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What is The Syndrome in Rebecca Ferguson’s Silo Season 2?

Published on November 28, 2024
Written by:
Ishita Chatterjee
Ishita Chatterjee
Streaming Staff Editor
Silo Season 2 (Credit- Apple TV)

Rebecca Ferguson’s Silo season 2 is surprising everyone with its twists and turns, however, fans are not quite sure about a new element introduced in the show- The Syndrome. Silo is based on the series of sci-fi dystopian books by Hugh Howey but this mysterious illness is not present in the books. 

The show centers on the people living in a cylindrical underground bunker beneath the surface of the Earth and under the thumb of a constantly lying government. Rebecca Ferguson's Juliette, an engineer, slowly begins peeling back the layers of lies as she tries to discover the truth of the world everyone is hiding. 

At the end of season one, she steps out of her Silo and finds out that the outside world is barren and poisonous. The green earth shown to them was just a projection. Now, in season 2, new adventures await her as she will have to journey back to her Silo to save her people and let them know what’s the actual truth of the outside world. 

In this article, we will discuss everything about The Syndrome and how it affects the characters. 

What is The Syndrome in Silo Season 2?

The Syndrome in Silo is depicted as a disease. Now, this disease isn’t a new thing introduced in season 2 of the show. In the first season of the show, there’s a poster present on the Mechanical level that mentions the symptoms of the disease like involuntary twitching, nervous system failure, and flashes of pain. 

The twitches are the initial signs of the disease. These then progress to flashes of pain and muscle spasms. Next, the affected person loses balance and movement. If it is not treated, then the infection attacks the brain and reduces cognitive functions. Ultimately, it shuts down the entire nervous system. 

The poster also states that one must report to the Medical Level if they think that they have been affected by The Syndrome to get treatment. It’s interesting to note that in a world where almost nothing is free, the infected are afforded free medical treatment for this. 

Deputy Sheriff Paul Billings and low-level engineer Charles Martin show the first signs of being affected with The Syndrome. However, he doesn’t report to the Medical Level, which means that things aren’t going to go well for him in the future. The show makes one thing clear, the illness seems to mostly affect the people living in the lower levels of Silo 18 which are filled with pollution and unclean air. 

What Causes The Syndrome? 

In an interview with SFX magazine, showrunner Graham Yost stated that The Syndrome was a result of living underground for long periods of time. 

He stated, “Human beings weren't meant to live like this. Talking about that with Hugh, we came up with something called 'the syndrome.' Is it genetic? Is it this or that? It's something people are ashamed of, and we wanted to play with that. If you have the syndrome, you shouldn't have access to any weapons. You shouldn't have physical activity."

He also said that The Syndrome is, “A neuralgic response to the pressure of living in these conditions.”

Some fans think that The Syndrome is the result of living underground without sunlight and Vitamin D. Season two will probably shed more light on the topic and we will see the deadly effects of this disease come into play sooner or later.  

Where to Watch Rebecca Ferguson Starrer Silo Season 2?

Silo season 2 is now streaming on Apple TV+



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