So, I've been avoiding this thread for a while even though I posted the OP - finally got through our Disney backlog and switched over. Boy, what a fantastic show.
Definitely has some of the best vibes from Lost. However, Lost was always analogous to a Ponzi scheme for me. Somehow, the solving one mystery by borrowing from another mystery left the impression they could never deliver on the final element of the story (and they didn't). I can't put my finger on it, but somehow Severance has managed to better satisfy some intrigue and reward its viewers with answers while meanwhile creating new intrigue. I've got a lot more confidence that the storytellers can ultimately reconcile most, if not all, of the loose ends.
Agree with a lot of the sentiment on the discussion. The visuals are excellent. Tramell Tillman's acting chops as Mr. Milchick's are superior - his ability to go from all smiles to stone cold and back are ridiculous. I also think they've hit the sweet spot in the real vs over-the-top feeling of a big corporate environment - very relatable for many office workers. My one criticism - Irving's OTC experience seemed mostly pointless. Definitely not as measured as Helly's and Mark's.
I'm really interested to see how Mark and Helly make it back to their Innie state. You'd think Lumon wouldn't let them back in and that they're a big risk to the company at this point, and likewise, why would Mark Scout go back in? Looking forward to season 2.