The busy hustle of New York commuters in Grand Central Station came to a rare halt on Jan. 14. The object of attention? A simple glass box with an office set-up in which the star-studded cast of Apple TV’s “Severance” improvised as their characters from the show. The act successfully promoted the show’s upcoming second season, and as this marketing campaign has spread through social media, many have wondered if the show is worth catching up on. To which I would respond: Absolutely.
For readers who are fans of the hit sit-com “Parks and Rec,” you will be interested to know Adam Scott, who played Ben Wyatt, takes on the role of lead protagonist in “Severance.” Scott trades the light-hearted office life for the stark empty halls of Lumon Corporation. His character, Mark S., works on the severed basement floor of Lumon, where every employee has undergone the severance procedure. This controversial operation splits the patient’s mental state into two: an “innie” whose only conscious state exists within the walls of Lumon, and an “outie” who is only conscious outside of work.
At the start of season one, we see that “innie” Mark is content with his work and relationships with his coworkers, Irving B. and Dillon G. The trio work in Macro Data Refinement, or MDR, and after the sudden departure of their coworker, Petey K., they welcome their newest refiner, Helly R. Her introduction disrupts the calm and stale environment of their lonesome department. She questions what the refiners are actually working on and why they have to be severed to do it. Additionally, her “innie” character is devastated that she will never have a life outside of work, and her desperation leads to outbursts that cause the refiners to question the morality of severance and Lumon’s ulterior motive.
Director Ben Stiller and writer Dan Erikson combine forces on the creative direction of the show, and their decision to emphasize simplicity in set design perfectly juxtaposes the intricacy of the plot. The severed floor of Lumon is made up of winding white walls that feel like a maze to the audience, and because they never seem to end, it makes viewers question what else could be found in the endless halls. Additionally, the actors playing severed characters give excellent performances because of their ability to show slight changes in their demeanor when playing the “innie”/“outie” version of their character. Despite having some highly experienced actors, such as Christopher Walken, and new actors in their first big roles, the chemistry between the characters is undeniable and the talent of the actors generates a deep emotional response from the audience when conflict arises.
“Severance” is on its way to becoming a “classic” in television history because of its unique concept, superb acting and brilliant creativity. Instead of trying to catch up with everyone else once its story has concluded, turn on Apple TV and see what everyone has been raving about.
