Just started my re-watch and those were my initial thoughts as well

I just finished watching this for the first time. It took me a while to get into it, but eventually it did hook me. I feel like the first couple of episodes were pretty slow, and I don't really like how weird everyone in the town is. In some ways, the four in the Microdata Refinement were the most normal people on the show. I feel like I saw a lot of the twists coming, but also, they were done in a way that felt earned.

Some of my theories. I haven't read the whole thread yet, so maybe all of this has already been discussed. I assume spoiler tags aren't needed anymore since this show is a couple of years old.

• I think the weird ass brother in law who is running a cult is also related to the Eagan family. I think he's Helly's brother, but could be a cousin or something. I think he either left the family over a disagreement with severance, or had his own severance procedure to forget being part of the family. His book sounded exactly like the Lumon book. He is definitely starting a cult to rival the Eagans. He is weird af. Too weird to not somehow be tied to Lumon.
• The wife is in a coma and is only being left alive to be part of severance. There really was a car accident, and Lumon took her body and did a severance to see if they could keep people alive. In season 2, Mark is going to have to choose between shutting down Lumon and killing his wife, or keeping his wife alive and keeping hundreds of others in severance.
• Ms. Cobel went through permanent severance after the death of her mother. The only people who seem to revere Kier as a god are those that went through the procedure. She has a whole shrine to him at her house, along with a breathing tube. I think her mother died and she severed herself to forget about her, but she is somehow breaking through, and is praying to Kier to try and bring her mother back.
• The macrodata refinement process is how they keep the two halves of people separated. They are scanning people's brains looking for memories that are breaking through. Once they find one, they remove them and it keeps the person's two sides separate.

I've seen six episodes of #Severance Season 2. Early contender for the best TV show of 2025 and – if it sticks the landing – the best show of the decade. Amazing stuff. Here's my review (no spoilers, of course): https://t.co/ilBBFthuKg

— Cameron Frew (@FrewFilm) January 7, 2025

https://bsky.app/profile/sepinwall.bsky.social/post/3lf5sqwx6tk23

walton91 said:

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https://bsky.app/profile/sepinwall.bsky.social/post/3lf5sqwx6tk23

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I'm cautiously optimistic that Alan thought it was great because I used to trust his reviews implicitly but I've differed with him wildly on a few shows over the last few years. That being said, he's still the best TV reviewer out there IMO.

Just finished my S1 rewatch - it's been 3 YEARS since we went down that severed elevator. Recommend doing a watch if you are gearing up for S2 in a few weeks. I finished the finale last night - absolute doozy of an episode. The first 20 minutes have that almost disorienting camera swipe / rotation and close up portrait shots of our MDR team. Can you imagine how surreal it would be to show up in a completely separated part of your life and you have no recollection of anything? Thought it was funny Irv getting in that car - and sorta knowing how to drive, but letting your muscle memory take control. I had completely forgotten about the Waffle Party and the tempers kinks. I needed a cigarette after that hour of television.

SEVERANCE S2…..beautifully deranged, weirder, darker, BETTER??? It’s on a heater this season. Doesn’t miss a beat in its confident and meticulous approach to this world. Emotionally rich and complex. All of those fun narrative possibilities you only imagined? Buckle up. pic.twitter.com/KCHa12Y3pG

— sam (@burritoprophet) January 7, 2025

'Severance' Season 2 review: This masterpiece will exceed your wildest dreams (and nightmares) https://t.co/Q6AB1mKWJq pic.twitter.com/twIFgxmVgY

— Decider (@decider) January 7, 2025

'SEVERANCE' Season 2 is Generational TV in the making.

A flawless showcase of craft, performance, and taut, compulsive storytelling. If it sticks the landing, it belongs in the highest echelon of television – and we should feel jubilant at its ascendance. pic.twitter.com/FgnkZxtd5m

— ScreenTime (@screentime) January 7, 2025

'Severance' Season 2 Is Surreal, Stylish and Worth the Wait: TV Review https://t.co/raXJ7Cvkun

— Variety (@Variety) January 7, 2025

#Severance S2 debuts to 100% on Rotten Tomatoes — based on 33 reviews

It's now Certified Fresh 🍅 pic.twitter.com/GAlaWhvMUP

— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) January 7, 2025

I desperately need Apple to release a season one recap, like they did for season one of Silo, right before season two aired. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to rewatch season one in full and am jealous of those who did. Will knock out the finale again for sure, though, as that was easily one of the best hours of television of the last decade or so, IMO.

Does anyone know if Severance is an original story? Or is it based on another work like a book or show in another country?

It's an original story.

Creator Dan Erickson wrote the pilot on spec (meaning on his own time/no one commissioned him to write it), it eventually made its way to Ben Stiller, and the rest is history.

According to Wikipedia:

Quote:

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Erickson had worked in an office job before writing the show, stating in an interview, "The initial ideas came to me while I was working a really bad office job and going through a somewhat depressive state." Erickson said his job was so mind-numbing that he wished he could "skip the eight hours of the workday, to disassociate and just get it over with," which became the premise of the show.

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Logging into work every morning, I wish severance was a real thing... Expert my Innie would probably go crazy and murder a lot of people. Which makes me wonder, if an Innie goes postal and kills someone, does the Outie hold any responsibility? Could they just end the severance, thus giving the Innie the death penalty? Or should the Outie get some jail time, too?

TCTTS said:

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It's an original story.

Creator Dan Erickson wrote the pilot on spec (meaning on his own time/no one commissioned him to write it), it eventually made its way to Ben Stiller, and the rest is history.

According to Wikipedia:

Quote:

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Erickson had worked in an office job before writing the show, stating in an interview, "The initial ideas came to me while I was working a really bad office job and going through a somewhat depressive state." Erickson said his job was so mind-numbing that he wished he could "skip the eight hours of the workday, to disassociate and just get it over with," which became the premise of the show.

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Man, I've had jobs like this. Fortunately, not for long and not in a long time. The days would crawl by at an absolute snails pace. Then spend the evening dreading the next day. Fun stuff.