Severance: Season 1

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Universal acclaim based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 109 Ratings

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8.7

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8.7	User Score Universal acclaim based on 109 Ratings

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Severance

Now Playing: Severance

Season Details & Credits

APPLE TV+ | Season Premiere Date: February 18, 2022

Summary: Mark Scout (Adam Scott) is one of several employees at Lumon Corporation who undergo a procedure which separates their work and home memories so they can only recall the ones related to where they are in this sci-fi thriller from Ben Stiller and created by Dan Erickson.

Creator: Dan Erickson

Genre(s): Drama, Suspense, Science Fiction

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Season 1 Episodes

10
S1:E9. The We We Are
Air Date: April 8, 2022
10
S1:E8. What's for Dinner?
Air Date: April 1, 2022
9.7
S1:E7. Defiant Jazz
Air Date: March 25, 2022

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

i Rachael Sigee

May 25, 2022

With an exceptional cast (rounded out by Patricia Arquette, John Turturro and Christopher Walken), this is an original, weird, thought-provoking and beautifully crafted story that asks just how much of ourselves we should give over to our jobs. Read full review

100

IndieWire Steve Greene

Feb 16, 2022

Whether you invest in the allegory, character arcs, or both, “Severance” hits its marks. Read full review

The Playlist Cory Woodroof

Feb 17, 2022

It’s a magnetic universe Erickson, Stiller (who directs six of the nine episodes of Season 1), and “Brave New World” director Aoife McArdle craft, one that pulls in the icy, mysterious pacing of Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman. It’s got twisty sci-fi worldbuilding that reminds you of a more procedural read on “Inception” and “The Matrix,” too, with maybe a spike of “The Truman Show” for good measure. Read full review

Judy Berman

Feb 16, 2022

Some plot twists introduce logistical difficulties that feel more like holes than like blanks waiting to be filled in. But the show only becomes more distinctive and captivating, as its nine-episode debut season races toward a genuinely jarring finale. Read full review

Naomi Fry

May 25, 2022

“Severance” is political in spite of itself—the employees’ dawning realization of their mutual oppression makes them accidental proletariat. And yet it is almost impossible to watch the show and not think of real-life parallels to the situation at Lumon. Read full review

David Canfield

Mar 18, 2022

This is strong, old-fashioned serial drama, in which characters propel plot—and not the other way around. Contrivances are rare, and when they do pop up, there’s minimal undermining of the show’s intricate storytelling. Read full review

Robert Lloyd

Feb 17, 2022

What exactly are we watching? As a critique of office life, it’s empty, and somewhat patronizing. ... There is certainly a strain of comedy being worked here, along with some seemingly random, one might say Buñuelian weirdnesses, but it is not often funny; at times, it feels meant as satire, but of what? ... The season finale is genuinely exciting and suspenseful, but, really, even as an advocate of slow television, we might have got there in half the time with twice the effect. Read full review

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User Score

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8.7

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User Reviews

Spawnvash

Mar 1, 2022

It's a must watch. After reading Ben Stiller would be directing this dark thriller, I didn't know what to expect; Kudos to him, the pacing, the filmography, the way you delve into character's arcs is fantastic. I honestly couldn't believe he had such a great vision and direction talentsIt's a must watch. After reading Ben Stiller would be directing this dark thriller, I didn't know what to expect; Kudos to him, the pacing, the filmography, the way you delve into character's arcs is fantastic. I honestly couldn't believe he had such a great vision and direction talents (apart from comedy). The writing is good. Music is great but a bit repetitive.… Expand

7 of 9 users found this helpful72

ion87

Dec 9, 2022

One of the best new shows on television. Great mystery, Great characters engaging story. Could not get enough. You deserve to watch this show.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Mystichydra

May 11, 2022

Absolutely loved it. It's a truly unique show, and one that is clearly not for everyone. Some consider it slow. But to me slowness is due to lack of engagement, to which Severance never suffered. Honestly, whether you like it or not depends basically on one key element - do you contemplateAbsolutely loved it. It's a truly unique show, and one that is clearly not for everyone. Some consider it slow. But to me slowness is due to lack of engagement, to which Severance never suffered. Honestly, whether you like it or not depends basically on one key element - do you contemplate things?

