Ashley Zukerman & Jessica Henwick Reveal Their Characters Are Key To ‘Silo’s’ Origin Story

Ashley Zukerman and Jessica Henwick’s characters are set to play a major role in uncovering the origins of the silo world in Apple TV+’s ‘Silo‘, especially as the series moves deeper into its past timeline in season 3, according to details shared by cast interviews and official production insights.

The season 2 finale of ‘Silo’ delivered a major shift in storytelling. It briefly stepped away from Juliette’s journey inside Silo 18 and jumped hundreds of years into the past. In that moment, viewers met Daniel, a congressman, and Helen, an investigative journalist, as they spoke in a Washington D.C. bar about global tensions and a possible military response to a bombing linked to Iran. That scene quietly set up a much larger story about how the world before the silos began to fall apart.

Season 3 expands that idea in a big way. The story now moves between two timelines. One follows Juliette in the present-day silo world, while the other focuses on Daniel and Helen in the “Before Times.” This second timeline is expected to explain how the silo system was created and why humanity ended up living underground in the first place. Their storyline is closely tied to global conflict and political decisions that eventually spiral into a larger conspiracy.

According to comments from the actors, the emotional core of this past storyline comes from Daniel and Helen’s relationship. What starts as a professional connection built on uncovering the truth slowly turns into something more personal. Ashley Zukerman explained how important it was to get that relationship right from the start, especially given how central it is to the origin story.

He said in an interview, “I definitely felt the weight of those stakes, knowing how important this relationship would be moving forward.” He also added that the chemistry between him and Jessica Henwick came naturally during filming, saying it was there “from take one.” Henwick echoed that feeling, explaining that the performances did not require forced effort to establish their bond on screen.

Jessica Henwick also described her approach to the role as simple and grounded. She explained in a separate interview, “I felt it was the perfect balance, where the writing was so good, and there was so much on the page.” She added that the creative team encouraged actors to bring their own instincts into the roles, saying the process allowed her to feel close to the character from the beginning.

Behind the scenes, season 3 also draws from Hugh Howey’s novel ‘Shift’, which explores the creation of the silos. Zukerman’s character is based on a version of Donald from the books, another politician involved in decisions that shaped the collapse of society. Helen’s character is loosely inspired by Donald’s wife, but the series is shaping her into a more independent and expanded role.

The show also continues to highlight how real-world issues influence its story. The political tension shown in the “Before Times” reflects themes like global conflict, technology, and environmental collapse. Zukerman noted that these ideas feel connected to current concerns, pointing to issues like AI and climate change as part of the show’s wider message about societal damage.

As the story develops, even small details connect both timelines. One example is a duck Pez dispenser seen in Silo 18, now revealed to be linked to Daniel and Helen’s early meeting. These connections suggest that season 3 will gradually tie personal relationships to the larger mystery behind the silos.

With its split timeline and deeper focus on the past, ‘Silo’ season 3 is shaping up to show not just how the silos function, but why they were built in the first place.

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