so that episodes were drawn from single sentences in Howey’s first book, Wool. The creatives have never shied away from addressing these inaccuracies in the show.
Series creator Graham Yost has opened up about why the narrative of Silo changes drastically from the source material, citing that the novels serve as a ‘big box of a story’ from which they can get ideas for the Apple TV+ show.
Silo creator says he only takes ideas from Hugh Howey’s books
Silo creator Graham Yost recently had an interaction with The Hollywood Reporter, where he highlighted why he does not believe in faithfully adapting Hugh Howey’s books into the Apple TV+ series.
Yost said he feels the three Silo books are a ‘big box of a story’ and a ‘non-chronological idea binder’ that serves as an inspiration for the show’s narrative. He added that it is fun to work in that world.
The creator further highlighted that it is important to love the source material to adapt it for the screen. Citing the example of The Lord of the Rings, Yost said:
“You have to love the underlying material. New Line took such a huge risk saying yes to Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings,” he says, “but I think it was clear from the first meeting that he loved the books, and it was clear to the fans that he loved the books. It would be pointless to do it if you don’t.”
However, in another interview, Yost added that while Silo season 1 differed greatly from Wool, the novel it is based on, the second season will follow the book a little closely as Juliette’s story continues. He told TVLine:
“In Season 1, we had to build out a whole thing with the mystery of the death of George; that was one line in the book, and we made a season out of it because we needed to give Juliette a drive. But Season 2, especially the Juliette story, is close to what happens in the book.”
The showrunner also advised the viewers not to read the books if they did not want the mystery to be spoiled. He joked:
“I usually try and say [that] sitting right next to [author] Hugh Howey. Buy copies of the book, but don’t read them yet.”
The differences between the Silo books and TV show
The Silo novel series features three books: Wool, Shift, and Dust. The first season of the Apple TV+ show is adapted from the first half of Wool, and the second season is based on the second half. However, in the TV adaptation, the plot largely focuses on Juliette Nichols’s boyfriend George’s murder mystery.
In the book; however, the murder arc is mentioned in a single sentence. Other differences include the addition of The Syndrome, an illness in the show that causes tremors. The disease raises the stakes for characters like Paul, who does not even exist in the books.
Another change is Walker, who was an older man in the books but is now a motherly figure played by Harriet Walter. This makes her relationship with Juliette more emotional and supportive.
Trending
Meanwhile, Relics from the past are central to the show’s mystery but do not play a significant role in the novels. At the same time, Bernard Holland, played by Tim Robbins, is more mysterious in the show as compared to the source material.
Silo season 2 airs on Apple TV+ on Fridays.
Reply