Before people get offended at the very notion of the question, consider this - there are people in this world that literally have no inner dialogue. There are people with aphantasia. And when I ask about contemplation, I don't mean a cursory glance at mortality and meaning, but a marination and meditation on deep concepts. To enjoy Severance, it's basically a prerequisite. If philosophy makes your eyes glaze over, you should probably seek your escapism elsewhere.

Criticisms like the L.A Times frankly shows to me that they just didn't 'get it'. Same with criticisms of plotlessness. Ben Stiller said this was his longest project to date, and it shows. It's a layered and complicated endeavor, and it actually rewards you for investing in the series. Unlike so many dead end shows.

The performances are great all around, not a single bad actor and perfectly cast. The directing is phenomenal (Stiller has always been underrated in this department), with many innovative camera angles and framing. The graduality of it was to me, perfect. Every added revelation or element was palpable and usually mystifying. And it shows how intensity can be achieved without relying on tired, uninspired tropes of death and violence. The script is amazing, and there are TONS of clues interspersed around both with dialogue and detail. I found myself pausing often to read things and take note.

To think that this started primarily as a workplace comedy. Some of the many examples of themes and concepts within Severance include - Religion, free-will, ship of Theseus, existentialism, compartmentalization, fascism, corporatism, pleasure and pain, escapism, connection, power, consciousness, duality, autonomy, meaning, the afterlife, paranoia, ontology, information, essentialism, cults, time, identity, memory, solipsism, nihilism, diligence, the psyche, humanism, happiness, surveillance, control, conditioning. There’s even an argument to be had that it has Gnostic and Kabalistic elements with the demiurge and the ascension/descension, respectively.

Honestly, you’re lucky to find a show that incorporates even one of these themes compellingly. Severance manages to interweave seamlessly and simultaneously, all of these and more.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Filazafer

Apr 12, 2022

I absolutely loved it. It’s beautifully shot, the music is amazing, and the acting is excellent. The characters quickly became people that I cared about. It’s also creepy and interesting and original. One of my favorite shows of all-time and as soon as I finished I wanted more, so II absolutely loved it. It’s beautifully shot, the music is amazing, and the acting is excellent. The characters quickly became people that I cared about. It’s also creepy and interesting and original. One of my favorite shows of all-time and as soon as I finished I wanted more, so I started again with episode 1. Believe the hype. The awards are coming and the inevitable Severance global obsession is just beginning.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

bignoisedoyle

Aug 10, 2022

Creative and innovative in a bizzare charlie kauffman like setting. It's fresh, the script and characters are amazing.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Archer_11

Aug 12, 2022

A must watch for fans of slow burn / big payoff TV. There's an issue though and it's a big one - the writers spend the first six episodes trading narrative pull for interminably dull world building. They're not the first to do this and won't be the last but it's a damn shame. The incredibleA must watch for fans of slow burn / big payoff TV. There's an issue though and it's a big one - the writers spend the first six episodes trading narrative pull for interminably dull world building. They're not the first to do this and won't be the last but it's a damn shame. The incredible final three episodes end feel more like a reward for persevering than the victory lap it could have been,… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

sam6666

May 10, 2022

Extremely slow and boring.
I only lasted 3.5 episodes of total boredom.
Don’t believe the hype.

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

SEE ALL 29 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

83

Series Overview
Season 1

83
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: February 18, 2022
- 10
  S1:E9. The We We Are
  Air Date: April 8, 2022
- 10
  S1:E8. What's for Dinner?
  Air Date: April 1, 2022
- 9.7
  S1:E7. Defiant Jazz
  Air Date: March 25, 2022
- 9.8
  S1:E6. Hide and Seek
  Air Date: March 18, 2022
- 9.6
  S1:E5. The Grim Barbarity of Optics and Design
  Air Date: March 11, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E4. The You You Are
  Air Date: March 4, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E3. In Perpetuity
  Air Date: February 25, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E2. Half Loop
  Air Date: February 18, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E1. Good News About Hell
  Air Date: February 18, 2022