# Anyone watching Severance (new show on Apple TV)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, apple\ **Created:** [February 28, 2022, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238 "2022-02-28T16:28:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/1 "2022-02-28T16:28:26Z")
It premiered a couple weeks ago, and I highly recommend it. It’s a mystery thriller with a bit of dark office humor. High level view, it’s about people who have their minds “severed” so when they’re at work they have no memory of their outside life and vice-versa. Think Black Mirror meets The Prisoner meets Better off Ted. Edit: Also, for those of you who were fans of Counterpart, it has a very similar feel to it. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/2 "2022-02-28T16:37:27Z")
I’ve watched the first episode so far and like the potential. I need to find the time to watch the next couple of episodes. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/3 "2022-02-28T16:41:24Z")
The first episode is one of the worst things I’ve ever seen. Some asshole of a show runner thought that was the way to draw in viewers? I was angry I wasted my time watching something that made anything else seem more entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/4 "2022-02-28T16:42:08Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > High level view, it’s about people who have their minds “severed” so when they’re at work they have no memory of their outside life and vice-versa. Philip K. Dick did this in 1952. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/5 "2022-02-28T16:52:44Z")
It sucked me right in. It may have helped that I was totally ignorant of the premise. If I’d read the brief description in the OP first, it would have really spoiled that first episode for me. I’m three episodes in and still digging it. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/6 "2022-02-28T16:57:03Z")
I love the set design so far. I can’t wait to see more. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/7 "2022-02-28T16:57:05Z")
I think I also find it fascinating because I’m blessed with a resume devoid of office work. A little part of me actually believes this is what work life is like in those corporate environment jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/8 "2022-02-28T17:07:04Z")
Doesn’t Apple TV have a policy “no bad guys can use Apple products?” Whatever the meaning of the “scary numbers” refinement, it bodes unwell with the clunky old monitors they’re using. The only stretchy suspension of disbelief is the anti-cypher scanners in the elevators. How do they explain to the outies that they can’t have tattoos or any labels on their clothes? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/9 "2022-02-28T17:08:15Z")
Oh, it is filmed at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ. The old Bell Labs of fame. My wife use to work there long ago and many of my friends. So that part was kind of cool for me. > **[Bell Works | New Jersey | Explore](https://bell.works/new-jersey/explore/)** > > Welcome to the Metroburb Bell Works is the reimagination of the historic former Bell Labs building in Holmdel, N.J. Today, the building is a one-of-a kind destination for business and \[…\] ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/10 "2022-02-28T17:32:13Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > Philip K. Dick did this in 1952. Vaguely related to the plot of “Snow Crash” as well. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/11 "2022-02-28T17:43:49Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > The only stretchy suspension of disbelief is the anti-cypher scanners in the elevators. How do they explain to the outies that they can’t have tattoos or any labels on their clothes? Well, Mark believes he is doing some confidential work which is why severance is needed, so I don’t think its that hard to explain. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/12 "2022-02-28T17:46:47Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > Philip K. Dick did this in 1952. There’s a scene in the first episode where an “innie” is watching the video made by her “outie” which is kind of reminiscent of the scene in _Total Recall_ where Arnold watches a video of the real (asshole) him explaining how he’s manipulated himself into a shitty situation on purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/13 "2022-02-28T17:52:52Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Well, Mark believes he is doing some confidential work which is why severance is needed, so I don’t think its that hard to explain. It’s also suggested that the people volunteering for this are damaged people with a very low sense of self worth. They know they are condemning a version of themselves to a life of joyless toil. There are activists who have clearly spelled that out for them. The volunteers are all some kind of weird hybrid of self-loathing sociopath. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/14 "2022-02-28T19:12:41Z")
I’ve seen episode 1 but not yet episode 2. What exactly happened in the scene where Helly tries to leave? From her point of view, she repeatedly walks through the door only to find herself back where she started. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/15 "2022-02-28T19:15:57Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > What exactly happened in the scene where Helly tries to leave? From her point of view, she repeatedly walks through the door only to find herself back where she started. Mark explains it. From the Innies’ perspective, no time passes from when they leaving the building to when the Outie comes back. So she left and then her Outie walked back in. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/16 "2022-02-28T20:07:34Z")
Sorry, still not seeing it. Why didn’t her Outie just go home when she went through the door? The Innie and Outie are really one person (right?), they just have no memory of each other. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/17 "2022-02-28T20:40:01Z")
Well, remember that the Outie has no memory of the Outie _wanting_ to leave. That being said, keep watching. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/18 "2022-02-28T21:51:46Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Sorry, still not seeing it. Why didn’t her Outie just go home when she went through the door? The Innie and Outie are really one person (right?), they just have no memory of each other. If the outie goes home, she doesn’t get paid. And even if she intends to go home, she probably walks through that door attempting to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/19 "2022-03-01T04:49:46Z")
This show has the same problem that seems pretty common for Apple shows—the episodes _drag_. They could be trimmed to the typical 42-44 minutes each and loose nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238/20 "2022-03-04T06:52:39Z")
Confirmed: Outies are assholes. In her position, I would have gotten revenge on “myself” the same way innie Helly did. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-severance-new-show-on-apple-tv/960238.md?page=2)