Severance is an Apple TV+ sci-fi psychological thriller series created by Dan Erickson, directed by Ben Stiller, and stars Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, John Turturro and Tramell Tillman.
An excellent series that has been awarded with an Emmy and has received raving reviews. Thrilling, engaging and intriguing, it tells a novel story with interesting characters brought forth with the astounding performances by an A-list cast. It navigates drama, thriller and sci-fi so craftily, it will have you glued to the screen.
Premise
Mark S. leads a team at Lumon Industries, whose employees have undergone a severance procedure, which surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. This innovative experiment in “work-life balance” is called into question as Mark finds himself at the center of an unraveling mystery that will force him to confront the true nature of his work … and of himself.
Reviews
Stiller, who directed six of the show’s nine episodes, is emerging as a preëminent television auteur.
Naomi Fry: New Yorker
At once minimalist and epic, an increasingly tense exploration of free-will and corporate sadism. It gains a thriller-like momentum as it moves along, and can be disturbing enough to be nightmarish, yet still maintains a modicum of mischievous wit.
John Doyle: Globe and Mail
It combines the paranoia of a ’70s thriller with the dehumanizing vastness of Stanley Kubrick’s visionary stories of characters becoming overwhelmed by the environmental forces engulfing them.
Robert Levin: Newsday
List of Chapters
Good News About Hell
Following Petey’s Departure Mark S. is promoted to lead Lumon’s Macrodata Refinement team – made up of Mark S, Irving B., Dylan G. and one more. All team members, have undergone the so-called “severance”, which involves bifurcating their memories. Helly R. is the latest to have gone through the procedure.
Half Loop
Helly R. joins the Macrodata Refinement team, and is apprehensive of the work processes and work culture, which leads to her attempt to communicate with her “Outie” (the version of her outside work) by writing a message. This doe snot go down well. Mark, in his outside life, meets a stranger.
In Perpetuity
Mark takes the team on a field trip to the Perpetuity Wing. Helly continues to rebel. A deteriorating Petey struggles to tell Mark about Lumon’s misdeeds. Irving B. and Burt have found a common ground.
The You You Are
Marks outie has Petey’s phone. Irving finds an intriguing book at work. Helly aggressively pursues a meeting with her Outie. Mark attends Petey’s funeral with Ms. Selvig.
The Grim Barbarity of Optics and Design
Dylan comes across some atrocious paintings by the photocopier. Irving and Dylan confront Burt about his lies. Mark and Helly discover a strange new department that has to do with animals.
Hide and Seek
The team angers Cobel by forming an alliance.
Dylan’s “innie” is awoken while he is leading his outside life, awakening more suspicion in him of Lumon’s machinations.
Mark is contacted by Reghabi, a former Lumon employee.
Defiant Jazz
Mark and the team encounter new security measures from Cobel.
What’s for Dinner?
Helly manages to reach 100% in performance, and the MDR team is rewarded with a special prize. The team prepares a plan. Mark attends a party at Devon’s, his sister in the outside world, and Ricken’s, his brother-in-law.
The We We Are
Season finale. The team discovers troubling revelations.
They will try to connect their innie selves while in the outside world.
Where to Watch ‘Severance’
Cast
Adam Scott / Mark Scout | Britt Lower / Helly Riggs | Zach Cherry / Dylan George |
Tramell Tillman / Seth Milchick | Jen Tullock / Devon | Dichen Lachman / Ms. Casey |
Michael Chernus / Ricken Hale | John Turturro / Irving Bailiff | Christopher Walken / Burt Goodman |
Patricia Arquette / Harmony Cobel |
See full credits >>