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Severance

Severance

20228
DramaMystikSci-Fi & Fantasy
Släppt
17 feb. 2022
Land
USA
Produktioner
Endeavor ContentRed HourFifth SeasonAnimals & PeopleWestward
Mark leder ett team av kontorsarbetare vars minnen har kirurgiskt delats mellan deras arbets- och privatliv. När en mystisk kollega dyker upp utanför jobbet, börjar en resa för att upptäcka sanningen om deras jobb.

About

Quick guide

A workplace drama that splits memories into work and life, raising questions about control and identity.

Severance follows Mark and his team as they work at Lumon, a company that surgically separates their work and personal memories. The employees, called MDR, operate in a sterile, controlled environment while their personal lives are kept separate and protected. A mysterious stranger appears outside the building, prompting Mark to investigate the hidden truth behind Lumon's experiment. As secrets surface, the line between employee and citizen blurs, challenging the characters' sense of self. The series blends sharp dialogue, subtle humor, and existential questions in a slow‑burn, suspenseful narrative that explores what happens when a company claims to free people from pain.

What to know

  • Employees are divided into "innie" (work) and "outie" (personal) selves.
  • The Severance chip erases memories between the two lives.
  • Lumon’s purpose remains ambiguous; it may be a corporate control or a cure.
  • The team’s investigation reveals hidden experiments and conspiracies.
  • The series uses subtle humor amid its dark, psychological tone.
  • Mark’s personal relationships are strained by the separation.
  • The show is slow‑burn, building tension over several episodes.

Watch if

Watch Severance if you appreciate slow‑burn psychological thrillers that blend sharp dialogue with existential questions, set in a sleek office world where the line between work and personal life is literally cut.

Skip if

Skip Severance if you prefer fast‑paced action, light comedy, or stories that avoid deep philosophical themes, as this series is heavy on mood, dialogue, and subtle horror elements.

dark tonepsychological elementsinvestigation heavysuspensefulslow burnmature themeslanguage strongdialogue heavypolitical themeslanguage some
Severance: The Premise
Severance centers on Mark, a senior member of Lumon's MDR team, and his colleagues who have undergone a surgical procedure that splits their consciousness. Each employee lives two distinct lives—one in the sterile corporate environment and one outside with their families—creating a stark contrast between work obligations and personal freedom.
The Severance Procedure
The procedure, called Severance, uses a chip to isolate the employee's work memories from personal ones. During work hours, an employee is an 'innie' who cannot recall home life, while after hours a 'outie' reverts to their true self. The company claims the process eliminates pain and boosts productivity, but its hidden agenda fuels intrigue.
Key Characters
Mark, the seasoned leader; Helly, the eager coder; Dylan, the skeptical senior; Irving, the former employee turned investigator; and Harmony Cobel, a disgraced executive—all navigate a complex hierarchy that blurs loyalty and manipulation. Their personal histories intertwine with company secrets, forcing them to confront what they have lost and what they might still reclaim.
Tone and Style
The series balances subtle humor with a dark, claustrophobic atmosphere. Dialogue is sharp and often philosophical, driving character development while revealing corporate machinations. Visuals are minimalist, focusing on the sterile corporate interior and the stark contrast of everyday life, reinforcing the show's meditation on control versus freedom.
Themes Explored
Severance examines the ethics of memory manipulation, the fragility of identity, and corporate control over personal autonomy. It interrogates how far a company will go to protect its interests and the psychological costs of living a double life. The show also questions what it means to truly be human in a hyper‑efficient world.
Episode Structure
Each season unfolds over a dozen tightly plotted episodes. The pacing is deliberate, building tension through character arcs and investigative milestones. Flashbacks and subtle visual cues hint at hidden motives, while the consistent use of the severed and unsevered duality keeps the audience guessing about the true nature of Lumon's experiment.
What Makes It Stand Out
By fusing corporate satire with existential dread, Severance offers a fresh take on the workplace drama. Its unique premise of a literal memory split invites deep philosophical questions while maintaining a tight, suspenseful narrative. The blend of sharp dialogue, slow build, and subtle horror creates an immersive, unsettling experience.

