Severance: A Mind-Bending Journey into Corporate Madness
Imagine a world where your work life is so separate from your personal one that it feels like two entirely different realities. That’s the premise of Severance, an American science fiction psychological thriller that takes us on a mind-bending journey into corporate madness.
The Plot Unfolds: A Split Personality in the Workplace
In Severance, Mark Scout (played by Adam Scott) works for Lumon Industries, a fictional corporation where employees undergo a controversial procedure known as ‘severance.’ This medical process implants a device in their brains that splits their consciousness, erasing all memories of their personal lives while at work. As a result, each employee is effectively two separate individuals: the “innie,” who only exists within the confines of Lumon, and the “outie,” who remains unaware of their professional life.
Key Cast Members
The main cast includes Adam Scott as Mark Scout, Zach Cherry as Dylan George, Britt Lower as Helly Riggs, Tramell Tillman as Seth Milchick, Jen Tullock as Devon Scout-Hale, Dichen Lachman as Ms. Casey, Michael Chernus as Ricken Hale, John Turturro as Irving Bailiff (Mark’s severed co-worker in the MDR department), Christopher Walken as Kier Eagan (the late founder of Lumon, worshipped with cult-like devotion within the company), and Patricia Arquette as Harmony Cobel (manager of the severed floor at Lumon).
Creating a Corporate Utopia
The show’s setting is a corporate utopia where employees work on highly classified projects. However, beneath this facade lies a complex web of secrets and moral dilemmas. Mark leads his coworkers Dylan (Zach Cherry) and Irving (John Turturro) at Lumon’s Macrodata Refinement department. He must balance the challenges of managing his department while dealing with his disquiet at the cult-like Lumon and the sudden overlap of his separate lives when mysteries from Lumon begin to intrude into his outie life.
Production Design and Influences
The production design for Severance is a masterpiece, blending corporate looks from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s to create a distinctive retro science fiction aesthetic. Jeremy Hindle, the production designer, used modernist architect Eero Saarinen, John Deere World Headquarters, Bell Labs Holmdel Complex, and Playtime as influences. The main sets were created on soundstages in the Bronx, with each car chosen to curate the show’s retro science fiction look.
Behind the Scenes: A Journey of Creation
Dan Erickson, creator of Severance, became interested in the theater department and wrote short plays. He attended New York University and received a master’s degree in television writing. Erickson conceived Severance while working in an office job; he found it monotonous and wished to disassociate from work.
Erickson submitted his pilot script to Ben Stiller’s production company Red Hour Productions in 2015, which was passed by the development executive Jackie Cohn. Stiller read the project five years before its premiere and enjoyed the story’s contributions to workplace comedy. In January 2017, Stiller invited Adam Scott to star in the series. Apple TV+ gave Severance a series order in November 2019, with Stiller directing and Scott in the leading role.
On April 6, 2022, Apple renewed the series for a second season. In April 2023, it was reported that Beau Willimon had been hired as an executive producer and writer for the second and potential third seasons.
Critical Acclaim
Severance has received critical acclaim from both critics and audiences alike, with a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 85 out of 100 on Metacritic. The show’s mysterious elements and moral questions have sparked intense discussions among viewers.
Season 2: Expanding the Mystery
The second season premiered on January 17, 2025, and received widespread critical acclaim with an approval rating of 97%. The season was recognized for its expansion and deepening of mysteries while opening new ones. Season 2 continued to explore the complex dynamics between the innie and outie lives of the characters.
Home Media Releases
The first season was awarded the ReFrame Stamp for hiring underrepresented individuals. Apple TV+ teased season 2 during their event in September 2022, releasing footage in June 2024. A promo featuring Helly sparked interest, followed by a Morse code message spelling out ‘tomorrow.’ The cast recreated the show’s office environment at Grand Central Terminal before the season premiere.
The first season was released on Blu-ray and DVD in December 2024, with home media releases planned for Australia and the United States. An epistolary novel and self-help book were also published by Apple Books.
Severance is a masterclass in storytelling, blending the intrigue of corporate espionage with the psychological complexity of split personalities. It’s not just about work; it’s about the human condition and how we navigate our lives when they’re torn apart by external forces.
As we continue to explore the depths of Severance, one thing is clear: this series challenges us to question the boundaries between reality and fiction, personal and professional. It’s a journey that will leave you questioning everything about your own life and work.
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This page is based on the article Severance (TV series) published in Wikipedia (retrieved on March 15, 2025) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
