We, as a society, moved on way too quickly from the masterpiece that is Severance Season 2, and we also moved on way too soon from Jessica Lee Gagné’s masterfully directed “Chikhai Bardo.” In addition, while many of us are enthusiastically talking about and campaigning for Adam Scott’s performance throughout the workplace drama’s sophomore season, we aren’t screaming about Dichen Lachman’s prowess nearly enough as much as we should be.
We have predictions about almost every star in The White Lotus for Best Supporting Actress (which are great, sure!), yet the fact that Lachman’s name is missing from these conversations is unfathomable. Severance fans love to joke that she walks in and “serves face” in every scene she’s in, but make no mistake in how difficult that artistry actually is. The statement isn’t solely because Dichen Lachman is physically breathtaking, but it’s because her every expression is full of a thousand words.
What Lachman is able to convey with a single look, as both Gemma Scout in the past and Miss Casey at Lumon, is no small feat. The stark differences in how she carries herself, how she speaks, and how she listens are all a testament to a performer who knows her character inside and out. With every little look and every move, she gives us something deeply nuanced to excavate and talk about. The work in “Chikhai Bardo” alone is one of the most haunting and masterful performances I’ve ever had the privilege of watching, so the fact that we aren’t shouting about it from the rooftops is an abomination. Full stop.
There’s also something about how tenderly and evocatively Lachman plays off her co-stars. How she channels something subtle and different with each person to give us the type of character work that’s so vastly layered, the stories in her eyes are an ocean of wealth. How she utters different words with minute shifts in her tone. How she shows us her emotions through her expressions and her physical movements. How she consistently ensures that the character’s emotions come across as organic. Every scream, every cry, every gaze, every beat of silence is full of layers that tell a story that’s bigger than what we’re seeing on the surface. It feels a lot like what fans of The Americans have been screaming about when the series was on air, and Keri Russell was consistently snubbed from every award possible.
Now, the FYC campaign season has only just begun, so I’d be more than happy to know I’m wrong about all of this. She could still very much have a chance at recognition, but the fact that we aren’t talking about her nearly as much as we should be is utterly wild to me. Simply put, Dichen Lachman deserves to be part of the conversation. Consistently. The sensational beats of acting she delivered in the few scenes she was in during Severance Season 2 resulted in the type of performance that shouldn’t be forgotten. It should be studied. It should be credited. In the same way that “Chikhai Bardo” deserves every bit of a directing nod, so does Lachman’s performance.
Severance Season 2 is now streaming on Apple TV+
First Featured Image Credit: ©Apple TV+