| This article is about an episode in the first season. You may be looking for Freedom Day, an annual event held in the Silo. |
Freedom Day is the first episode of the first season of Silo and the first episode of the series overall. It was released on May 5, 2023 along with the second episode, Holston's Pick.
Synopsis[edit | edit source]
Sheriff Becker's plans for the future are thrown off course after his wife meets a hacker with information about the silo.
Plot[edit | edit source]
The inaugural episode of "Silo" opens with Holston, a man of authority, adorning his sheriff badge and organizing his surroundings. The action he's about to take will initiate a series of seismic shifts. He steps into the immense subterranean complex where a considerable population resides.
Inhabiting a colossal silo, the community is oblivious to their mission and the reason for their existence here. They remain uncertain about when it will be safe to step out into the world. For now, the outdoors is off-limits.
Sheriff Holston makes his way to Section 3, peering out the window. He secures the door from inside and flings the keys out, sharing his longing to step outside and reunite with his cherished one with Morris. For the moment, he has isolated himself and chosen to rest.
Upon the arrival of the Deputy, Holston expresses his desire to venture into the open. A flashback takes us to a time when Holston was with his companion, Allison. The couple is attempting to conceive, and the prospects seem promising. They are on their third and final trial as Allison is now 38. After the removal of her birth control implant, they brace themselves for the journey ahead.
During a meal, Gloria, an elderly woman known for manipulation, insists on meeting Allison. Holston is opposed to this, dismissing Gloria as a deceiver. However, as time progresses, this concern fades, and the couple perseveres in their attempts to conceive.
Allison, a journalist by profession, finds herself being admonished by her superior, Bernard, for her transgressions. She has been probing into forbidden topics such as the rebels and the "before times," violating the Pact that prohibits such inquiries. This troubles Sheriff Holston, whose duty is to ensure the silo's doors remain tightly sealed to prevent outside intrusion.
Having lived in the silo for an extended period, the exterior view is increasingly obscured by dirt and grime. Meanwhile, Gloria privately confronts Allison, suggesting something unsettling is happening outside the silo and recognizing Allison's curiosity.
Gloria insinuates a possible conspiracy, questioning whether the authorities genuinely want Allison to conceive. Despite this, Allison and Holston persist in their efforts to have a child, even going to lengths such as making love in the workplace!
While this situation brews, Allison encounters George Wilkins, a repairman covertly operating to avoid detection. He has discovered an ancient drive, believed to have been destroyed, that dates back over 140 years. This find disrupts their understanding of their history and the information they've been given. Amidst this revelation, the rest of the silo celebrates "Freedom Day," paying homage to their Judicial leaders.
As the Mayor delivers a stirring speech recalling the rebellion's horror and its destructive aftermath, Allison and George discover the silo's blueprints on the recovered drive. Overwhelmed, Allison urges George to destroy the forbidden relic.
As Allison grows increasingly disenchanted with the silo's proceedings, she embarks on a quest to uncover hidden truths, moving between Gloria and George. A video found during this pursuit reveals shocking footage of birds flying outside the silo, captured by a cleaner named Jane. This revelation distances Allison from Holston, leading her to confess that she's struggling but will eventually recover.
Unfortunately, their year of trying to conceive ends without success, and Allison fails to show up for their clinic appointment. She reveals to Holston that her birth control was never removed, evidenced by the bloody knife and the implant on the table. In a panic, Holston rushes to seek medical assistance.
In the meantime, Allison, no longer in their cabin, causes a scene in the cafeteria, demanding everyone's attention. When ignored, she announces her desire to go outside—a crime within the confines of the Silo. As a consequence, she is arrested.
As a result of Allison's actions, George Wilkins and Gloria are interrogated due to their associations with her. Holston theorizes that Allison's strange behavior is a response to the stress of their unsuccessful attempts to conceive. Despite his assumptions, Allison is fully conscious of her situation and suspects that the images displayed within the Silo have been manipulated to discourage them from venturing out. She's determined to uncover the truth.
Prepared to face the outside world, Allison is tasked with cleaning the Silo's exterior. She believes she will survive, a thought that Holston finds hard to accept. He fulfills his duty, reading the oath that reiterates the safety of the inside and the dangers of the outside. After declaring her love for him, Allison gets ready to step out.
Holston reluctantly closes the massive door, cutting off Allison's access to the Silo. However, the viewers are left in suspense about what lies outside due to a long climb to the surface.
At the supposed window in the cafeteria, Allison begins cleaning. With a clearer view, she steps away from the Silo, only to collapse near a twisted tree. Has she died? This question hangs in the air, promising to be answered in upcoming episodes.
The narrative jumps ahead two years. Holston's life has crumbled. George Wilkins, transferred to the mechanical department a year ago, appears to have died under suspicious circumstances. Juliette Nicholls, an engineer who believes this is a case of murder, is in contact with Holston.
Now Holston, determined to uncover the truth, must navigate his current timeline, which seems to be as complicated as the one he left behind.
Cast and Characters[edit | edit source]
Main Cast[edit | edit source]
- Rashida Jones as Allison Becker
- David Oyelowo as Holston Becker
- Common as Robert Sims (credit only)
- Tim Robbins as Bernard Holland
- Rebecca Ferguson as Juliette Nichols
Guest Starring[edit | edit source]
- Will Patton as Deputy Sam Marnes
- Geraldine James as Mayor Ruth Jahns
- Sophie Thompson as Gloria Hildebrandt
- Ferdinand Kingsley as George Wilkins
- Shane McRae as Knox
- Billy Postlethwaite as Hank
- Chipo Chung as Sandy
- Remmie Milner as Shirley Campbell
- Matt Gomez Hidaka as Cooper
- Peter Gadiot as Mechanical Engineer
Co-Starring[edit | edit source]
- Olatunji Ayofe as Teddy
- Georgia Goodman as Karen
- Paul Bigley as Dr. Leonard
- James Palmer as Jim
- Krishan Naidoo as Porter 1
- James McGregor as Villain
- Levi Goldmeier as Hero
- Indigo Griffiths as Heroine
- Anna Siow as Cafeteria Worker