The labyrinthine production of Apple TV’s Silo

The complexity is compounded by the show’s non-linear shooting schedule. To prevent plot holes, actors like Alexandria Riley rely on daily "story time" sessions with directors to track where their characters stand in the narrative. Others, such as Rebecca Ferguson, lean on the hair-and-makeup department to monitor physical continuity, noting that minor changes in scars or burns create massive ripple effects in the story. Meanwhile, Common and Riley conducted private rehearsals to ensure their onscreen relationship remained grounded despite the fractured filming process.

Adding to the challenge, the show has diverged significantly from Hugh Howey’s source novels. Actors like Ashley Zukerman have found that the books offer little guidance, as the series updates plotlines to address modern concerns like AI and elevates characters like Juliette to fit a four-season arc. For newcomer Jessica Henwick, the solution was total immersion in ignorance; she avoided reading scripts outside of her own scenes to preserve the viewing experience. With filming for the final two seasons wrapped, the cast is relieved to be finished with the logistical demands—and for Ferguson, the physical ones. "I fucking hated running up and down those stairs," she says.