HBO's Sci-Fi Alternative for Apple TV's 'Silo' Is Being Reclaimed by Viewers

Since its premiere in 2023, Apple TV’s sci-fi show Silo has been hailed as the ideal book-to-screen adaptation. With just two seasons under its belt, the Rebecca Ferguson-led series has positioned itself as a strong competitor in Apple TV’s robust sci-fi lineup, which includes hits like For All Mankind, Severance, and Pluribus. The streamer has doubled down on its commitment, ordering two more seasons.

While the third season undergoes some technical touches, HBO’s better version, Station Eleven, is seeing renewed interest. Close to five years after fans said goodbye to Traveling Symphony, Station Eleven is back on streaming charts. The series first appeared on iTunes last month, but it’s now quickly rising on HBO Max, ranking ninth at the time of writing. Created by The Leftovers‘ Patrick Sommerville and based on Emily St. John Mandel‘s book of the same name, Station Eleven is another indictment of humanity in a world where society’s rules have broken down.

While both shows share many similarities, they have entirely different outlooks on humanity. Silo is a pessimistic, courageous, and flawed exploration, while Station Eleven is more optimistic yet still courageous and flawed. This might be why the latter has a near-perfect score of 98% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Silo traps the last remnants of humanity in storied dwellings where they must fight the biggest monsters: other humans. Station Eleven is more about survival and healing through art. Despite their varying motives, Silo and Station Eleven are anchored by performances from some great actors. Ferguson leads the Silo cast as Juliette, the engineer-turned-revolutionary. She receives additional support from Common, Tim Robbins, Chinaza Uche, Ian Glen, Harriet Walter, and others. In Station Eleven, Halt and Catch Fire‘s anchor Mackenzie Davis leads the cast that includes Himesh Patel (The Franchise), Daniel Zovatto (Here and Now), David Wilmot, Matilda Lawler, and more. You’ll also occasionally see Gael Garcia Bernal (Coco) and Danielle Deadwyler (Till).

When Does ‘Silo’ Return?

The show does not yet have a return date, but Apple TV has assured fans that Hugh Howey‘s books will make it to the small screen over the next several years. “As we look to seasons three and four of this ambitious, character-driven sci-fi series, which will conclude Juliette Nichols’ journey and complete Hugh Howey’s epic trilogy of novels. We can’t wait for everyone to experience more of the show’s powerful performances led by the incomparable Rebecca Ferguson, as well as the unexpected twists, turns and surprises that we’ve come to expect from this very human story,” Matt Cherniss, head of programming at Apple TV, said.

Watch Station Eleven on HBO Max in the US and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.