Severance is a critically acclaimed American science fiction psychological thriller television series that premiered its first season on Apple TV+ on February 18, 2022. The show was created by Dan Erickson, with Ben Stiller serving as an executive producer and the primary director.
The series is built around a powerful central premise: a surgical procedure called "severance" that creates a complete cognitive split in an individual's memories. Employees at the mysterious biotechnology corporation Lumon Industries undergo this procedure, resulting in two distinct consciousnesses. The "Innie" is the personality that exists only within the workplace, with no memories of their life outside. Conversely, the "Outie" is the version of the person who lives their private life, with no recollection of their time at Lumon.
The narrative primarily follows a team of Macro Data Refiners led by Mark Scout (Adam Scott). His team consists of Dylan (Zach Cherry), Irving (John Turturro), and Helly (Britt Lower). While the Innies work on highly classified projects, the series also explores the personal struggles of Mark's Outie, particularly the grief that led him to choose the severance procedure.
The show's talented ensemble cast also includes Patricia Arquette, Christopher Walken, and Tramell Tillman. Severance has been praised for its unique concept, compelling performances, and meticulous world-building, earning significant critical attention and numerous awards.
If you thought you knew everything about the sanitised halls of Lumon, then think again. Beyond the mystery of Lumon Industries, a wealth of fascinating details went into the show's creation. Here we are delving into the production secrets, intentional design choices, and hidden references that make Severance a masterclass in modern television.
1. Severance Was Nominated For 14 Emmys In 2024
Severance has garnered significant critical acclaim, earning praise for its cinematography, direction, production design, musical score, story, and the performances of its cast. The series received 14 nominations at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, including one for Outstanding Drama Series. Individual acting nominations were given to Adam Scott, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, and Patricia Arquette. The show won two of these awards, for Outstanding Main Title Design and Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music. The second season of the series premiered on January 17, 2025.
2. Ben Stiller Has An Uncredited Voice Cameo In Severance Season One
Director and executive producer Ben Stiller has a notable, uncredited voice cameo in the first season of Severance, providing the voice for the animated version of Lumon founder Kier Eagan. Continuing this trend of surprising voice work, the second season features an uncredited cameo from Keanu Reeves, who lends his voice to an animated representation of the Lumon building itself.
3. Dan Erickson Started His Career Writing Plays
While an undergraduate at Western Washington University, Severance creator Dan Erickson developed an interest in playwriting and other creative projects through the theater department. He went on to earn a master's degree in television writing from New York University. Erickson's career breakthrough came in 2016 when his pilot screenplay for Severance was featured on the Blood List, a survey of the most-liked unproduced genre screenplays.
4. Like Dylan, Dan Erickson Worked At A Door Factory
In an interview, Severance creator Dan Erickson revealed that the show's core premise was inspired by his own past employment. Before writing the series, he worked at a door factory, a job he found so "mind-numbing" that he wished he could "skip the eight hours of the workday, to disassociate and just get it over with." This desire to separate his work life from his personal life became the central concept of the show. This real-life connection is subtly referenced in the series itself; in the second season, the character Dylan, played by Zach Cherry, applies for a job at a door factory.
5. Dan Erickson Wanted A Close Sibling Bond Between Mark and Devon
Severance creator Dan Erickson has stated that his own close relationships with his siblings served as an inspiration for some of the show's characters. This personal connection is reflected in the dynamic between the protagonist, Mark Scout, and his sister, Devon.
6. Severance Is The Longest Project Ben Stiller Has Worked On
Ben Stiller first encountered the Severance screenplay in 2015, approximately five years before the show's premiere. The script, submitted by creator Dan Erickson as a writing sample to Stiller's production company, Red Hour Productions, was passed on to Stiller by development executive Jackie Cohn. Stiller has referred to the project as "the longest thing [he'd] ever worked on" and has stated in interviews that he particularly enjoyed how the story innovated within the workplace comedy genre.
7. Severance Wouldn’t Have Happened Without ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’
In January 2017, director Ben Stiller approached Adam Scott about starring in the series. The two had previously collaborated on Stiller's 2013 film, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. In November 2019, Apple TV+ officially greenlit Severance as a series, confirming Stiller as the director and Scott in the leading role of Mark.
8. Ben Stiller Was Only Meant To Direct The Pilot
While actor Ben Stiller was originally slated to direct only the pilot episode, he ultimately decided to direct several more episodes as the series progressed through development.
