It’s been three years since Severance captivated us with its mystery-filled plot. Apple’s darkish comedy thriller sequence rightly earned loads of acclaim and awards for its debut season, however, amid the seemingly infinite unanswered questions its twisty-turny story posed, one specifically has stood out since season 1 resulted in April 2022: might a second installment, which was greenlit days after season 1’s ultimate entry, reside as much as and even exceed fan expectations?
Despite a prolonged improvement cycle that was hindered by the 2023 Hollywood strikes, the reply is a powerful sure on each fronts. Season 2 is as tightly-paced and enthrallingly enigmatic as its forebear however, galvanized by an stronger emotional core, and a deliberate however methodical splicing of its real-world and Lumon Industries-set storylines, Severance‘s long-overdue return has been definitely worth the wait.
‘Welcome again, Mark… been a minute’
After a quick audio montage of the season 1 finale’s bombshell moments performs over a black display screen, Severance season 2 opens on Mark Scout’s (Adam Scott) surprisingly swift return to Lumon. Episode 1’s cleverly-executed ‘one-shot’ reintroduction sequence, which is actually an prolonged model of Severance season 2’s first teaser, exhibits Mark’s ‘innie’ – i.e. Mark S – racing by means of the shady establishment’s maze-like corridors to seemingly reunite together with his colleagues Helly R (Britt Lower), Dylan G (Zach Cherry), and Irving B (John Turturro).
I might’ve preferred to have seen extra of Mark butting heads together with his new co-workers
Or so he thinks. Eventually discovering his manner again to the Macrodata Refinement workplace, Mark S is unexpectedly greeted by some unfamiliar faces, together with the Severed Floor’s new deputy supervisor Ms Wong (Sarah Bock).
Seth Milchick (Tramell Tillman), who’s changed Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette) because the the ground’s head honcho, then seems to disclose that 5 months have handed since Mark and his fellow ‘innies’ carried out their Overtime Contingency stunt. That jail break-style quest, dubbed the ‘Macrodata Uprising’, noticed the ‘innies’ efficiently – albeit briefly – merge with their ‘outies’ in the true world and nearly expose Lumon’s nefarious working practices to the unsuspecting public. That incident, Milchick claims, led to ‘Severance Reform’, a supposedly radical overhaul of Lumon’s working situations and workers’ rights.
But it is not all excellent news. Per extra succinct story exposition, Milchick claims that Helly, Irving, and Dylan determined to not rejoin Mark at Lumon, therefore the aforementioned strangers being employed to switch them.
This particular revelation cleverly reimagines the present’s very first episode, which noticed Mark S welcome chaotic newcomer Helly to Lumon. This time, Mark is positioned because the group’s rebel-in-chief, together with his makes an attempt to sabotage his new colleagues and reunite together with his earlier workmates bringing the sequence’ pleasing mix of absurdist humor and disquieting drama to the fore mere minutes into season 2’s premiere.
Peculiarly, this nascent staff restructuring is a short-lived affair as, spoilers however, it is not lengthy earlier than Mark S is reunited together with his Lumon friends. Given the slick and sharp chemistry between the present’s major solid, I perceive why creator Dan Erickson and director/producer Ben Stiller waste little time in reconnecting them. Nevertheless, I might’ve preferred to have seen extra of Mark butting heads together with his new co-workers, and raging in opposition to the megacorporate machine over their hiring to humorous and dramatic impact earlier than being reunited with the aforementioned trio.
Getting the band again collectively
That reunion, which happens simply earlier than episode 1’s midpoint, is necessitated by season 2’s overarching plot, and the inter- and intrapersonal relationships that make the Apple TV Plus present tick.
Severance‘s power lies within the friendships, and the budding romance between Mark S and Helly, that have been established in season 1. So, whereas there is a have to fill within the narrative gaps between final season’s cliffhanger and this season’s premiere – a sequence of episode 2 flashbacks get us in control on what’s occurred within the interim – increasing on these key relationships and different character-driven elements is important to Severance‘s ongoing success. It’s not an entire shock, then, that Mark S is reunited together with his buddies as early as potential.
Season 2’s expasion of these key relationships and different character-driven elements is important to Severance’s ongoing success
But issues aren’t hunky dory upon the group’s reformation. Whether it is Helly’s reluctance to inform the others that her ‘outie’ is none aside from Helena Egan, aka the daughter of Lumon’s present CEO, or different spoiler-filled subplots which I can not increase on, season 2 does a upstanding job of placing its core characters by means of the psychological and emotional wringer. Much of that stems from their particular person and collective decision-making in final season’s finale, the ramifications of that are keenly felt on this season’s early episodes and make for engrossing viewing as Mark S and firm grapple with the severity and significance of their so-called rebellion.
Those issues additionally convey the conflicting beliefs, motives, and wishes of every particular person’s ‘outie’ and ‘innie’ into sharp focus. As the present’s protagonist, Mark’s intrapersonal dynamic was examined extensively all through season 1, however, as he wrestles with new and long-standing points this season, there is a gratifying evolution to his character arc that places a definite spin on the sequence’ exploration of morality. Indeed, whether or not it is his need to give up Lumon, guarantee his ‘innie’ succeeds in rescuing Ms Casey (Dichen Lachman) – bear in mind, she’s the ‘innie’ model of Mark’s deceased, real-world spouse – or take an experimental, life-threatening leap into the unknown, the ethical complexities of Mark and his ‘innie’ character really feel extra substantial this season.
