Severance TV Show Review: Existential Questions About Work 🤔
Severance is an Apple TV+ workplace and sci-fi drama about a world in which people can choose to sever the connections and memories between their work selves and outside-of-work selves. The protagonist, Mark S, is played by Adam Scott. While at work, he is an optimistic, stereotypical manager who is doing his best while looking out for his team. But at home, he is going through the motions of life without really finding any joy in it. What starts out as a fairly simple premise spirals into something dark and mysterious. As a viewer, you gradually become accustomed to the setting of the world and then start to wonder about all of the strange characters and uncanny moments that happen in it. It’s an amazing show to watch and discuss!
This show is partly about existentialism. What are the repercussions of splitting your soul into two separate pieces? Is it morally ok? A lot of people may feel like their work selves are different from their personal selves. This show explores that feeling while also adding a really dark twist to it. Because it is so relatable, thrilling, and well-crafted, the story will suck you in.
Another great part of the show lies in the suspense of the story. The mystery is really juicy and the finale episode is fantastic in expanding on our questions without giving too much away. When you start Severance, it feels like you’re just getting to know the mechanics of how the world works through Mark’s eyes. You know very little about the other characters other than their work selves. However, as the series progresses, you learn more and more about Helly, Dylan, Irving, Harmony, etc. These characters that previously fell under stereotypical workplace roles like “boss” or “coworker” started to turn into nuanced and really complicated characters. You start to wonder about their lives outside of work, about their hopes and dreams, and most importantly, about what exactly their end goal is. I guess in a way it’s kind of like a metaphor for life. Work can sometimes feel like a lonely place because of the professionalism and boundaries that are put up. But the more you get to know people, the more you wonder about their lives outside of work.
Ultimately, Severance is a show that is interesting, mysterious, and creepy in all of the right ways. I think the show really starts to pick up in the second half of the first season. When certain facts get revealed, it adds deeper and darker twists. It also helps that Adam Scott is such an amazing lead character - he is likable, relatable, and complex in all of the right ways. I really love this show and would highly recommend it to everyone!