9. Severance Was Renewed For Season 2 In 2022, 3 Years Before Season 2 Aired
Apple officially renewed Severance for a second season on April 6, 2022. The following year, in April 2023, it was announced that Beau Willimon had joined the production as an executive producer and writer, with his role extending to both the second season and a potential third season.
10. Severance Was Inspired By ‘The Truman Show’ and ‘Being John Malkovich’
Severance draws influence from a diverse range of works spanning multiple media. Recent inspirations for the series include the online urban legend The Backrooms, the video game The Stanley Parable, and films like Office Space, The Truman Show, Being John Malkovich, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The comic strip Dilbert also served as a source of influence. For its more profound themes, the show's creators looked to older works, such as the existential hell found in Jean-Paul Sartre's play No Exit and the totalitarian dystopia of George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Aesthetically, the series was influenced by the films Brazil, Dark City, and Playtime.
11. Severance, The Procedure Was Inspired By Dan Erickson’s Hatred Of Work
Severance was deeply influenced by real-world workplace frustrations. Writer Dan Erickson has stated that the show was born from the same societal and economic tensions that he felt while working office jobs, where he faced "increasingly insane requests." He noted that modern work culture often expects employees to "give and give and give" under the guise of being a "family," an expectation that is rarely matched by a substantive return from employers. This disconnect between what is demanded of workers and what is reciprocated became the central premise of the series.
12. Lumon Is Actually The Bell Labs Holmdel Complex in New Jersey
Production Designer Jeremy Hindle created Severance's distinctive look by blending corporate aesthetics from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. He cited modernist architect Eero Saarinen as a key influence, specifically drawing inspiration from the John Deere World Headquarters in Illinois and the Bell Labs Holmdel Complex in New Jersey. The latter building was used for exterior shots of Lumon Industries. Hindle explained that these structures were influential because they embodied the concept of "work designed to do work." Additionally, the internal set designs were inspired by the aesthetics of the film Playtime.
13. Severance Used 140ft of Modular Hallways On A Soundstage
The main sets for Severance were constructed on soundstages located in the Bronx. To create the show's distinctive maze-like hallways, production used approximately 140 feet of modular hallway on one soundstage, which was rearranged with special effects. Another soundstage was dedicated to the larger hallways seen in later episodes of the first season.
14. The Severed Floor Purposely Had Low Ceilings
A separate soundstage was used to build the main office spaces, such as the Macrodata Refinement Division. This room was specifically designed to evoke a feeling of being trapped, featuring a large floor space (80 by 40 feet) with an unusually low ceiling. According to Production Designer Jeremy Hindle, the room was conceived as a "playroom" for new Lumon hires, with its green carpeting contrasting against the sterile white surroundings to suggest grass. Other spaces within Lumon were inspired by the artistic works of M.C. Escher.
15. There Is A Reason The Cars In Severance Look Out Of Place
According to writer Dan Erickson, the deliberate mix of cars and technology from various eras was intended to "give a slight sense of disorientation" and make Lumon feel "unmoored from time and space," contributing to the show's unique and unsettling atmosphere.
16. The Lumon Computers Do Not Have An Escape Key
The office equipment in Severance is meticulously branded as proprietary Lumon products. For the computers, prop designers reconstructed old terminals, integrating functional trackball devices to allow the actors to genuinely perform the work depicted on screen, which helped them acclimate to the office environment. These computers conspicuously lack an escape key, a design choice that serves as a metaphor for the Innies' lack of control within Lumon's offices. The terminals appear to be from the Data General Dasher D2 series, a model where the absence of an escape key is a standard feature.
17. Severance Had The Working Title Tumwater
The production of Severance was initially postponed from its planned March 2020 start date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Principal photography for the first season ultimately commenced in New York City on November 8, 2020, under the working title Tumwater. Notably, this filming start date coincided with the day after the U.S. presidential election was officially called.
18. Filming For Severance Began In Nyack, New York
Filming for Severance began with the opening scene on January 6, 2021. The production then moved to Nyack, New York, in February to shoot scenes at the homes of Mark and Cobel, followed by filming in Kingston and Beacon, New York, in March. In April, the crew relocated to central New Jersey, where the Bell Labs Holmdel Complex was used for exterior shots of Lumon Industries. The scheduled conclusion for principal photography was June 23, 2021.
19. Severance Season 2 Was Postponed Due To The WGA Strike
Production for the second season of Severance began on October 3, 2022, in New York City, with an initial wrap date scheduled for May 12, 2023. However, filming was suspended on May 8, 2023, due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike. After a prolonged pause, production resumed on January 29, 2024, and officially wrapped on April 23, 2024, following the conclusion of both the writers' and actors' strikes.
