How Severance Explores the Terrifying Horror of Work-Life Balance

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Due to the persistent influence of work-centric attitudes, maintaining a harmonious balance between work and personal life has become a significant yet elusive aspect of modern wellness. This struggle is deeply rooted in our lives, often leaving us feeling like it’s an unattainable dream. It’s no surprise then, that numerous TV shows are exploring this theme. Shows like Black Mirror, Mr. Robot, The Office, and Better Off Ted have delved into this subject matter. However, one series took this common narrative and combined it with a chilling corporate nightmare, resulting in something truly spine-tingling. Severance is categorized as a science fiction psychological thriller, but the human – and corporate – aspects woven into its storyline are particularly poignant.

One of the latest shows available on Apple TV+ is titled “Severance,” which has completed two seasons as of now. The narrative revolves around a team of employees working for a large corporation, but there’s a twist. To secure their positions at this company, each individual had to consent to an unusual requirement: having a chip inserted into their brain, thereby dividing their professional and personal identities. In the show, these two sides are referred to as “Innies” (inside work personas) and “Outies” (outside non-work personas). The main characters include Adam Scott (Mark S.), Zach Cherry (Dylan G.), Britt Lower (Helly R.), John Turturro (Irving B.), and Tramell Tillman (Seth Michick).

Corporate Dystopians and Totalitarian Control

In a nutshell, Lumon Industries embodies a chilling corporate nightmare, swallowing and dictating everything in its path. The process of severance serves as a mere glimpse into the extremes Lumon is prepared to reach for their benefits, but it’s common knowledge that this barely scratches the surface. Given that they openly discuss something as intrusive as severing, one can only imagine the horrors lurking within the locked rooms.

As a movie enthusiast, I must say that over two captivating seasons, “Severance” has managed to peel back the layers of my understanding, revealing a corporate world far more sinister than I had ever imagined. On first glance, Lumon appears as an ambitious corporation, ready to go to any lengths to gain power. But delve deeper and you’ll uncover its totalitarian nature – a world where employees, or Innies, are under constant surveillance, subjected to manipulation that borders on gaslighting, and subtly controlled by corporate paternalism. It’s a chilling exploration of the dark side of ambition and power.

Unfortunately, Lumon seems to have multiple layers of complexity, much like an onion. This corporation values loyalty above truth, which is evident in its management. In this structure, managers hold authority over the Innies, but that power remains stable as long as they remain unwaveringly loyal to the company. To demonstrate their loyalty, they often resort to lying and manipulating, not only others but also themselves.

Following is a concerning aspect of the company that has taken on a ritualistic tone over time. The stories and statements of Kier Eagan have become myth-like, holding significant religious connotations. This transformation has been passed down through generations, enabling people to create rituals that resemble cultish practices. When these behaviors are exposed, viewers can’t help but spot these signs everywhere, though it should be noted that not all signs are subtle, with the goat room being a clear example.

Letting Corporations Define Identity

The idea of “severing” is troubling, not only for the viewers but also for the characters within the series. They openly discuss its moral implications, yet those who question it are often dismissed as cranks early on in the storyline. It’s deeply unsettling to consider giving a corporation control over one’s innermost self through “severing.” This act essentially allows the company, Lumon, to dictate an individual’s identity.

In the television series, proponents of the severance process argue it restores the cherished equilibrium between work and personal life. However, this is merely another corporate deception. Even if an individual doesn’t recall spending eight hours at work, it doesn’t mean they didn’t put in the time. What’s more concerning, they must rely on their company’s honesty that they weren’t mistreated (mentally, physically, or emotionally) during periods they can no longer remember. Placing such trust in a corporation every day could be a risky pattern to establish.

Even if the argument for a healthier work/life balance were valid (but it’s not), there remains another significant issue: achieving this balance would essentially require a person to submit part of themselves. Reflect on it. The Inner self can only resign when the Outer self agrees, and they never reap the rewards of their efforts (salary, time off, and numerous other privileges people often overlook).

Corporate Dystopian Meets Cosmic Horror

In essence, “Severance” transcends its classification as a mere psychological thriller. It’s actually a cosmic horror story cloaked within the cold fluorescence of a corporate environment. The severance process renders employees as strangers, not only to others but also to themselves. This aspect should set off warning signals for aficionados of cosmic horror, as themes like isolation and the inconsequentiality of humanity are fundamental and recurrent in this genre. In other words, “Severance” intensifies these concepts, incorporating ambiguous realities, mental disarray, and indifferent entities (Lumon Industries) into its narrative.

Severance is available to stream on Apple TV+.

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2025-06-02 03:40