The Mysterious Setting of Apple TV+’s ‘Severance’

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  • The Outside World in ‘Severance‘ Feels Off
  • Is the Outside World in ‘Severance’ Another Prison?
  • ‘Severance’ Season 2 Promises to Peel Back the Curtain

Following a three-year hiatus that seemed like six, the popular series Severance has made its grand return. Last week brought the season opener, delivering an intriguingly trippy and darkly humorous reentry, complete with a surprising, albeit unacknowledged, appearance by Keanu Reeves. Although it primarily served to refresh our memories after such a long absence, it also hinted at several intriguing enigmas that we can’t wait to follow along as they unfold.

Based on the chatter from critics, this year promises to be an exhilarating journey. The team behind the scenes hints at uncovering more secrets surrounding the series, providing a clearer picture of their grand narrative. Whether they’ll delve into Dr. Casey’s past as Outie Mark’s spouse or disclose Lumon’s ultimate intentions derived from employee work, only time will tell. What we eagerly anticipate is that Severance‘s second season clarifies one of our most intriguing questions: what is the true location of the outside world, and does it exist within our reality?

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The Outside World in ‘Severance’ Feels Off

Looking back at the initial season, it’s evident that something about Severance’s world outside Lumon offices has an unsettling ring of incongruity. For instance, Mark’s neighborhood appears eerily empty and lacking in human presence; it strikes one as oddly convenient that Harmony Cobel/Mrs. Selvig, his neighbor, just happens to live next door. In the season finale, when Helly addressed a company gathering (an event that sets up an intriguing twist for Season 2), the attendance was strikingly low, raising suspicions about the authenticity of the scene.

Before delving into the finer points of this setting, let’s note some peculiarities: The roads are usually deserted, only characters drive cars, and it almost always snows. It might seem that the small population outside is just a coincidence since most of the first season was filmed during the post-COVID pandemic when social distancing and quarantining were common.

However, Severance continues to present numerous peculiarities that are difficult to overlook. For instance, Dr. Reghabi, a minor character in Season 1 who was once a surgeon at Lumon and assisted in Petey’s reintegration, is the same person who implanted Mark’s severance chip. Her extensive knowledge about his past remains untold, and her dramatic entrance on the show when she rescued Mark from the head of security suggests that she may reappear in future episodes.

The town inhabited by the characters labeled “outies” is surprisingly called Kier, named after Lumon’s founder, Kier Eagan. Inside and outside of Lumon, Eagan’s teachings are followed with an intensity bordering on cultish devotion, resulting in temples dedicated to him. Remarkably, a faithful replica of his house is hidden within the Perpetuity Wing at Lumon. Given the show’s emphasis on Eagan and his significance, it seems likely that he or his influence will have a significant role in future events, despite him having supposedly passed away years ago.

Is the Outside World in ‘Severance’ Another Prison?

Among fans of the show “Severance”, there’s a widely discussed idea that the character Eagan might still be alive, despite uncertainties regarding how this could be possible. If Eagan is indeed involved and potentially pulling the strings behind the scenes at Lumon, one may wonder if his influence doesn’t stretch beyond his company, given the devout following he appears to have. Couldn’t it be plausible that he would also wish to wield power in the world outside of Lumon?

Initially, it’s concerning that the town bears his name and seems almost devoid of people. Moreover, it’s evident that Kier, as a city, heavily relies on Lumon for income, with every restaurant we’ve seen named after different family members of his. It appears that Mark and other residents live in housing supported by Lumon, and the neighborhood resembles the uniform and conformist layout of Lumon’s offices within the company.

In examining the typical themes of the science-fiction genre in which Severance is set, one recurring element is the idea of an artificial or simulated reality. Much like The Matrix, a renowned cyberpunk film, portrayed the stifling psychological impact of corporate culture, with characters eventually discovering that their world was intentionally crafted as a tool for control. Given the thematic similarities between Severance and this concept, could it be possible that the outside world, like the offices of Lumon, is also just as much a simulation?

‘Severance’ Season 2 Promises to Peel Back the Curtain

It’s all just speculation at this point, but now that Severance has returned for a second season, it might not last long since the creative team hinted that we’ll be getting answers this year. We can hardly wait to delve deeper into the mystery. Stream Severance Season 2 on Apple TV+, with new episodes airing every Friday.

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2025-01-25 07:01