Season 2 does a upstanding job of placing its core characters by means of the psychological and emotional wringer
Pleasingly, this exploration additionally extends to Helly, Irving B, and Dylan G, how the alternatives made by their ‘innie’ personas influence their ‘outies’, and the rising unease and/or anger over the shortage of autonomy that these ‘innies’ have in comparison with their ‘outie’ counterparts.
Just as season 1 did with Mark, season 2 analyzes who these individuals are exterior of Lumon, together with the struggles they face – sure, even somebody as emotionally manipulative and callous as Helena is confronted with on a regular basis challenges – and the real-world relationships they preserve. Examining the lives of every character’s ‘outie’ humanizes (or, in Helena’s case, dehumanizes) them in enlightening methods and sometimes made me re-evaluate who I used to be rooting for as new gentle was shed on the ethical ambiguity of, and inner battles going down inside, every character.
Out of workplace
Following on from the embryonic mixing of the real-world and Lumon narratives in final season’s finale, Severance‘s second chapter slowly and intentionally continues to merge its twin storylines collectively, oftentimes to devastating impact. From episode 4’s real-world firm retreat for the ‘innies’, which provides a deliciously novel layer of trippy horror to proceedings, to Lumon’s unsevered higher-ups wilfully in search of out the Macrodata Refiners’ family members, resembling Mark’s sister Devon (Jen Tullock) for devilish causes, the interweaving of the ‘innie’ and ‘outie’ worlds triggers some blindsiding character incidents that’ I believe will reverberate by means of season 2 and past.
The interweaving of the ‘innie’ and ‘outie’ worlds triggers some blindsiding character moments
Season 2’s much-needed exploration of the broader menace posed by Lumon is most welcome, too. The Egan family-founded group’s questionable practices have been notable from the outset, however there was the inherent perception amongst audiences that their operation was restricted to the US. Season 2 closely implies that this is not the case, nonetheless, and I’m definitely intrigued to see how large Lumon’s world attain is as this season and the general sequence progresses, and whether or not Mark S and his cohorts stand any likelihood of tearing it down from the within.
Severance‘s means to dangle mysteries proper in entrance of our noses with out providing a lot, if something, in the best way of explanations is equally riveting. Season 2 maintains the present’s puzzle-laced aura and penchant for ‘new bizarre’ storytelling with mesmeric impact, and I’m satisfied an immeasurable quantity of latest fan theories will likely be born out of the most recent secrets and techniques and enigmas it presents. Oh, and for anybody besotted by season 1’s child goats, you will be happy to study that, regardless that they have been teased in Severance season 2’s official trailer, their reappearance is not superficial. Just do not anticipate any of your most urgent questions on them to be answered (there’s, although, an amusing season 1 call-back as a part of this installment’s goats-based subplot, which I appreciated).
As for this season’s fledgling new dynamics, Milchick and Ms Wong’s is essentially the most worthy of being highlighted. The introduction of different enigmatic characters, resembling Mr. Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson), definitely add sinister weight to among the finest Apple TV Plus exhibits’ sophomore outing. Nevertheless, the addition of a pre-teen in Bock’s Ms Wong to Lumon’s ranks underpins the clandestine group’s iniquitous nature and solely intensifies the unease I felt each time she appeared and/or was chastized by considered one of her superiors. Her hiring as Milchick’s junior and questioning of his true aspirations, although, ruffles her supervisor’s feathers, and I’m fascinated to see how this dynamic evolves as season 2 progresses.
Harmony Cobel is essentially relegated to the sidelines in season 2’s early entries
The solely minor problem I’ve with this dynamic is it deprives us of season 1’s tetchy and enthralling Cobel-Milchick partnership. In truth, Cobel is essentially relegated to the sidelines in season 2’s early entries, which significantly disenchanted me. I’ve little doubt that Arquette’s cryptic particular person has a much bigger function to play in Severance‘s sequel season, however I might’ve liked to see extra of her verbal bouts with Lumon’s hierarchy and Mark, particularly within the wake of final season’s fiery finale.
My verdict
Watch On
If Severance wasn’t already considered one of Apple’s greatest TV Originals, I’d say it deserves a promotion. Season 1 positioned it as a whip-smart program that poked enjoyable at workplace tradition and the ability that multinational firms wield, and that helped to distinguish it from the group.
I’d argue, although, that its follow-up is a darker, extra unsettlingly comedic, oft-times saccharine, and intelligently assembled season that is equal elements a coming-of-age story and company retelling of the traditional David versus Goliath story. Truth be advised, there’s little or no about Severance season 2 that made me need to *ahem* sever ties with it. Simply put, it is the primary unmissable present of 2025.
Severance season 2 premieres on Apple TV Plus on Friday, January 17. New episodes air weekly.
