Severance Season 2 Review: Funnier, Darker, More Intrigue
The Apple TV+ show Severance is returning for its second season. Read for a spoiler-free look at what's coming.
Praise Kier! After nearly three years, we are being blessed with the release of the second season of the Apple TV+ show Severance! The new season airs on January 17th, and I am here to give you my spoiler-free impressions of this long-awaited sci-fi horror show.
The first season of Severance introduced us to the process of the same name. The process allows people to insert a chip into their brains that will enable them to create a persona who only exists during work hours (the “innie”), and the rest of the time belongs to the person who had the procedure in the first place (the “outie”). While there is a certain kind of joy in the idea of completely separating your work life and the rest of your life, the show quickly points out how that creates an ethical conundrum for your innie. (For a full recap of season 1, click here.)
In season 2, these conversations about the separation between innies and outies are explored in much greater detail. Through this season of Severance, there are stories that amplify the ways that innies and outies see one another. The themes are definitely where this season shines. However, some aspects of the story make me think that the response to season 2 will likely be divisive.
Eventually, the Macrodata Refiners we know and love from season 1 return to finish their mysterious and important work, and yes, we will get an answer about that by the end of the season. After the uprising from MDR at the end of last season, Lumon is making efforts to create a more pleasant work environment for its employees: new perks and new experiences, including an Outdoor Retreat Team Building Occurance (ORTBO). But despite the latest offerings, there continues to be mistrust among the team toward those in charge.
Each of the teammates in MDR has some fantastic arcs this season. As mentioned before, there is far more going on between the innies and outies, which applies to each character in MDR. Irving (John Turturro) maintains his mistrust of Lumon and his infatuation with Burt (Christopher Walken) from Optics and Design. Helly (Britt Lower) has difficulty squaring what she discovered about her outie with what is happening inside MDR. And Dylan (Zach Cherry) has an exceptional arc where we learn more about who his outie is and how that relates to who he is as a severed employee.
Given that much of the show is centered on Mark S (Adam Scott), we get a lot more about his story. We also finally receive some answers regarding what is going on with Gemma/Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman). In episode 7, we get a lot of their backstory and it helps us better understand Mark’s choice to sever.
In season 2 of Severance, we also learn a bit more about Lumon. We see just how vast the stretch of Lumon is beyond what we learned in the first season. We get significantly more background on Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette) and a closer look at Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman), making their characters much richer and fleshed out.
There are also a number of new characters introduced this season, though unfortunately, only two felt like they added much to the overarching narrative. And even there, Sarah Bock’s character feels as though she is underserved by the story.
This season's performances, particularly from the four core actors, are amped up from the first season. Because we get a lot more time with the outie versions of the MDR department, the subtle differences between the innie and outie versions become much more critical, and they all do an exceptional job with this. Tillman, as Milchick, also excels at the subtlety that his character must display. As much as I appreciated the acting in season 1, season 2 is even better.
That doesn’t mean that this is a perfect season of television. While the themes this season are much stronger, some of the logistics of what it means to be severed feel a bit more loosey-goosey. I don’t generally get too hung up on all of the particulars of how tech that doesn’t exist entirely works, but I at least want there to be some consistency in universe, and this season stretches that beyond what felt credible.
Additionally, like the last, this season ends with many unanswered questions, some of which can wait for a third season, but some of which can leave the viewer feeling unsatisfied. After a nearly three-year wait between seasons, the unanswered mystery boxes can begin to feel frustrating, which is part of my belief that this season will be a divisive one.
But even with some elements that didn’t work, there is plenty to love about Severance, season 2. This season is funnier. It is darker. The production design is even more impressive. The story demands more from the actors. And what makes it truly special is that it demands more from us as viewers, as well. This season asks those of us in the audience to really think about the value given to the lives of the innies and the outies, at times forcing us to root for one or the other and exposing some of our own biases. The best kind of television will make us think more about the world and our place in it. In that regard, Severance is some of the best television you’ll see.
Can’t wait!