Fans were introduced to The Syndrome on Apple TV+ silo series, but is that actually it?

The hit science fiction series is based on Hugh Howey’s dystopian novel series and revolves around the residents of a cylindrical underground bunker who are forced to live underground and under the rule of an all-powerful bureaucracy.

At the heart of the series’ plot is Rebecca Ferguson’s Juliette, an engineer who is miraculously promoted to the rank of sheriff, where she begins to uncover the layers of a terrible scheme seeking to devour power in the silo.

What is Silo Syndrome?

One of the ongoing threats in silo is a mysterious illness known as “The Syndrome.”

Fans first came into contact with The Syndrome in Season 1 of the Apple TV+ series, thanks to a poster placed on the mechanical level of the underground silo community.

The poster warns residents to look for signs of this “involuntary twitching”, “bursts of pain”, and a “Shutting down the entire nervous system:”

“The syndrome

Do you know the signs?

Involuntary twitching is the first sign, which quickly leads to tremors of the extremities, followed by bursts of pain and muscle spasms.

Balance and movement are severely impaired. If the infection is not treated, it attacks the brain, causing decreased cognitive function and ultimately reduced cognitive function.

A shutdown of the entire nervous system.”

It also asks whether anyone believes they or another resident of the silo is infected “You must report your symptoms there to receive the necessary treatment:”

“For those who are infected or believe they are infected, advice and treatment at all medical levels is free. You must report your symptoms there to receive the necessary treatment.”

Have no fear. Be honest. There is help.

Clean living is the true protection.”

One of the main characters of the show’s first season, lawyer Paul Billings (played by Chinaza Uche), who is assigned to Juliette when she becomes sheriff, begins to show signs of the syndrome. However, he hides this, possibly hinting that something bad is to come for him later.

Some have speculated that the syndrome may be a type of neurological disorder caused by a vitamin D deficiency resulting from years of living underground.

Showrunner Graham Yost described the impact of “The Syndrome” in a conversation with SFX Magazine, saying: “People shouldn’t live like that.” So he and the book’s original author, Hugh Howey, developed The Syndrome as a result of this thought:

“Basically there is a feeling that this is wrong. People shouldn’t live like that. When we talked to Hugh about it, we came up with something we call ‘the syndrome.'” Is it genetic? Is it something that people are ashamed of and we wanted to play with it. If you have the syndrome you shouldn’t have access to any weapons.

It’s worth noting that this was an original idea for the series and not something that appeared in Howey’s books.

silo is now streaming on Apple TV+.