Apple TV Best Sci-Fi Shows: Severance & Silo Ranked

Yes, Severance and Silo are the two best sci-fi shows currently on Apple TV+, and they are often ranked as the top two in the service’s entire catalog. Both are high-concept, visually stunning, and critically acclaimed—but they offer very different kinds of science fiction. This article breaks down what makes each show essential viewing, how they compare, and how to decide which one to start with.

Background: Apple TV+’s Sci-Fi Strategy

Apple TV+ launched in November 2019 with a small library, but it quickly made a name for itself with big-budget, star-driven genre series. Unlike Netflix or Amazon Prime, Apple releases only a handful of originals each month, and it focuses on quality over quantity. Its sci-fi slate is the crown jewel of the service—alongside Severance and Silo, Apple has produced Foundation, For All Mankind, and Invasion. The two shows you asked about stand out because they are both original concepts (not based on existing franchises) that became word-of-mouth hits.

Severance: What It Is and Why It Works

Severance premiered in February 2022 and immediately became a phenomenon. Created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller (who also executive produces), the show stars Adam Scott as Mark Scout, an office worker who undergoes a procedure that surgically separates his work memories from his personal memories. The “innie” (work self) and “outie” (home self) never share consciousness. The show is a workplace thriller, a psychological drama, and a dystopian satire all at once.

What makes it exceptional is its world-building. The office—called Lumon Industries—has a sterile, retro-futuristic aesthetic that feels both familiar and deeply unsettling. The show asks big philosophical questions: Is a life lived only at work a real life? What does it mean to consent to something when your other self makes the choice? The performances are uniformly excellent, especially Britt Lower and Tramell Tillman, and the cliffhanger ending of season one is one of the most talked-about finales in recent TV history. Season two is currently in production, and fans are desperate for answers.

Silo: What It Is and Why It Works

Silo premiered in May 2023, based on the best-selling Wool trilogy by Hugh Howey. It stars Rebecca Ferguson as Juliette, an engineer who lives in a massive underground silo that houses 10,000 people. The silo is the last bastion of humanity after the surface became toxic—or so the residents are told. The show is a mystery box drama, slowly peeling back layers of lies about the silo’s past and the true nature of the world outside.

What makes Silo compelling is its grounded, tactile feel. The silo is a fully realized world with its own politics, religion, and class system. The show excels at creating tension through small details—a broken screen, a forbidden relic, a suspicious death. Ferguson is magnetic as the stubborn, brilliant protagonist, and the supporting cast (including Tim Robbins and Common) adds depth. The season one finale delivered a major reveal that recontextualizes everything, and a second season is already confirmed.

Comparing the Two: Which Should You Watch First?

Both shows are excellent, but they serve different moods. If you want a mind-bending, claustrophobic psychological thriller that will make you question your own identity, start with Severance. It’s more experimental, more surreal, and it has a darkly comic edge. If you prefer a more traditional dystopian mystery with a strong central performance and a slower burn, start with Silo. It’s more straightforward in its storytelling, but it’s just as gripping.

Here are a few concrete differences to help you decide:

Pacing: Severance is brisk and propulsive, with each episode ending on a hook. Silo is slower, spending more time on world-building and character development.
Tone: Severance is darkly funny and absurd, while Silo is serious and somber.
Mystery: Both are mystery-driven, but Severance’s central question is more philosophical (“What is a person?”), while Silo’s is more concrete (“What happened to the world?”).
Visual style: Severance is clean, geometric, and minimalist; Silo is gritty, industrial, and lived-in.

If you only have time for one, and you like shows that reward close attention, choose Severance. If you prefer a more emotional, character-driven story, choose Silo. But honestly, you should watch both—they complement each other perfectly.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One common misconception is that Severance is a comedy because it has satirical elements. It is not—it’s a drama with a dark sense of humor. Another is that Silo is a post-apocalyptic survival show like The Walking Dead. It’s not; it’s a mystery about a closed society, more akin to Lost or Dark.

A frequent complaint about Severance is that it’s “too weird” or “too slow” in the middle episodes. That’s fair—the show demands patience, but the payoff is worth it. For Silo, some viewers find the first few episodes slow because they spend time setting up the world. Stick with it; the last third of the season is a rollercoaster.

Another issue: both shows have only one season so far (as of mid-2024), which means if you binge them, you’ll be left waiting for more. Neither has a confirmed release date for its next season, so be prepared for a wait.

How to Watch and What to Expect

Both shows are exclusive to Apple TV+, which costs $9.99 per month (as of 2024). You can watch on the Apple TV app, which is available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and many smart TVs and streaming devices. There’s a 7-day free trial for new subscribers, and Apple sometimes bundles TV+ with other services like Apple Music or iCloud+.

Each season has 9-10 episodes, and episodes are released weekly (not all at once). If you like to binge, you can wait until the season is complete, but the weekly release builds community discussion. Both shows are available in 4K HDR with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, so they look and sound fantastic on a good TV.

Alternatives on Apple TV+

If you’ve already watched both and want more, Apple TV+ has several other sci-fi shows worth your time:

For All Mankind – An alternate-history drama about the space race that never ended. It’s more grounded and political, but it’s excellent.
Foundation – A massive, sprawling adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s novels. It’s visually spectacular but can be slow and complex.
Invasion – A slow-burn alien invasion story from the perspective of ordinary people. It’s divisive but has its fans.
Dark Matter – A 2024 series about a physicist who is kidnapped into an alternate version of his life. It’s a mind-bender in the vein of Severance.

If you’ve finished both and want something similar on other services, Black Mirror (Netflix) and Westworld (HBO) share DNA with Severance, while The 100 (Netflix) and Snowpiercer (TNT) have a similar post-apocalyptic vibe to Silo.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Severance or Silo better?

There’s no objective answer, but critically, Severance has a slight edge—it won a Peabody Award and was nominated for 14 Emmys, winning one for Best Main Title Design. Silo has also been praised but hasn’t received as many major awards. If you like mind-bending, philosophical sci-fi, you’ll likely prefer Severance; if you prefer a more emotional, character-driven mystery, Silo is the one.

How many seasons does Severance have?

As of mid-2024, Severance has one season (9 episodes). Season two has been filmed and is in post-production, but Apple has not announced a release date. Expect it sometime in 2025.

How many seasons does Silo have?

As of mid-2024, Silo has one season (10 episodes). Season two is in production and is expected to premiere in late 2024 or early 2025.

Are Severance and Silo connected?

No, they are completely separate shows with separate creators and universes. The only connection is that both are Apple TV+ originals and both are excellent sci-fi.

Do I need to read the books before watching Silo?

No, the show is a faithful adaptation, but it stands on its own. The first season covers roughly the first half of the first book (Wool). If you watch the show first, you’ll still enjoy the books, and vice versa.

Which show has a better ending?

Both season finales are strong, but Severance’s is more shocking and open-ended, leaving you desperate for more. Silo’s finale is more satisfying in a traditional sense—it answers some questions while raising new ones, but it feels like a complete arc.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.

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