The Corporate Nightmare: Why Severance Is the Best Sci-Fi Thriller of the Decade
The content that is produced by modern television often proves to be devoid of any original thought and does not withstand analysis. The network is inundated with the sequels of past films, reliving old classic films, and action blockbusters that aim at exhibiting as much action as possible on the screen. However, there is one television show that defies this trend, which is Severance, devised by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller.
Severance is a psychological mystery in the form of corporate satire that is sinisterly relatable. The show poses an easy question: if it were possible to separate work-related memories from personal memories through surgical operation, would you do it?
The outcome of the plot is not just plain good television; it turns out to be a thoughtful reflection on mourning, choice freedom, and what is seen as a myth of balancing personal life and work.
The Horror of the Divided Self
The focus of the series is on Mark Scout (played perfectly by Adam Scott) who used to be a history professor and is currently in mourning of the sad passing away of his wife. To avoid the agony of his sadness for eight hours every day, Mark undergoes the procedure known as "severance" at the Lumon Industries.
As soon as Mark's elevator descends down to the basement, his mind divides into two different forms of consciousness:
The Outtie: The version of Mark who lives in the outside world. He doesn't know what his job is, what his co-workers look like, or what happens inside Lumon. He gets to skip eight hours of work instantly every single day.
The Innie: The version born on the office floor. He has no name, no memory of childhood, no family, and no concept of sleep or sunlight. His entire existence is confined to a windowless, sterile office environment where he functions purely to work.
What begins as an appealing escape mechanism quickly unravels into existential dread. The "Innie" is effectively a slave created by the "Outtie," trapped permanently in a perpetual workday with zero hope of escape.
Liminal Spaces and Visual Mastery
From a visual standpoint, Severance is an exemplary model of top-notch production design and atmosphere. The design of Lumon Industries features unlimited sterile spaces like long curvy white corridors, plain green carpet offices, and old 1980s computers processing unidentified figures.
There are no typical jump scares or even supernatural creatures. The horror rises from the ridiculousness of the corporate world utilized as mind manipulation.
Ideas such as “finger traps,”“waffle parties,” and “music dance breaks” replace the true human dignity. The series converts trivial corporate terminology into horrifying commands so that all still paths feel like a prison.
A Pacing Masterclass with Payoff
It appears some current mystery-box series are unable to provide an end to their mysteries due to their fast pace. However, Severance does not fall into such traps as it chooses to tell its story in slow motion, making viewers feel smart.
Unlike other series that rely on exposition, the writers of the Severance series build the tension in their given way. Each episode contains little pieces of information that will instantly be noticed by the viewers who pay close attention. The finale of the first season can be marked as one of the most disturbing and exciting TB hours.
In the eyes of cinephiles, Severance is the best example of storytelling. The show makes audiences think how much humanity they deserve to lose and in return gain comfort.