A show that will leave you uncomfortably intrigued. Severance is a psychological thriller series that is savailable for streaming on Apple TV. The series premiered in February of 2022. I think that this is a show that has gone under the radar for the most part, as I really have not seen much buzz around this show or people speaking about it online.
I found this series because I was looking through the Apple TV app and it was on the “What toWatch” section. This show was really What really got my attention was the premise of the show. we have all experienced working at a job or being at a job that causes us so much stress that we sometimes take that baggage home and it starts affecting not only our work life but our personal life.
In this world, Severeance is the solution. This show touches on various topics such as politics involved with big corporations, corporations taking advantage of their workers, testing on human subjects, just to name a few. What really set the tone for me was the set design. I think this is was really helped reel me in, and then with the storyline; helped me finished the show in three days. This takes work-life separation to a whole new level.
Characters
This is the main cast that is shown throughout most of the show and in the office. But the story does involve more of Mark S.
Synopsis
The main premise around the show involves how workers at a tech company go under a procedure called severance. This procedure in the show is when you memories and mind get split into two. One mind and memories of everything you know, and the second is your work mind/self. These two never really interact as once you leave the building you have no recollection of what has happened for the past eight hours while at work and vice versa. When you clock in, you do not remember anything prior to clocking in from outside of work, but you do remember all the previous things that has happened at work only.
This sounds all good till you start too see that things at this company aren’t all that they seem to appear.
For one the employees do not know what they are doing and do not innteract with other departments. A sort of way to keep everything under wrap as no one actually knows what the ultimate big goal is as they were only doing a small part of it. Additionally, what really gets creepy and concerning is that the only way that you can quit is if your outside self puts a petition to work, which can be hard as when you leave work you have no recollection of wanting to quit or anything; so you can’t almost ever quit.
Additionally, MINI SPOILER, sometimes the characters would get hurt at work, and when clocking out and they would see; the company would provide a very bland excuse as to why they got hurt, when in reality the reason of the injury is much darker and horrendous when the viewers find out. This series really lends itself to the idea of what if you can just go to work or go home after work and not have to be reminded about the problems you have, but taking it to the extreme in a black mirror sort of way.
Liminal Spaces
Like previously stated, the set design, in my opinion, are what really helped seal the deal with this show. The way the set was designed was in a way of having a lot of the office areas designed in a way that it looks like a liminal space.
A liminal space is the time between ‘what was’ and ‘next.’ It is a place of transition, a time of waiting and not knowing the future. In other words, it is a space that brings a sense of uncomfortableness to the viewer as it gives a sense of unease. While the characters in the outside world have houses and go to places that seem more “normal”.; the office is where the design is a bit more uneasy.
With halls that seem like each turn has been taking you in circles, to the way the light turn on/off in the office when leaving, or the set up if the actual office in which the characters work. Just four desks put together in the middle of a big room.
They all have the sense and look of a liminal space. With this series being a psychological thriller it makes sense as to why the creators of this series would have wanted to incorporate it into the design.
If liminal spaces already give viewers a sense of unease, adding this to a psychological thriller, will have the audience already on the edge of their seat, as subconsciously or even consciously the set design is putting their minds on alert. According to, this is an actual office building. It is located in Holmdel, New Jersey.
I liked this show because not only the set design or the cool plot. But there is always a truth in the crazy. One of them being of an employer trying to have as much control of their life as possible. Whether it be dress code, language said at work, social media posting, etc. This scenario takes it to a whole other level, but then it also try making it look not as bad because they say well you choose, and while that is true; they can never leave either as there outside self doesn’t have a clue of what really is going on. This being one of the main big ones, but there is also various other ones that show up in the show. I don’t want to spoil too much…
Overall, i think that this was a great show. It definitely does have a slow burn. The beginning you will be a bit put off, but as you continue watching you see why. I do also think this has to do with the whole plot and the characters in general. I don’t want to spoil too much, but i honestly believe that the pace of the show is coorlated with the amount of information or how close they are to finding out and remembering about their inside selfs (inies)[Once you start watching you will understand what I mean.]
Furthermore, according to TV Guide, Severance is currently under production for season 2. This was reported on October 31. However, we might have a little wait before season 2 as the creator; Ben Stiller, replied to a fan asking when we would get season 2, he replied “it took a couple of years to make “season 1.” Hopefully we don’t have to wait years. Nevertheless, I will be tuned in for the second season installment.
Anyways, let me know in the comment whether you will be checking out this show or not? Or i you have seen this show and just wanted to read what someone else thought bout the show, let me know what you thought about the show! 🙂
J’s Journal 