The World Expands in ‘Severance’ Season Two

Tramell Tillman in Severance | Credit: Apple TV+

In season two, workers on Lumon’s severed floor are forced to confront their reality both inside and outside of work. Relationships deepen, secrets are revealed, and new alliances are made.

Severance has proven to be one of the best TV shows today. Each episode is creative, smartly written, and has a lot to say about our world today. The first season was a huge hit, and after a three-year wait, we finally got the continuation of this story.

It was a long wait, but it was definitely worth it. The show picks up after the first season’s bombshell finale episode. Each of the characters has to deal with the fallout of the innies making their way into the outie world. These severed workers have changed everything, and it’s fascinating to see how Lumon responds to their actions.

What Lumon doesn’t seem to understand is that each of the workers has also been changed by this experience. The status quo that they had once accepted without much question or pushback is no longer satisfying for them. They aren’t content to just do their refining tasks—they need something more.

Interestingly enough, each of the MDR characters is driven by a deepening relationship with someone else. As they begin to experience strong feelings for a person outside of themselves, they are changed. Isn’t that so much like life? Our relationships change us. The people that we love have an influence on us, and we see that in the show, too.

Mark (Adam Scott) is motivated to find his outie’s wife, Gemma (Dichen Lachman), while also deepening his own relationship with Helly (Britt Lower). Dylan (Zach Cherry) wants to know more about his outie’s wife and children. The small prizes that he used to win for completing his tasks no longer satiate him. And Irving (John Turturro) is affected by Burt’s (Christopher Walken) departure from Lumon.

Because each of these characters has been awakened to something new, they can’t just do their MDR job anymore. They are looking for purpose and connection. The dispassionate workers that they may have once been are gone. This, of course, makes it difficult for Milchick (Tramell Tillman) to manage them despite his best attempts.

All of these relational dynamics and more help make for some really interesting and exciting moments throughout the season. The character growth that we see over the course of the season is fascinating! Each episode of season two reveals something new and interesting about these characters. And the character choices make you want to keep watching.

Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, and Adam Scott in Severance | Credit: Apple TV+

Severance is known for its really great worldbuilding. And there’s plenty of that in this season! These ten episodes take us out of the Lumon offices multiple times, showing us different towns and locations in this world.

In episode four, the MDR team goes on a team-building experience in the middle of a snowy forest. The location is a perfect mix of beautiful and horrifying, which fits the vibe of the episode. We learn more about the lore and mythology behind Lumon and just how deeply these beliefs about Kier run. This episode helps deepen our understanding of the mysticism behind Kier and opens up so many more questions along the way.

Later in the season, we get to see Harmony’s (Patricia Arquette) hometown, which is visually different than what we’re used to seeing. Instead of the warmer tones that we see in Mark’s home, for instance, everything in Harmony’s hometown looks neglected, cold, and worn down. This is a place that was once thriving but has fallen into some level of disrepair. Watching her explore this new location is fascinating!

In addition to new physical locations, we see new aspects of these characters’ lives. In one episode, we learn more about Mark and Gemma’s history. This episode is visually distinct from every other episode we have seen thus far. This episode is warm and filled with many vignettes of their relationship: from their dating to their married life, from the joyful moments to the heartbreaking ones, and everything in between. In one episode, we get a glimpse into their relationship, which makes Mark and Gemma's current situation all the more horrifying.

All of this culminates in the season finale that continues to play with all of these complex relationship dynamics and visual choices. This episode does an incredible job of storytelling through the various lighting that is chosen throughout. The season finale plays with a lot of reds, a color that we haven’t seen much of, but is vital in this episode and, presumably, will play an important role in the forthcoming season three.

Adam Scott in Severance | Credit: Apple TV+

Severance is a wild show that continues to deliver entertaining and thoughtful episodes week after week. This is one of the best currently airing, and I can’t wait to see what the team behind it will come up with for season three. The season ends with a bang, setting up so many questions to explore in the future.

We don’t know when the next season is coming, but when it does, we’ll be ready to review it episode by episode on TV & Us.