Warning: Spoilers ahead forSiloseason 2.Silo’s mines are often shrouded in mystery and only mentioned in specific circumstances, but the show quietly reveals enough about the location to make them just the right level of enigmatic. The mines are discussed by several members of theSilocastbut rarely in a positive light. So, despite the importance of the setting, it’s not considered a desirable destination for the residents of the show’s titular structure. As one of the grittiestApple TV+ sci-fi shows,Siloboasting a location like the mines is certainly on brand.
Despite severalSilobook changes, the adaptation has largely remained faithful to the series of novels by Hugh Howey. So, most of what happens onscreen can be found in the pages of the source material. This includes the mines. Apple TV+’s method ofdrip-feeding information aboutSilo’s mines is a brilliant way to build tension, but it can also lead to impatience in the best possible way. Sometimes, such a slow delivery method of lore can be frustrating, but that doesn’t mean it’s not effective.
The Mines Are Located In Silo 18
They’re below the show’s titular structure
Although they’ve yet to appear onscreen, the show’s “main” silo, Silo 18, is built atop the mines. So, they’re at the very bottom of the structure. After Juliette’s discovery of the other identical silos that surround her own, it’s reasonable to assume that all the others also have access to the mines, but this is also difficult to confirm without further evidence.The method of reaching the mines is also unknown, but the characters presumably need to travel through the lower levels to access them.
If the other silos do have access to the mines, a complex network of tunnels may exist that connect all the communities underground.
The mines loom over the larger narrativerather than being an active part of it. That being said, the fact they continue to arise in conversation suggests they will eventually become far more important to the story over time. If the other silos do have access to the mines, a complex network of tunnels may exist that connect all the communities underground, which would be huge for many reasons.
Being Sent To The Mines Is A Form Of Punishment In Silo
Possession of an unregistered Relic is one example of a crime deemed worthy of a spell in the mines
Silo 18 is a complete society, which means it also has a way of punishing those who stray from the Pact or otherwise become a nuisance to other inhabitants or the higher-ups, such as Judicial. Possession of an unregistered Relic is also likely to result in being sentenced to work in the mines, and those sentences can be for a very long time. For instance,Avi Nash’s Lukas Kyle is sentenced to a decade of working in the mines.
The Real Purpose Of Cleaning In Silo Explained
Since “the cleaning” is one of the biggest drivers of many crucial stories in Silo, viewers may be curious about its purpose and origins in the show.
Although Lukas has his sentence reduced to five years, Tanya Moodie’s Judge Meadows later reveals to Silo 18’s mayor that Nash’s character is unlikely to even last a year down there. So, the conditions in the mines paired with the strenuous enforced labor seem to border on a death sentence framed as service to the silo. That being said, even the threat of a stint in the mines is often enough to keep almost everyone in line. While it may be inhumane, such a fate being possible is unfortunately very effective as far asSilo’s preventative measures go.
Iron Ore Is Being Mined In Silo 18’s Mines
Silo 18 always needs more metal
The silos were designed to be self-contained societies. As such, the communities within have the facilities to be self-sufficient without the need to go outside. They grow their own food, make their own clothes, and provide everything else for themselves they need to survive, and also to keep themselves occupied. To allow this ongoing means of production,Silo 18 needs a constant stream of metal, which isn’t as easy to produce as planting a tree, for example. So, those sent down to the mines are tasked with extracting iron ore, which is then used to make metal.
In short,Silohas a terrifyingly effective way of maintaining the mining workforce while also keeping order.
The necessity for miners is one of many unfortunate realities of silo life. Most jobs in Silo 18 generally don’t come with very much risk, butfinding people to voluntarily work in the mines has proven to be impossibledue to the risk of death and the intensity of the labor required on an ongoing basis. Therefore, it’s no surprise that it’s used as a punishment, and it allows those in charge to bend the rules and laws whenever more hands are needed. In short,Silohas a terrifyingly effective way of maintaining the mining workforce while also keeping order.
Silo
Cast
In a dystopian future, men and women reside in a vast underground silo governed by strict regulations, believed to shield them from the hazardous world above. The series delves into the complex social order within the silo and the mysteries surrounding their subterranean existence.
