Feeling the need to let go from work life and take a break is human, a genuine universal feeing that everyone feels from time to time, but what happens if you don’t have to clock back in?
In 2022, Ben Stiller directed and released “Severance,” which explores this concept.
A thriller science-fiction drama, which premiered on Apple TV+, “Severance” explores the nuances of human emotion and their connection to work life.
The story is set in current times and depicts a large corporation, Lumon, and its development of what is entitled, the severance procedure. This procedure can “sever” one’s work life from their personal life, splitting memories upon walking in the door to work in the morning.
As one would assume, this severance has major consequences for the main characters who undergo the procedure. Severing their memories results in the creation of people with no memories of their own, who only live to work. These individuals become known as “outties.”
Knowing nothing of the outside world, their families or themselves, we as the viewer watch as the four main characters, Mark S., Helly R., Dylan G. and Irving B. portrayed by Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Zach Cherry and John Turturro respectively, start off as willing employees lacking real depth to begin to question their surroundings and the nature of their employment at Lumon.
Christopher Walken is reprising his cameo role as Burt G., a severed employee who’s “innie,” or newfound personality, develops a romantic relationship with another severed person.
It is also worth noting that former President Barack Obama was asked to make a cameo as the voice representing the company in a training video. However, Keanu Reeves took on this “voice of the company role” when Obama declined due to scheduling.
Bell Works, located just 15 minutes from Brookdale, in Holmdel, was used to create the fictional corporation’s exterior.
After the initial release of Season One back in 2022, fans waited impatiently for the series weekly return, which began in January.
The second season is now available on Apple TV+.
