With no official release window or date for Silo season 3, it is hard not to feel a little frustrated by the long wait after season 2. Fortunately, it will all be worth it because season 3 will introduce one beneficial book change.
From season 1 itself, Silo has not shied away from bringing many changes to the original Hugh Howey books. It not only added new characters to the mix but gave irrelevant ones from the book major roles in its narrative. It even introduced concepts like “the Syndrome” and “Flamekeepers” to add another layer of intrigue to the original story.
The biggest book change in the Apple TV sci-fi show, however, is yet to come in season 3, which will surprisingly benefit it in more ways than one.
Silo Season 3 Will Significantly Change The Hugh Howey Books In 1 Good Way
Silo season 2’s ending aligns with that of the first book, Wool, from the original Hugh Howey trilogy. Owing to this, it would be fair to say that the show’s seasons 3 and 4 will adapt the remaining two books: Shift and Dust. Viewers familiar with the books would know that Shift unfolds more like a spinoff/prequel that walks through the history of the central setting and reveals the origins of the titular silos.
Since Shift‘s story takes place several decades before Wool, most characters from the first book’s Silo 18 setting do not show up in its story. Juliette, too, appears in its final arc when it jumps back to the present timeline.
If Silo season 3 was closely adapting the books and following their story chronology, it would also not feature Juliette almost throughout its runtime. Interestingly, though, the show is taking a different approach. Instead of focusing entirely on the past for an entire season, the show will jump back and forth in time and balance past revelations with new developments.
Book changes are not welcomed and often feel unnecessary. This change, however, ensures that while revealing the truth about the silos’ history and purpose, the Apple TV sci-fi show does not sideline the central characters that have made it so compelling in the first place.
Silo’s Book Change Will Ensure Season 3’s Long Wait Is Worth It
If Silo season 3 had been planned as a closer adaptation of the books and unfolded more as a spin-off with no recurring characters from seasons 1 and 2, many viewers would have likely found the shift in focus jarring. The fact that most viewers have spent two seasons growing increasingly attached to Juliette and the residents of Silo 18 and Silo 17 would have made this sudden change even more confusing. It would be like watching a different show altogether.
By keeping core characters in the mix, the series can maintain continuity while still expanding its larger lore.
This change in the show’s approach towards adapting the Silo books ensures it continues the existing narrative momentum and does not risk being too detached from the characters and conflicts that audiences have already invested in.