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It can be safely argued, at this point, that when it comes to choosing where to watch your favorite shows, Apple TV+ has quietly become the home to some of the best streaming options. Most people would reference a series like Ted Lasso when asked to namedrop the title that first launched Apple TV+ into mainstream awareness, but in the wake of other outstanding dramas such as For All Mankind, The Morning Show, and Foundation, an initially unassuming sci-fi thriller also premiered on the platform — and swiftly made its mark as one of the most original concepts ever put on the small screen.
It's been almost three years since Severance Season 1, created by Dan Erickson, first debuted, and while anticipation for more has only grown since that cliffhanger finale, Season 2 speaks to the adage that good things can absolutely come (or, in this case, return) to those who are willing to wait for it. It would be one thing if Severance's follow-up season immediately attempted to answer every lingering question viewers have. Instead, it deftly unspools an even greater and more thrilling sci-fi mystery, forcing you to realize just how deep the rabbit hole that is Lumon Industries truly goes — and making an incredibly strong case for itself as one of the best shows of the year, again.
What Is 'Severance' Season 2 About?
On the heels of a finale that dropped several bombshells about Lumon and the long-term, controversial effects of the titular severance program, none may have been more shocking than the revelation for Mark's (Adam Scott) innie that Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman), Lumon's wellness counselor, is also Gemma, his outie's wife — who had previously been believed to be deceased. Yet, as Season 2 swiftly reveals, Dylan's (Zach Cherry) daring choice to flip the overtime contingency switch, plunging everyone's innies into life outside Lumon, has unexpected repercussions for the Macrodata Refinement team when they finally return to work. For Helly (Britt Lower), she's now all too aware of her outie's true role in Lumon, and inwardly wrestles with just how much to disclose to the rest of the group. Irving (John Turturro), who had tried to contact his former co-worker Burt (Christopher Walken) on the outside, has been confronted by evidence that someone he has feelings for happens to be in another relationship. As for Mark, Ms. Casey's unmasking is a tricky situation to navigate, now that his innie has information his outie doesn't — and he's about to be heading right back into the lion's den to track her down.
The finale's ripple effects also play out for those in positions of power at the mysterious company. Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette), AKA Mrs. Selvig, faces heavy scrutiny for allowing such a significant breach to happen under her watch, and ultimately decides to go on a journey of self-discovery in an attempt to rediscover her true purpose at Lumon. Meanwhile, severed floor supervisor Seth Milchick (Tramell Tillman) attempts to revive morale among the employees, viewing their act of rebellion as something that can be remedied with the right combination of new snacks in the vending machine as well as a newly instituted retreat. In terms of a more public-facing presence, Helly's outie, who has now been revealed as the daughter of Lumon's CEO, must find a way to save face over her innie's unexpected outburst at that company gala in the Season 1 finale. As Mark's innie covertly attempts to find Ms. Casey while he's on the clock, accompanied by Helly, their efforts lead them into previously undiscovered departments inside Lumon, covering new terrain inside the building (and meeting new faces) that leads us to ponder the full extent of what this company is actually doing behind the scenes.
'Severance' Season 2 Answers as Many Questions as It Raises
Again, those looking for immediate answers to their most burning asks won't see all of them resolved over the course of Season 2 — but that's precisely what makes Severance such a good show in the first place. There are greater, external concerns to be had regarding Lumon and its intentions, as well as its ultimate goals, but there are just as many plot threads being pulled in terms of the new sense of self the MDR team has been given. Now, they all know what is going on for them beyond company walls, and are forced to reconcile this new awareness alongside their expected responsibilities. This big twist also lends Severance the opportunity to follow these characters outside Lumon, too, giving us a deeper glimpse into their outies' lives, and also affording the actors more of a chance to play both sides of one psyche.
Season 2 is a testament to this cast's strengths — chiefly Lower, who is tasked with portraying Helly R.'s open defiance right alongside Helena Eagan's crafted composure, as well as Scott, as the lines between Mark's innie and outie become more blurred than they ever have before. Cherry also delivers his best performance in the show to date, with Dylan's home life unexpectedly butting up against his work hours, and Turturro's Irving continues to follow his emotional throughline of weighing a forbidden love for another Lumon employee against a previously rigid adherence to every single one of the company's strange rules.
Tillman, who has arguably been one of the most underrated members of Severance's ensemble thus far, steps into a wholly new spotlight thanks to his character's shifting authority, and the results are phenomenal and engrossing to watch unfold onscreen. Milchick has always been an unsettling presence within the overall dynamic of the severed floor, but this season, he becomes a much more complicated antagonistic force while increasingly being taken to task by his own superiors for such ludicrous offenses as using overly big words or incorrectly paper-clipping a stack of reports. Arquette also gets welcome runway to expand on the enigmatic Harmony Cobel, as the story begins to hint that her ties to Lumon go much deeper than anyone could have ever predicted. Walken, too, returns for a continuation of Burt and Irving's convoluted romance, reaffirming that his chemistry with Turturro hasn't missed a single step — even if the season doesn't make nearly enough use of him as it should.
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'Severance' Season 2 Is a Triumph of Television
Image via Apple TV+
Alongside superb performances and writing, Severance remains one of the most visually stunning shows on television thanks to its direction. As Ben Stiller returns to helm five of the season's ten episodes (all of which were provided for review), he's joined by directors Uta Briesewitz (Westworld), Sam Donovan (The Crown), and Jessica Lee Gagné, each of whom continues to raise the bar that was already high after Season 1. It wouldn't be completely accurate to say this series has an obvious visual language when every episode boasts images that are completely different from the one prior, but each moment builds on the next to create an overall viewing experience the likes of which no other show could even dream of replicating. The contrast between Lumon's untarnished walls and the deep night of winter is just as clear as it's ever been, if not starker, emphasizing the divide that still persists between inside and outside. There are also relatively standalone installments that tell heartwrenching, isolated stories in and of themselves — Episode 7, in particular, will inevitably have viewers dissecting it for weeks after it drops, not just from an aesthetic standpoint but from a narrative one as well.
Severance is, at its core, the kind of TV show that was always going to get people talking thanks to its twisty nature, but with such a long break between seasons, there was also a risk of audience interest waning, especially when there are countless other shows worth tuning in for in the interim. Ultimately, however, Season 2 should silence any lingering concerns viewers might have through its stunning direction, outstanding performances, and sinuous, compelling mysteries. This evolving, mind-bending continuation, as crafted by Erickson and fellow writers Mohamad El Masri, Wei-Ning Yu, Anna Ouyand Moench, Erin Wagoner, Mark Friedman, and Adam Countee, cements Severance as an absolute triumph of television, proving beyond a shadow of any doubt that the best stories are always worth waiting for.
Severance Season 2 premieres January 17 on Apple TV+.
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Severance Season 2 deftly unspools an even greater and more thrilling sci-fi mystery, making a strong case for itself as one of 2025's best shows.
Pros
- Severance doesn't attempt to answer every lingering question; in fact, it introduces new mysteries for every one it solves.
- Britt Lower flawlessly balances the differences between Helly R. and Helena Eagan this season.
- Tramell Tillman becomes even more of a nefarious, complicated antagonist.
- Episode 7, in particular, is a mostly standalone installment that I haven't been able to stop thinking about.
Mark leads a team of office workers whose memories have been surgically divided between their work and personal lives. When a mysterious colleague appears outside of work, it begins a journey to discover the truth about their jobs.
Release Date February 18, 2022
Creator
Seasons 1
Story By dan erickson
Writers Dan Erickson
English (US) ·