FAQ

50 Q&A
Where does the show Severance take place?
The show Severance primarily takes place in the mysterious Lumon Industries building and in the outside world where the characters live their 'outie' lives.
Who is Irving Bailiff?
Irving Bailiff is an employee at Lumon Industries who works in the Macrodata Refinement division. He is loyal to Lumon and has a keen interest in the company's history and rules.
Who is Helly R?
Helly R is a new employee at Lumon Industries who undergoes the severance procedure. She struggles to accept her new reality and attempts to escape.
What is Mark Scout's 'innie' life like?
Mark Scout's 'innie' life is spent working in the Macrodata Refinement department at Lumon, sorting mysterious data. He appears to be a dedicated employee.
What are Dylan George's motivations?
Dylan George is motivated by a desire to protect his 'innie' self and uncover the secrets of Lumon. He also seems to value his work and his colleagues.
Who created the TV series Severance?
The TV series Severance was created by Dan Erickson.
What is the genre of Severance?
Severance is a science fiction psychological thriller.
What is the significance of the severed floor?
The severed floor is a workplace where employees have undergone a procedure to separate their work memories from their personal lives. This creates two distinct consciousnesses: an 'innie' who only exists at work and an 'outie' who only exists outside of work.
What is Ms. Cobel's relationship with Mark?
Ms. Cobel is Mark's boss at Lumon Industries and has a complex, sometimes manipulative, relationship with him, showing a deep interest in his life both inside and outside of Lumon.
Who are the main characters in Severance?
The main characters include Mark Scout, Helly R, Irving Bailiff, Dylan George, Ms. Cobel, and Mr. Milchick.
What is a 'waffle party' in Severance?
A 'waffle party' is a bizarre and unsettling reward given to Lumon employees for good performance, involving waffles and strange, almost cult-like, festivities.
What is the severance procedure?
The severance procedure is a surgical operation that divides an employee's memories, creating a split between their work life ('innie') and their personal life ('outie').
What is the work that the severed employees do?
Severed employees at Lumon Industries, in the Macrodata Refinement division, sort through numbers that have emotional resonance, but the exact purpose of this work is unknown.
Why is Helly R trying to escape?
Helly R is trying to escape because her 'innie' self is horrified by her situation and the lack of control she has over her life within Lumon.
What is Irving Bailiff's role at Lumon?
Irving Bailiff is a dedicated and rule-abiding employee in Macrodata Refinement who seems to have a deep understanding of Lumon's history and culture.
Who is Mark Scout?
Mark Scout is the main protagonist, an employee in Macrodata Refinement at Lumon Industries who is grieving the loss of his wife in his 'outie' life.
What is the premise of the TV show Severance?
The premise of Severance is about employees at a mysterious corporation who surgically divide their memories between their work and personal lives.
What does it mean to be 'severed'?
To be 'severed' means to have undergone a surgical procedure that separates one's consciousness into two distinct parts: one for work and one for personal life, with no overlap or knowledge between them.
Who is the executive producer of Severance?
Ben Stiller is one of the executive producers of Severance.
What are the main themes explored in Severance?
Severance explores themes of work-life balance, corporate control, identity, memory, grief, and free will.
What is Lumon Industries?
Lumon Industries is a mysterious corporation where employees undergo the severance procedure, dividing their lives into work and personal experiences.
Who directed the episodes of Severance?
Ben Stiller directed several episodes of Severance, including the pilot.
What is Mark Scout's 'outie' life like?
Mark Scout's 'outie' life is characterized by grief over the death of his wife and a sense of isolation.
Who is Dylan George?
Dylan George is a loyal and often comedic coworker of Mark and Helly in the Macrodata Refinement department at Lumon Industries.
Who is Ms. Cobel?
Ms. Cobel, also known as Mrs. Selvig in the outside world, is the stern and enigmatic manager of the severed floor at Lumon Industries.
Are there any plot holes in Severance?
It's hard to say for sure if there are plot holes. Some people think certain things don't quite add up, but the show is still unfolding and might explain them later.
What are the different departments within Lumon?
We know about a few departments. There's MDR (Macrodata Refinement), the Optics and Design department, and the Waffle Party organizers.
What kind of message does Severance convey about work-life balance?
