‘Silo’ Author Hugh Howey Just Called Another Apple TV Sci-Fi Series the Best Show on Air Right Now

Science fiction has always had a strong sense of community, and creators often cheer for one another in public. That generosity is part of what makes the genre feel so welcoming. This week, one of its most successful authors showed it again with a very big compliment.

Hugh Howey is the author of the ‘Silo’ novels, which inspired Apple TV’s hit series. The show’s third season recently adapted events from books 2 and 3, including a major flashback storyline that introduced new characters. With a planned conclusion approaching, the franchise is in a reflective moment, which makes Howey’s latest comments feel especially notable.

Howey took to Threads to praise another series on the same streamer, calling ‘Dark Matter’ the best show currently on the air. He was replying to a post encouraging viewers to catch up on it, and his message was enthusiastic and direct. For an author whose own story is thriving on Apple TV, it was a generous shout-out to a neighboring hit.

The series is based on Blake Crouch’s 2016 novel of the same name, and Crouch serves as creator, showrunner and writer. Joel Edgerton stars as Jason Dessen, a physicist who lives a comfortable life in Chicago with his wife, Daniela, played by Jennifer Connelly, and their son. Jason has always wondered what his life would have been like had certain events happened differently, and he finds out in the worst possible way.

The cast also includes Alice Braga, Jimmi Simpson, Dayo Okeniyi, Oakes Fegley and Amanda Brugel. Season one premiered on May 8, 2024 with nine episodes and holds an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and viewers. Apple renewed it for a second season shortly after the first finale.

Season two arrived on August 28, 2026, two years after the first. It has 10 episodes, one more than the first season, with new installments dropping every Friday through the finale on October 30. Episode 8 arrives on October 16, followed by episode 9 on October 23.

Because the first season covered the novel, the second had to chart its own path. Apple’s description says the Dessens settle into a quiet life in a world that seems safe until the unimaginable forces them to run again. Jason’s obsession with the Box deepens, while Daniela’s growing paranoia threatens to tear their fragile stability apart.

Crouch co-wrote every episode with Jacquelyn Ben-Zekry. One review gave the season a B+, saying it occasionally gets lost in its own labyrinth of possibilities but is anchored by Edgerton, Connelly and the painfully human emotions around them. The fifth episode, which follows another version of Jason left behind after helping the Dessens escape, was singled out for its emotional weight.

The timing is interesting. The first two episodes of ‘Dark Matter’ season two overlapped with the penultimate and finale episodes of ‘Silo’ season three. According to one report, ‘Dark Matter’ currently ranks third worldwide among Apple TV titles, just ahead of ‘Silo’ in fourth. In the US, they sit fourth and sixth.

For a long time, ‘Dark Matter’ was seen as the underdog of Apple’s sci-fi lineup, overshadowed by bigger names like ‘Foundation’ and ‘Silo.’ It built a loyal following by focusing on character and dread over spectacle. Howey’s endorsement may help bring even more viewers to the series.

Praise from a fellow storyteller carries weight, especially when it comes from someone whose own work is a flagship of the same platform. It also reflects how Apple has built a reputation for cerebral, character-driven science fiction. Both series explore big ideas through intimate stakes.

Welcome, traveler. Margo Martindale has joined the Dark Matter universe. A new episode of #DarkMatter is now streaming. https://t.co/yFRcnl2MSm

— Apple TV (@AppleTV) October 9, 2026

With only a few episodes left, fans of the multiverse thriller have plenty to look forward to before the finale. And anyone who hasn’t started the show can now take a recommendation from one of the genre’s best-known authors.

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