20. John Turturro Personally Recommended John Turturro For Burt
Casting for Severance occurred throughout 2020. In January, Patricia Arquette, Britt Lower, Jen Tullock, and Zach Cherry were added to the cast, joining the previously announced Adam Scott. Tramell Tillman joined in February, followed by John Turturro and Christopher Walken in November. Turturro has noted that he personally recommended Walken for the role of Burt, explaining that their long-standing friendship meant they wouldn't have to "really act like we're friends" on screen.
21. New Season 2 Cast Members Were Announced On Halloween 2022
On October 31, 2022, an announcement was made regarding new additions to the cast for the second season of Severance. The new cast members include Gwendoline Christie, Bob Balaban, Merritt Wever, Alia Shawkat, Robby Benson, Stefano Carannante, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, and John Noble.
22. Severance Season 2 Had A 97% Rotten Tomatoes Approval Rating
Severance was met with widespread critical acclaim upon its release. The first season holds a 97% approval rating on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 117 reviews, with an average score of 8.5/10. The site's official consensus describes the series as "Audacious, mysterious, and bringing fresh insight into the perils of corporate drudgery, Severance is the complete package." Similarly, Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 83 out of 100 based on 36 critics, signifying "universal acclaim."
23. The American Film Institute Named Severance In Top 10 Shows Of 2022
In 2022, the American Film Institute (AFI) recognized Severance as one of the ten best television programs of the year.
24. The Second Season Of Severance Has A 98% Approval Rating On Rotten Tomatoes
The second season of Severance has been met with continued critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season holds a 98% approval rating based on 116 reviews, with an average rating of 8.9/10. The website's consensus highlights the season for "Masterfully managing its two halves of adroit character study and surreal nightmare" and for making "cognitive dissonance a mind-melting pleasure." On Metacritic, the season received a score of 86 out of 100 based on 43 critics, a rating that indicates "universal acclaim."
25. Severance Was Praised For Its Inclusive Hiring
The first season of Severance was awarded The ReFrame Stamp, a recognition given for hiring people from underrepresented gender identities and of color.
26. Severance’s MDR Office Was Recreated In Grand Central Station
Two days before the second season premiere, on January 14, 2025, Apple TV+ created a unique promotional event at Grand Central Terminal. The show's "Macrodata Refinement" office was recreated inside a large glass box, where cast members Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, Patricia Arquette, Britt Lower, and Tramell Tillman performed their characters' jobs for approximately two and a half hours. The pop-up event's creativity and the actors' commitment to their roles generated a highly favorable response from the public.
27. Severance Is Available On DVD and Blu-Ray
The first season of Severance was released on Blu-ray and DVD, with different dates for various regions. The show became available in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2024, in Australia on December 4, 2024, and in the United States on December 17, 2024.
28. There Is A Severance Prequel Story
Severance: The Lexington Letter, a tie-in epistolary novel, was released by Apple Books. The story is presented as a "tell-all" exposé detailing sinister events at Lumon Corporation. It takes the form of a letter submitted to a Topeka newsletter and is structured as a dialogue between former Lumon employee Margaret "Peg" Kincaid and her "Innie" consciousness.
29. “The You You Are” Has Been Officially Released
A fictional self-help book featured in the series, titled The You You Are, was released by Apple Books. The book is available as both an e-book and an audiobook, with the latter being read by actor Michael Chernus in his role as the character Ricken Hale.
30. The Bell Labs Water Tower Became A Central Visual In Severance
The former Bell Works building in Holmdel, New Jersey, served as a filming location for the series. The structure was designed by renowned architect Eero Saarinen, who is also known for designing the iconic TWA Flight Center at JFK International Airport. A distinctive feature of the complex is the water tower located in front of the building, which is shaped to resemble a transistor.
31. This Is Why The Severance Halls Look So Unsettling
The department offices on the severed floor were intentionally designed to be excessively large, yet with low ceilings, and the characters were often positioned in the center of these spaces. This combination was a deliberate choice to create an atmosphere of isolation and entrapment. Furthermore, while the offices and corridors initially appear symmetrical, subtle asymmetrical elements, such as oddly protruding walls, were incorporated to produce a fragmented and unsettling visual experience for the viewer.
32. Severance Has A Key Character Naming Convention
In Severance, the show's naming convention distinguishes between severed and unsevered employees. Severed individuals are known by their first name and the initial of their last name, such as Mark S, Irving B, Helly R, and Dylan G. In contrast, unsevered employees, who are generally in positions of authority, are referred to by their last name alone.
