After a lengthy hiatus following its acclaimed debut, Apple TV+’s Severance is back with its unique blend of office-set, sci-fi horror. Last seen in 2022, the Dan Erickson-created thriller masterfully combines a creeping sense of dread with a monotonous daily grind most desk jockeys know all too well.
But after such an extended “coffee break,” can Severance retain customer loyalty?
Within the sterilized basement walls of Lumon Industries, employees have their memories surgically split between work and personal lives. Their “outies” selves occupy blissful, fulfilled lives, completely unaware of the tedious torture their workplace personas — the “innies” — must endure, confined to a world of pressed wood and fluorescent lights.
In the first season, viewers watched as Mark (Adam Scott) and the Microdata Refinement team — composed of Dylan (Zach Cherry), Helly (Britt Lower), and Irving (John Turturro) — grew increasingly dissatisfied with the rigid separation imposed by their outies. Longing for more than the occasional Music Dance Experience, they banded together to defy the company and their austere boss, Ms. Cobel (Patricia Arquette), in a mutiny that allowed them to explore the outie world for a few precious moments, which uncovered several shocking revelations: Helly is actually the daughter of the CEO of Lumon Industries, undergoing severance to promote the controversial procedure; Ms. Cobel has been secretly living as Mark’s neighbor; and, most astonishingly, Mark’s wife, Gemma (Dichen Lachman), presumed dead, is alive and working as Lumon’s Wellness Director. These discoveries set the stage for season two.
Now months later, these disruptors must grapple with the fallout from their discoveries. As the foursome return to their jobs, each has a hidden agenda motivating them to continue their work.
With new mysteries to unravel and even more bizarre teams and baffling rooms to explore, Severance dives deeper into the puzzle of Lumon’s true purpose. The latest season delves further into the company’s sinister nature, as well as the lore surrounding its enigmatic figurehead, all while raising more questions than it answers, thus cementing its status as one of the most compelling series on the small screen.
Carrying on the legacy of The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and more recently, Black Mirror, Severance draws its gripping power not only from its surreal yet relatable workplace scenarios but also from the deeply empathetic characters. Scott’s Mark serves as a quintessential everyman, grappling with anguish in a way that feels universally familiar. His desperate need to escape his pain by burying himself in work resonates profoundly with viewers, even if the work itself is incomprehensible and the company teeters on the edge of madness. It’s this emotional relatability, paired with the show’s unsettling premise, that keeps audiences hooked.
Though the core cast of Severance continues their excellent work, Tramell Tillman stands out this season as Lumon lackey Mr. Milchick. Tillman’s serene yet foreboding demeanor reflects the very nature of his organization, yet he displays a previously unseen vulnerability when faced with new and mounting challenges. Also a highlight this season is Lower, whose turn as Helly makes for an unsettling yet impressive performance.
In its second season, the strange and captivating sci-fi thriller once again speaks directly to cubicle dwellers, exaggerating mundane office culture to a sardonic, semi-dystopian extreme. For anyone who’s ever felt emotionally drained from a paycheck or had to stifle their individuality for the sake of “fitting in,” Severance remains a bold critique of corporate culture. Its satirical extremes deliver thrilling, thought-provoking entertainment that makes a darkly humorous yet chilling statement on the American workplace.
Season 2 of Severance premiered Jan. 17, 2025, on Apple TV+.
