Fans of Remedy’s CONTROL Need to Check Out Apple TV’s Severance

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Ever since the second season of “Severance” on Apple TV debuted, I’ve found myself deeply captivated by it. This captivating drama never fails to impress me each Friday.

For those unfamiliar, Severance is a thought-provoking drama set in a world where workers undergo a unique process. This process creates two separate identities within an employee, active only at work. When they step outside the office, they return to their original selves, unaware of any events that transpired inside their corporate environment.

It’s a bizarre setup and a clear allegory for oppressive corporate environments.

However, I find myself delving into discussions about Severance as it seems to echo some captivating parallels with one of my most cherished video games ever: CONTROL by Remedy Entertainment. As I progress through each season, from the first to the current Season 2, I can’t help but spot recurring aspects that appear in Severance.

Here are a few reasons why I believe CONTROL fans will enjoy Severance:

Oppressive Corporate Overlords

In a common theme among dystopian stories, the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC) from CONTROL and Lumon Corporation from Severance are two large institutions known for their manipulation and control over individuals. It’s intriguing to observe these entities portrayed as oppressive forces that delight in exploiting people for their own gain.

As a devoted enthusiast, I find myself pondering: In the FBC’s realm, they conceal strange occurrences using covert media manipulation tactics. Contrastingly, a biotech firm like Lumon pushes control to the absolute limit, even reviving individuals from the dead. These striking resemblances have me musing if perhaps Ben Stiller’s character in CONTROL might have crossed paths with such an entity and drawn inspiration for his role. The mysteries of the universe continue to unfold!

Faceless Authorities

One notable resemblance between these entities is their employment of enigmatic leaders whose identities remain hidden. In the case of Severance, Lumon’s Board communicates in an old-fashioned speaker, producing static and unclear murmurs. Only a select few are able to understand its coded messages, further enhancing the unsettling allure surrounding the organization.

In CONTROL, just like Lumon, the Functional Biostasis Chamber (FBC) is overseen by a mystical entity known as The Board. Like Lumon’s management, The Board communicates in enigmatic and piecemeal fashion, which only a select few can decipher. Unlike Lumon, though, The Board makes an effort to impart meaning through the use of words (semantics), whereas Lumon’s messages are even more abstract and hard to interpret.

Minimalist Designs

In their unique styles, both FBC and Lumon prioritize a design ethos inspired by traditional technology. Mark S., within his personal workspace CONTROL, utilizes a customized mechanical keyboard alongside an upgraded Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitor. Meanwhile, Jesse Faden traverses vintage typewriter-lined corridors and communicates with the ghostly former directors using a classic Bakelite telephone.

In a unique twist, both tales imbue ordinary items with an eerie and enigmatic quality, creating an atmosphere of unfamiliarity and discomfort. Whilst Lumon’s computers maintain a mysterious function that even devoted fans have not yet fully grasped, the FBC’s hidden [REDACTED] data is shrouded in multiple layers of secrecy.

It’s not surprising that these organizations prefer outdated technologies over newer ones, as the latter tend to be excessively susceptible to cyber attacks.

Strange Psychological Horror

Ultimately, both stories feature unsettling psychological horror stemming from distorted memories and profound traumas. In Jesse Faden’s story, the trauma from the Ordinary Incident indelibly shaped her life. For Mark S. in Severance, losing someone dear led him to undergo the procedure for separation of his consciousness.

In both tales, I find myself grappling with how these powerful entities mercilessly capitalize on their characters’ personal tragedies, using manipulation to further their selfish goals. It’s a chilling reminder of the dark side of ambition.

In the world of Severance, there’s no entity similar to The Hiss lurking on the Severed Floor as found in other stories. However, if Jesse Faden were confined within Lumon, it would present a unique situation – her telekinetic abilities would certainly stir things up. Mr. Milchick would most likely be petrified under such circumstances.

It’s true that there may be some comparisons that seem a bit far-fetched, but there’s something about these narratives that keeps me hooked. Maybe it’s the unusual narrative structure, where we can never be entirely sure of the characters due to an invisible power constantly shaping their world. In ‘Severance’, it’s Lumon, and in ‘CONTROL’, it’s The Board. Both entities are ominous, and I genuinely wish our heroes can find a way out of the nightmarish situations they’ve found themselves in.

If you appreciate CONTROL, now might be an excellent opportunity for you to explore Severance on Apple TV, a series directed and produced by Ben Stiller. If Severance piqued your interest, perhaps you’d enjoy delving into one of the all-time great video games as well?

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2025-02-17 23:43