33. Christopher Walken Has Severance Sent To Him On DVD
Actor Christopher Walken, a star of the series, has publicly stated that he does not subscribe to Apple TV+. As a result, he views the show on DVDs that are sent to him.
34. “Eagan” May Be Inspired By Dan Erickson’s Hometown
Severance creator Dan Erickson hails from Olympia, Washington, a city that has been home to a chain of drive-thru fast-food restaurants owned by the Eagan family since 1948. This real-world detail provides a subtle inspiration for the fictional Eagan family, the powerful owners of the Lumon Corporation in the series.
35. These Are The Genre Options For The Musical Dance Experience
The genre options for the Music Dance Experience in Severance are a diverse and distinct list of styles. They include: Bawdy Funk, Bouncy Swing, Buoyant Reggae, Defiant Jazz, Effusive Ska, Exalted Choral, Exciting Rap, Hootin' Tootin' Country, Lofty Orchestral, Maximized Rhythms, Playful Punk, Reckless Disco, Spooky Ambient, Tearful Emo, Thoughtful Grunge, Wholesome Big Band, and Wistful Pipes.
36. The Hallways Were Reused To Make The Severed Floor Look Larger
Due to a shortage of available soundstage space, production designer Jeremy Hindle employed a creative solution to construct the varied areas of the severed floor. He achieved this by a combination of rearranging the existing hallway sets and utilizing visual effects (VFX) to lengthen the corridors, creating the illusion of a more expansive and complex environment.
37. Dichen Lachman Has Played A Very Similar Role Before
Dichen Lachman, who portrays Ms. Casey in Severance, also had a starring role in the 2009 television series Dollhouse. Both shows share a central theme of people voluntarily surrendering access to their own memories to fulfill the demands of their jobs.
-
Burt Lives On A Real Road In Olympia, Washington
The road where the character Burt lives, "Gull Harbor Road," is named after a real road in Olympia, Washington, the hometown of Severance creator Dan Erickson.
39. Britt Lower and Adam Scott Have Previously Worked Together
Severance marks the second collaboration between Adam Scott and Britt Lower, who previously co-starred on the Fox television series Ghosted.
40. Irving Really Does Enjoy The Sound Of Radar
The "Wellness" sessions with Ms. Casey in Severance are designed to provide the "innies" with subtle, often hidden truths about their "outies." For instance, during one session, Irving is informed that his "outie" enjoys the sound of radar. It is later revealed that "Radar" is the name of his dog, demonstrating how the wellness sessions provide veiled insights into the employees' personal lives.
41. The Colours In Severance Are A Key Visual Theme
The colors red and blue serve as a persistent and prominent visual theme throughout Severance. This stark contrast is possibly a visual allusion to the duality of the characters' severed memories or a metaphorical allegory for perceptions of heaven and hell, a recurring theme in the series. Numerous examples of this motif appear in every episode, including the red and blue flickering lights during office prize parties, the two fish - one red, one blue - in Mark's segregated fish tank, the contrast of Helly's red hair with her consistently blue outfits, and even Mark's car in the first episode, which is parked between a red and a blue vehicle.
42. “Half Loop” Could Be A Connection To Apple
The address "499 Half Loop," which appears on a card in the series, is a notable reference with multiple layers of meaning. The "Half Loop" portion is a likely nod to Apple's former headquarters at "1 Infinite Loop." The number "499" corresponds to the HTTP error code "Client Closed Request," which signifies that the client has closed the connection before the server could complete its request. This metaphorical detail adds to the show's technological and psychological themes.
43. The Term “Break Room” Was Darkly Repurposed
In a deliberate subversion of its conventional meaning, the "break room" at Lumon is not a space for employee rest. Instead, it serves as a place where middle managers, including Ms. Cobel and Mr. Milchick, subject misbehaving employees to a form of psychological torture designed to "break" their will. This dark re-purposing of the term is a central element of the show's commentary on corporate control.
44. The “Eagan” Family Extends Beyond The Lumon Building
The influence of the Eagan family, the founders and subsequent CEOs of Lumon, extends far beyond the corporation, with many "outie" businesses and neighborhoods named after its members.
-
The town itself is named Kier, after Lumon's founder, Kier Eagan.
-
His wife, Imogene Eagan, is the namesake for the soap store "Swab Girl," referencing the corporate mythology that they met when she worked at an ether factory.
-
The Myrtle Eagan School for Girls (attended by Harmony Cobel) and the Myrtle Eagan Credit Union are named after Myrtle Eagan, the third CEO.
