Few shows have debut seasons as jaw-dropping and uniquely scrupulous as Severance, but from beginning to end, Dan Erickson’s creation is a masterpiece. The bar was set incredibly high from day one, and with a two-year wait, anticipation for the show’s sophomore run was at an all-time high. But thankfully and unsurprisingly, Severance Season 2 delivers another masterful paragon in storytelling, as it continues to dangle viewers off cliffs and suffocate us through unappealing sets that somehow make it impossible to look away. The season is perhaps more confusing than the first, but that’s a large part of the show’s appeal, and it’s silly even to expect answers until we know we’ve reached the final season.
Picking up from where we left off with a slight understanding of their severed conditions, the characters spend the majority of the season trying to test the barriers between the innie and outie world. Naturally, with a mystery thriller like this, the quest for answers will only lead to more questions, and these questions lead to significant moments that are so meticulously written and directed that the journey is both stifling and exciting.
It’s fascinating how I—an inherently anxious person—willingly put myself through a show that consistently has me stressed and confused, yet I’m thoroughly intrigued and keep pressing play on the next episode. But the series’ appeal lies in what’s beyond the surface, making every episode the type of gripping viewing experience that was severely lacking last year.
Severance Season 2 Is Perfectly Convoluted
It’s a paradox to call something perfect and convoluted in the same breath, but Severance toys a line that few TV shows cross. It pushes and pulls its viewers through one whirlwind after another while expecting us to stay afloat, even when the characters are struggling. Its careful means of still ensuring that the characters are relatable is one of its greatest accomplishments because it continues to establish these nuances with such precision and through small, seemingly unimportant moments that hit when we least expect them to.
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In many ways, the show wouldn’t be what it is without the characters (and performers) at its helm because they’re the ones who keep viewers invested in every number crunch, strange appearance, and overtly dull set piece. This is especially the case in Severance Season 2 as we now know these characters on slightly more intimate levels than before, making each of their distinct narrative arcs thrilling and easy to care for. They’re the ones we’re rooting for amid all the quiet chaos that’s occurring in the two different spaces the show occupies.
Further, the show is the type of directorial triumph that’s tricky to go into without talking spoilers. Ben Stiller and the team of directors continue to knock every moment out of the ballpark—office space, if we’re being specific to this show. How certain scenes are framed and the painstakingly slow, closeup transitions that occur are no small feat.
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There are beats to highlight in each episode that add crucial emphasis to the words said and unsaid. The symbolic color palettes—many blue hues, as trailers and sneak images show—underscore the overall mood that pushes these characters from point A to B in a way that’s impressively obvious yet still finely subtle.
The best episodes of the season are some of the most unexpected ones, giving the actors and everyone involved incredible material to bring to life in a way that we’ll be talking about for a while. I’ll refrain from even hinting which they are because even that is something that deserves to be seen unspoiled. The new cast members that we’re aware of are astounding and fit into the narrative seamlessly, plus each established dynamic is tested in a way that’s entirely expected given the events of the first season.
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The second season has a lot riding on it because of the hype the first presents. It’s likely because (and again) there’s nothing like this show on TV right now. Yet, as far as the sophomore season goes, it’s still as painstakingly detailed and concise as the debut as we unravel some things and tangle ourselves deeper in other webs. Thematically, Severance isn’t as overt as other series, and that’s why it’s so gratifying to take things apart as best as we can, even when we end up creating an even bigger mess. It’s symbolic of life, isn’t it? And the second season explores this thoroughly.
Severance Season 2 premieres exclusively on Apple TV+ on January 17, with new episodes every Friday.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Apple TV+