TV Show Review: Severance

‘Severance’ is an on-going TV show that centres around the life of Mark Scout and his work

life. Mark Scout is a severed employee, who works on the basement level of Lumon

Industries. This means that he has undergone the procedure of severance. When an

individual is severed, their consciousness and memory is split into two distinct identities

sharing one vessel. The versions of Mark are entirely unaware of what the other is like or

how they live. In Mark’s case, he has been severed so that the moment he steps onto the

floor he works on, he has no recollection of the events that occur. In other words, his ‘innie’,

dubbed Mark S, takes control of his physical body. Mark S has no recollection or memory of

the outside world, so although he knows what a sky is, he has never seen one. His life is

limited and experienced only in the moment that Mark goes to work. Similarly, Mark Scout, the ‘outie’ is oblivious to anything that transpires when he is at work.

The show lets us observe both personas of Mark, and allows us to view two distinct

personalities being maintained in one person. Things take a notable turn, when Mark S and

his severed colleagues begin to question the work they do that is always described to them

as ‘mysterious and important’. They start to carry out covert investigations on their own to

discover the truth about their workplace. Mark Scout also begins to suspect the sincerity of

the severance procedure and becomes inquisitive. There are many people in the town who

are less than impressed by the concept of severance and others who only see the benefits it

offers.

Severance is a show that poked at my empathy and made me consider whether standing

with the resistance this time is the right move. The innies believe they are alive although they

only know life within work, and some countries disregard their feelings as not real. The concept

of separate consciousness and sentience makes me ponder on what it truly means to be

alive. Innies are expected to do what they were created for and are terminated whenever

their counterparts please. Outies use this procedure to free themselves from things that

cause them discomfort. The severance has commendable cinematography and pacing that

has left me wondering ‘what happens next?’ The variations make me wonder how one

person can harbour such vast identities, and just how certain I am or people are in their

identities. It makes me think about the possibility of me being me is, and how sure I am that I

will always connect with the people I already have in my life.

Alas, nothing can ever be truly perfect. The concept and plot of the show is exceptionally

engaging, however the exposition could be clearer. There are many plot holes that need to

be addressed and I would love to understand the initiation of the severance procedure more.

There’s also the concern of the logic behind some actions of the characters. I was left

wondering about the thinking process of many of them. I will be giving it the benefit of the

doubt and anticipate a better storyline in the coming season.

Severance is a very entertaining show that I have concluded would have you sympathizing

with both counterparts. You’ll be left thinking about how different a person could be and what

leads to the personalities people have. It’s definitely a show I would recommend to deep

thinkers and fans of mystery or simple thrillers.

Written by, Amina Abdulkareem