Subsequent CEOs have also lent their names to local landmarks:
-
Baird Eagan (the fourth CEO) is the namesake of Baird Creek Manor, where Mark Scout and Mrs. Selvig reside
-
Gerhardt Eagan (the fifth CEO) is the namesake of Gerhardt's Restaurant
-
Phillip "Pip" Eagan (the sixth CEO) is the namesake of Pip's Bar and Grille
-
Leonora Eagan (the seventh CEO) is the namesake of Leonora Lake, Irving Bailiff's neighborhood.
45. “I Love You” May Mean More Than You Think To Helly R
After refining her macrodata and meeting her quota, Helly R. is shown a short animated video of Kier Eagan, who offers words of encouragement and concludes with the line, "I love you."
Initially, this statement is presented as an example of Lumon's over-the-top corporate philosophy, an interpretation supported by Kier's "Compliance" text. This manual states that the "pure love" between a worker and their employer is the "ultimate recompense for your labor," surpassing any monetary wage.
However, toward the end of the first season, a more direct, familial meaning is revealed when it is disclosed that Helly is the daughter of Lumon CEO Jame Eagan, making her a direct descendant of the company's founder, Kier Eagan. This revelation re-contextualizes the statement as a literal expression of familial affection.
46. We Know What Mark’s Watch Is
In the episode "Good News About Hell," the watch worn by Mark before he begins his workday—visible while he is in his car and changing—appears to be a Russian Vostok Komandirskie military watch.
47. This Is Why We Know Kier Eagan’s Favourite Breakfast
In the Lumon lobby, a carving that may be mistaken for Sigmund Freud is a depiction of the company's founder, Kier Eagan. During a pre-severance conversation, Mr. Milchick tells Helly that Kier's favorite breakfast was three raw eggs in milk. The significance of this is revealed in the first episode, when a severed Helly is asked this exact question on a survey and has no knowledge of the answer, demonstrating the complete memory division enforced by the severance procedure.
48. There Is An “Ambrose” Monk Easter Egg
In the episode "Half Loop," at the 43:37 mark, John Turturro (who plays Irving) references a past team-building exercise while viewing art with Christopher Walken (Burt). Irving notes, "I loved that you did the Ambrose cycle in the team-building space last quarter."
This line serves as an inside joke, as John Turturro previously played the character Ambrose Monk, the brother of Adrian Monk, on the TV series Monk.
49. The Severance Fish Make A Great Visual Metaphor
In episode three, "In Perpetuity," at the 10:50 mark, the fish tank appears to contain two goldfish. However, a few seconds later, it is revealed that there is only one fish, and the appearance of a second is an illusion created by a reflection on two screens.
50. The Contrast Between Red and Blue In Severance Link To “The Matrix”
In the episode "In Perpetuity," the presence of a red and a blue fish in Mark's tank serves as a visual allusion to the red and blue pills from the 1999 film The Matrix, which famously symbolize a choice between comfortable illusion and harsh reality.
51. This Is The First Episode To Not Be Directed By Ben Stiller
"The You You Are" is the first episode in the series not to be directed by Ben Stiller.
52. This Episode Won The Emmy For Outstanding Music Competition For A Series
The episode "The We We Are" was the recipient of an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score).
The music that plays over the final credits of the episode "The We We Are" is the song "Your Mind Is On Vacation (and Your Mouth Is Working Overtime)" by Mose Allison.
52. This Is What The Latin Phrase On The “Kier” Number Plates Mean
In the episode "The We We Are," the addresses on an envelope and an employee list feature a fictitious state code, PE, with ZIP codes in the 0745X range, which corresponds to Bergen County, New Jersey. Furthermore, a car's license plate is visible in one scene that, while not displaying a state name, features an image of Kier Eagan and the Latin phrase "Remedium Hominibus" at the bottom. This phrase accurately translates to "A cure, for mankind."
53. The Map Of Kier Is Actually Schenectady
The map of the area shown in the episode "The We We Are" is a modified version of a map of Schenectady, which includes recognizable neighborhoods such as Bellevue and Mount Pleasant.
54. Severance Creator Dan Erickson Makes A Cameo Appearance
In the episode "The We We Are," series creator Dan Erickson makes a cameo appearance as an attendee at the book reading. He is seen speaking to Devon and exchanges a brief greeting with Mark as he passes by.
Severance is one of the most-impactful and highly anticipated programmes to be created in the 2020s - many audience members are desperate to see what happens to Mark S and Helly R in subsequent seasons. It is a uniquely stylised programme that is devastatingly dystopian and increasingly relevant to our times.