The show makes us think about how much we separate our work lives from our home lives. It questions if it's healthy to have two completely different versions of yourself.
Who is Mr. Milchick?
Mr. Milchick is a supervisor on the severed floor. He's known for his strange smiles and leading the 'Waffle Party' and 'Music Dance Experience'.
What is the Eagan family's connection to Lumon?
The Eagan family founded Lumon Industries. They are like the royal family of the company, and their teachings are very important to the employees.
What is the significance of the break room in Severance?
The break room is a scary place where employees are sent for 're-education' if they misbehave. It's used as a form of punishment.
Who is Harmony Cobel?
Harmony Cobel is a boss at Lumon. She is also an 'innie' at home, known as Mrs. Selvig, and seems to watch the severed employees closely.
What are the 'refiners' and 'data sorters'?
These are jobs within the MDR department. 'Refiners' sort through scary numbers, and 'data sorters' figure out what those numbers mean.
How was the visual style of Severance developed?
The look of the show was created to feel like a retro-futuristic world. It uses a lot of empty spaces and repetitive designs to show how the workers are trapped.
What is the purpose of the MDR team's tasks?
The MDR team sorts and refines strange, dark numbers. No one really knows what these numbers are for, or what the team's work actually does for Lumon.
How did the actors prepare for their roles?
The actors thought a lot about the two different personalities their characters have – the 'outie' and the 'innie'. They also explored the feelings of being trapped and controlled.
What is the symbolism of the goats in Severance?
Goats appear in a strange video shown to new employees. Their meaning isn't clear, but they seem to be part of Lumon's odd way of teaching or controlling people.
What does the ending of Severance Season 1 imply?
The end of season 1 suggests that the 'innies' might be able to experience the outside world. It leaves a lot of questions about what will happen next.
What is the role of the 'keycard' in the show?
Keycards are used to get around Lumon. They are important for access, and changing them or losing them can cause problems for the employees.
What are the challenges of filming Severance?
Filming had to capture the eerie and sterile feeling of Lumon. The actors also had to play characters with two very different minds.
What is the mystery surrounding Lumon Industries?
Lumon Industries is a mysterious company. It's unclear what they actually do, who runs it fully, and why they use the severance procedure.
What are the ethical implications of the severance procedure?
The procedure raises questions about identity, consent, and worker rights. It creates two separate lives for one person, with the 'innie' having no memory of the 'outie'.
What is the purpose of the MDR department?
The MDR department's main job is to sort and refine dangerous numbers. The exact purpose of this work is a big mystery within the show.
What are the inspirations behind the production design of Severance?
The design was inspired by mid-century modern architecture and old office buildings. The goal was to create a sterile, timeless, and slightly unsettling environment.
What is the black and white aesthetic of Lumon's offices?
The black and white look makes the offices feel cold, impersonal, and a bit like a maze. It adds to the feeling of being trapped and controlled.
Who are the people in the goats' video?
The people in the goats' video are not identified. It's a strange and unsettling film shown to new hires as part of their orientation.
What is the significance of the music in Severance?
The music is often eerie and unsettling. It helps build the tension and strange atmosphere of the show, making the viewer feel uneasy.
How does Severance comment on corporate culture?
The show criticizes how companies can control employees and blur the lines between work and personal life. It shows a dark side of corporate loyalty and demanded happiness.
What is the meaning of the MDR acronym?
MDR stands for Macrodata Refinement. It's the name of the department where the main characters work.
What is Mr. Milchick's role on the severed floor?
Mr. Milchick is an employee relations manager. He oversees the workers on the severed floor and often enforces Lumon's rules in strange ways.

Skådespelare

Adam Scott
Adam Scott
Mark Scout
Britt Lower
Britt Lower
Helly Riggs
Tramell Tillman
Tramell Tillman
Seth Milchick
Zach Cherry
Zach Cherry
Dylan George
Jen Tullock
Jen Tullock
Devon Scout-Hale
Dichen Lachman
Dichen Lachman
Ms. Casey
Sarah Bock
Sarah Bock
Eustice Huang
John Turturro
John Turturro
Irving Bailiff
Christopher Walken
Christopher Walken
Burt Goodman
Patricia Arquette
Patricia Arquette
Harmony Cobel