Never before has the topic of work-life balance been viewed through the science fiction lens in such a twisted, strange and eerie way as in the thriller series Severance. On January 17, 2025, the surreal office madness returns with season 2 after a break of almost three (!) years. In this article we’ll tell you why no sci-fi fan should miss the Apple TV+ series and have one for everyone who has already loved the first season short first impression of season 2.
Sci-fi thriller with a unique concept: Severance unleashes office horror with 1000 puzzles
That’s what Severance is all about: A revolutionary technology can change the job market forever. Using a chip, consciousness can be separated into two halves, two completely different personalities. Widower Mark (Adam Scott) also had this procedure carried out, and from now on he no longer has to work himself. This is done by his so-called innie persona Mark S., who is activated every day for eight hours to “refine” numbers on computer screens in the Macrodata Refinement department for the company Lumon Industries.
The concept of Severance seems utopian at first glance. Imposing the hard work on a split personality and just enjoying free time as an outie? At least that’s Lumon’s advertising promise. But for the innies, everyday office life becomes too much a hellish existence from which there is no escape. No happy dance experience designed for employees to stop them from asking uncomfortable questions helps.
The 9-part opening season of Severance was one of the biggest series surprises of 2022 and immediately landed a place in the Moviepilot ranking of the best sci-fi series of the millennium. Series creator Dan Erickson creates an incomparable panopticon of strangeness from the sci-fi concept, with endearingly quirky characters, labyrinthine settings, infinite mysteries and a claustrophobic and smoldering atmosphere that in one of the most exciting season finales (and cliffhangers) ever.
Severance is a series for puzzling and thinking along and, like no other sci-fi series, manages to use its concept to constantly stimulate new (dystopian) thought spirals about the psyche, humanity and manipulation. And for almost three years fans have been tormented by the question: Can a second season maintain the high level of quality? Now there is the answer.
Severance Season 2: The sci-fi sequel is that good
The good news first: Season 2 follows on directly from the monumental cliffhanger and shows us the consequences of the overtime excursion into the outside world for Innie Mark S. and his colleagues, now canonized in the company’s history as the MDR uprising. It’s best not to reveal too much specific information about the plot at this point, because every engaging mystery in the series is best experienced and explored for yourself. But I can still tell you whether season 2 is worth it.
Watch the trailer for Severance Season 2 here:
Severance – S02 Trailer (German) HD
The 2nd season takes us straight back into the world of Severance with a clever trick and transfers the concept of split consciousness to the dramaturgy itself. The season opener is completely dedicated to the perspective of the innies, while episode 2 is completely dedicated to the experiences of the outie personalities of the characters.
Even if the series continuation quickly restores the status quo and the enigmatic company does everything to put the innies back in their jobs, fortunately season 2 is not a simple repetition. There are no answers to the existing mysteries (for now). and with every new grotesque insight into the Lumon company, the puzzle game becomes a little more complex.
The second season impresses again with breathtaking image compositions (directed by Ben Stiller, among others), the strong acting of the returning ensemble – even if Patricia Arquette’s creepy floor manager Mrs. Cobel/Selvig gets far too short a time this time – as well as all sorts of new office absurdities. One of the biggest new WTF highlights: Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie as a goatherd.
Thematically, Severance Season 2 is an exciting continuationwhich increasingly mixes the lives of the innies and outies and thus confronts each character with their own dilemmas and puzzles. This not only brings with it new, interesting philosophical questions, but also some unexpected twists. In short: Season 2 once again offers first-class sci-fi entertainment.
The 10 episodes of Severance Season 2 will be released weekly on Apple TV+ on Fridays starting January 17, 2025. The basis for the first impression of season 2 are the first 6 episodes.