Severance 2 | Seven Reasons to Catch Up with the Apple TV+ Gem

Posted on 15 January, 2025

The wait is over: after a three-year gestation period delayed by Hollywood writers’ strikes, Severance 2 is ready to return to the screens. The Apple TV+ series, a cult hit for sci-fi enthusiasts, will be released on January 17, 2025. Almost three years after the first season’s debut, which started on February 18, 2022. Early impressions are even more positive than the first season. And for those who haven’t yet ventured into the world of Severance, here are at least seven good reasons (no spoilers!) to discover Dan Erickson’s series, directed by Ben Stiller.

A Brilliant Mix of Genres

It’s a sci-fi series that seems set in the real world, except for a few bothersome details. Severance 2 blends sci-fi with drama and satire with mystery. The story captivates the viewer from the very start: in an unspecified present or future, the pharmaceutical giant Lumon Industries conducts an experiment called Severance on its employees. Through a brain implant, the mind is split into two parts, each living a separate existence. On one side, the “innies” live within Lumon’s walls without remembering what happens outside. On the other, the “outies” who have no awareness of their work life. Individuals lead two parallel lives, unaware of each other. The goals of the experiment? Unknown. But it’s clear that Lumon employees voluntarily agree to undergo the Severance procedure for one reason or another.

Plot Twists and Mysteries

Around Severance 2 has bloomed a series of theories, speculations, and hypotheses. This phenomenon was fueled by the weekly releases of the first season, which left room for anticipation and analyses from the fanbase.

An example? The video essays on the YouTube channel Nautilus Files have dissected the most intriguing aspects of the series: from the true identity of Helly R. (Britt Lower) to the Lumon room where lambs are raised, from the Eagan family dynasty (the company owners) to the oddities of food and products. Many aspects of the series remain shrouded in mystery. However, the careful and precise construction of the script alternates secrets and revelations flawlessly, never generating frustration but encouraging viewers to click the “play” button week after week.

Unsettling Settings

An unspecified location with mysterious, snow-muted atmospheres, almost deserted if not for Lumon employees, a pharmaceutical superpower with rather dubious activities. Kier, the setting of Severance 2, is irresistible.

Moreover, the series’ creators managed the almost impossible task of setting a sci-fi thriller within the sterile walls of an office. Descending into the company’s split level, employees find themselves in an underground environment, full of light, vast, and labyrinthine, yet housing only a handful of workers. Something that hints at an unsettling project.

A Cast That Plays with Nuances

Severance 2 boasts a star-studded cast. In the first season, we saw John Turturro and Christopher Walken. Adam Scott, playing the middle-management employee Mark Scout, has mainly been seen in comedic roles before, but he offers an infinite range of nuances here. Moreover, the main actors face another challenge: they must play their characters in two alternate versions, “internal” and “external.”

But ambiguity is a constant for almost every character, leading one to wonder which of them are the “split” ones. This is also the case for Harmony Cobel (Patricia Clarkson), Mark’s team leader, who seems to know much more than she lets on. The company supervisor, Seth Milchick (Tramell Tillman), is always ready to maintain control over the employees.

A Perfect Script

Eight tight episodes, with a relentless pace and no dips in quality. Dan Erickson’s series is a narrative miracle. Even more so considering that Erickson wasn’t a well-known name in the entertainment industry and developed the idea for Severance from his personal experience. Observing the working world, he created a script that explores the tension between professional and personal life. His unique vision caught the attention of Ben Stiller and other producers.

The value of Severance is also concentrated in its narrative arc and character development. Take Irving Bailiff (John Turturro), the employee who appears devoted to the company’s history and rules, or Dylan George (Zach Cherry), who obsessively collects small production rewards. Their transformation throughout the first season is phenomenal yet entirely believable.

Cinematography That Pays Attention to Every Detail

The young director of cinematography for Severance, Jessica Lee Gagné, has convincingly conveyed the narrative tension of the series. A sense of alienation, claustrophobia, oppression, and control are just some of the feelings transmitted through a retro-vintage futuristic atmosphere, distorted perspectives, and empty spaces.

The care in every shot, through plays of symmetry and framing, reflects the sense of isolation experienced by the characters and the “innies” vs “outies” dichotomy. The same goes for the colors: cold and sterile inside Lumon, warm and welcoming outside. Long takes and wide angles alternate with close-ups in moments of crisis to capture the characters’ emotions.

An Unpredictable Ending

All these elements make the first season perfect, culminating at the peak moment, never frustrating the viewer. Indeed, any development is possible in Severance 2, and although there are many theories about the future, they all seem plausible. Unpredictability is a strong point of the series, as is its multi-layered narrative. Severance is a perfect series for those who seek a refined psychological thriller, a story rich in surprises and plot twists.

But it’s also a fierce satire that targets the absurdities of the working world. When you think your job is repetitive or absurd, take a moment to consider the activities of Mark Scout’s department, Macrodata Refining. After all, who hasn’t ever wanted to erase a workday from their memory? Or forget a personal problem once crossing the office threshold?

Severance 2 explores all of this in a sci-fi atmosphere full of ambiguity and symbolic references to capitalism and its distortions. Enjoy watching!

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