Science fiction nugget broadcast on the Apple TV+ platform, Severance presents a strange and oppressive world, where memories can be manipulated by Lumon Industries. This biotechnology company has developed a process called “severance”, which separates employees’ memories into two distinct entities. There is Inter, present only in the professional context, and Exter, which only exists outside of it. At work, employees have no idea who they are on the outside and vice versa. Mark S. (Adam Scott) is one of the victims of this psychological dissociation procedure, aimed at controlling and manipulating the agents. If at first he seems to accept it, using his job as an escape from the death of his wife, quickly, thanks to a bundle of clues left by a missing former colleague, Petey, he discovers that behind this facade of progress lies hides a much darker truth.
By joining the Macrodata Refinement department, Mark finds himself immersed in closed offices where every gesture and every interaction is dictated by a company whose practices are as mystifying as they are threatening. The employees, cut off from all outside life, seem to function like automatons, locked in a mental prison. What was supposed to offer an illusion of well-being and productivity becomes fertile ground for resistance, led by characters like Helly R. (Britt Lower), who rebels against the system upon her arrival. Mark himself, who finds Petey dead, and his associates Irving B. (John Turturro) and Dylan G. (Zach Cherry) also begin to see the flaws.
Cascading awareness
Outside of work, Mark is continually monitored by manager Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette), who poses as a kindly neighbor, Mrs. Selvig.
As the season progresses, the rebellion intensifies. Helly, in particular, stands out for her attempts to escape, her desire to break the invisible chains imposed by Lumon. Her initially innocent efforts turn into disaster when her “Exter” refuses her resignation and she attempts suicide.
-In a finale full of twists and turns, Dylan activates a secret protocol allowing his fellow “innies” to access their external “selves”. Mark then discovers that his wife, whom he thought was dead, is alive and working under the identity of Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman), Lumon’s wellness advisor, while Helly realizes that she is in reality the daughter of the company’s CEO.
