Two of the Best Written Sci-Fi Shows are Currently Airing, But Are You Watching Them?

When it comes to Sci-Fi shows on TV and streaming networks, we don't always get a lot of great options, but currently, there are two such shows, which can be said to be the best written Sci-Fi shows I have seen in a long time.

The second season of FROM is currently ongoing on MGM+, while Silo based on Hugh Howey's novel series is currently streaming on Apple TV+. Both shows have three episodes of their respective seasons released. One new episode of FROM is available every Sunday, and Apple TV+ releases one new episode of Silo every Friday. So, let's discuss what makes these two shows distinct from the others.

FROM - MGM+

The first season of FROM premiered last year and I called it one of the most underrated shows ever. It has all the surprising and intriguing elements that are needed in a sci-fi horror series. The show's premise was very similar to LOST and the fact that it comes from the same creators, it was expected to happen. Created by John Griffin and produced by Jack Bender (Lost, Game of Thrones) and Jeff Pinkner (Lost, Alias, Fringe), the series which stars Harold Perrineau (LOST) in the leading role, unravels the mystery of a nightmarish town that traps all those who enter. Sounds familiar?

In LOST, a group of passengers were trapped on a mysterious island after their plane crashed. They tried everything but there was no way to escape the island, and as they spent more time, they found more dark secrets and monsters lurking in the shadows. FROM is not so different as the town has all those elements, the only difference is that the monsters are out in the open every night and everyone living there knows how to handle them. But that doesn't make it less exciting as the biggest mystery of how they are trapped there always forces the characters to do and think out of the box, which even puts their life in danger.

 

The first season mainly introduces us to the monsters, while also unraveling the dark mysteries surrounding the town. Harold Perrineau's Boyd tries to find out what lies beyond the forest but gets trapped in a well at the end of the first season. The second season picks up right there as a group of new visitors arrives in a passenger bus as they get trapped with everyone else.

The second season is going well so far. I saw and reviewed the third episode last Sunday and so far it has maintained the pace and the mystery created by the first season. So if you are looking for an option in the genre or you are a LOST fan, I would recommend you to watch FROM on MGM+ as it will fulfill your expectations.

Silo - Apple TV+

Based on Hugh Howey’s Silo series, the first season is based on Wool, the first book series in the trilogy. The series premiered on May 5 on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes, while the third episode was released on May 12. With only three episodes, it will be hard to judge an entire show, but I already saw all the episodes last month, so I am in a better position to say that this show is worth your time every week. Though Apple TV+ has the streaming rights, the show is produced by AMC Studios.

"Silo" is a dystopian sci-fi series about the last ten thousand people on Earth, who live in a mile-deep tunnel to protect themselves from supposedly a toxic and deadly world outside. However, no one knows when or why the silo was built, and anyone who tries to find out risks being killed. Rebecca Ferguson leads the series as Juliette, a hardworking engineer who seeks answers about the murder of a loved one and stumbles upon a mystery that is far deeper than she could have ever imagined, leading her to discover that if lies don't kill you, the truth will. In the first two episodes, Ferguson doesn't have a big role to play, but from the third episode onwards, she gets most of the screen time.

However, Silo is not 100% true to the novel as there are few changes and it is safe to say that they are for the better. Juliette's lover (George) whose murder made her do detective work doesn't exist in the original novel. However, George's existence in the show certainly gives Juliette a meaningful purpose. In the books, people living in the confined space of Silo wear uniforms according to their job profile, however, the show doesn't have any such rules and the mile-deep tunnel doesn't seem to be an unhealthy place to live. The people are also not suffering from any Vitamin D deficiency which they should have as they haven't been exposed to Sun their whole life.

Apart from these minor changes, the show begins its journey the same as the books. The first season ends on an intriguing point, which points out that the second season may deviate from the source material. The second book series from Hugh Howey, Shift is a prequel story to the Wool and doesn't include any of the characters present in Wool. However, Silo Season 1 has adopted an approach that you would have already noticed it divides each of the episodes into two timelines - past and present, and connect the dots at the end. It will be more evident in the upcoming episodes.

So if the show officially picks up a renewal, Season 2 is likely to combine the remaining two novels - "Shift" and "Dust" and continues the story in two timelines. The Wool series by Hugh Howey hasn't ended yet as the author is currently writing the next novel. However, if the show gets popular, we may get a few more seasons, which may not be based on the books.

 

The first three episodes of Silo are currently streaming on Apple TV+, with the fourth episode dropping on May 19. The show is for mind-bending and slow-burn sci-fi lovers. Each episode will make you more excited for the next while also raising more questions about the conditions outside the Silo. It is definitely recommended if you want to invest your time in something which will make you a detective while keeping you guessing for an hour every week.

Both FROM and Silo are on platforms that don't have a huge subscriber base like Netflix or Prime Video. However, FROM is also available to watch on Prime Video in many countries exposing it to a large group of audience. The third season of FROM is already reported to be in the works while Apple TV+ has been very consistent with giving a chance to their new releases with good feedback. So we can conclude that both the shows are not only worth your time but also your involvement as they are likely to get picked up for more seasons.