In the second season premiere of the Apple TV+'s Severance, Mark S., played by Adam Scott, is momentarily leaders to believe that the company they've been striving to expose has finally recognized its wrongdoings. However, this turns out to be untrue, a fantasy designed only to lull Mark back into the corporate grind. Mark and his colleagues have been symbolically implanted with chips that separate their work memories from their personal ones, a cruel reflection of the realities of corporate life.
Severance has astutely used this science-fiction framework to highlight the struggles and humiliities experienced in the modern workplace, offering devastatingly relatable parallels to its viewers. The series enters its second season focusing on the dyanimcs of restrictive office environments and the emphasis on maintaining human dignity within them.
The latest season delves into the ongoing struggles of Mark's MDR team in the soulless corporate environment of Lumon Industries. The humour observed in season one takes a backbeat in season two as the narrative shifts to the desperate efforts of the corporation to restore its usual business operations. This change makes the effort by the 'innies' to resist these corporate structures even more valiant.
The Ben Stiller-directed first episode vividly encapsulates the restrictive feel of endless time spent confined to an office space. The 'outies,' those whose lives aren't able to transition beyond office life, also grapple with their own challenges. Helena Eagan, portrayed by Britt Lower, goes into damage control following a rebellion from her 'innie,' Helly R., whereas Mark undertakes a deeply personal journey to find Gemma, who was previously believed to be dead.
The second season introduces several new characters and plots, making space for unique detours within the narrative over its 10 episodes. This includes side quests, explorations of the series antagonist Ms. Cobel, and warmer, more relatable moments featuring Gemma. However, this spread-out narrative occasionally affects the flow of the series, creating moments of viewer frustration when cliff-hangers take longer to resolve.
One key outcome from this season however, is the expansion of Severance's world beyond Lumon's stringent office framework. This is achieved by exploring the perspective of middle managers such as Mr. Milchick, who also face their own share of humiliation and pressure.
Further, this season illuminates the struggle of the 'innies' against the corporate machine, as they strive for personal agency, dignity, and even existence. This interplay between the demanding corporation and the humanity of its workers aptly captures the alienation and suppression often experienced within corporate capitalism.
Thus, Severance's second season brings to life a darker, but no less impactful, portrayal of corporate life. Although less humorous, it delivers a chillingly accurate representation of the dehumanizing effects of corporate capitalism, striking a chord with many viewers.
