Would it be redundant to come here every Friday and talk about how Adam Scott (and the entire cast of Severance) continues to deliver one brilliant performance after another? Maybe, but I might do it anyway because what we’re witnessing here is what I imagine will be used as paradigms of excellence in classes. The second episode of the show’s sophomore season picks up right where the finale left off, and Mark S is not only walking around with his heart on his sleeve, but he’s a portrait of a destroyed man with gaping wounds pouring out of every expression he shows us.
Scott is an unstoppable performer, and dare I say, Severance simply wouldn’t work without him. Having seen all episodes of Season 2, I think I can safely say that what we get in this episode is nothing compared to what we see in later episodes, yet it still deserves recognition. More than anything, what works here is every little thing we see in the silence that’s a testament to Scott’s talents as an actor.
There are a few scenes that strike deep in this episode, such as his conversation with Devon, but what destroys me is what we see with Milchick. When Milchick asks him if he remembers what he said when he first joined the severed program, Mark says he doesn’t. Milchick voices that Mark told him, “Since she died, every day felt like a year. He felt like he was choking on her ghost.” These words don’t come from Mark, but Adam Scott shows us their human embodiment in a way that’s going to haunt me for a long time. The dejection, the heartache, and the unmistakable pain in his expression are manifestations of the type of grief that’s so hard to depict it legitimately floors me.
The scene is also quite literally dark as the characters sit with few lights around them, yet we see plenty in Adam Scott’s physicality. We hear the confusion and hollowness in his voice with every word he utters aloud. The way the camera pans close to him, the slight break in his voice as he confirms he “doesn’t remember,” makes him look so small, so defeated. The shadows paint his face in an overwhelming darkness. This is the type of work that’s so subtly encompassing that it’s what makes Severance the series it is. It’s why, week after week, everyone gets on social media to discuss a small change in a character and how people believe that means something.
Mark doesn’t outright answer whether he’s still in pain, but we see it still. We see it clear as day in the way he tries to understand every word that Milchick tells him. Further, as the scene changes to the one of him in the car, that agony is still so hauntingly palpable that it’s an exhibition of unmistakable talent. We also get the routine ins and outs from Lumon and the final scene with Cobel as he asks who she is, and there, as well, Adam Scott pours everything he can into exhibiting a wide range of emotions to continue layering and building his character.
As a whole, Severance Season 2, Episode 2, “Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig,” is a solid exhibition of writing and directing that continues to give us more questions than answers in a way that surprisingly works. Plus, one more time, every performer brings their A game.
Now streaming on Apple TV+: What are your thoughts on Scott’s performance in Severance Season 2, Episode 2, “Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: Screenshot via Apple TV’s official trailer.