Apple TV+‘s Severance has quickly become one of the most intriguing and unconventional series in recent television history, primarily due to its unique premise. The storyline follows employees of the enigmatic Lumon Industries, who voluntarily undergo a controversial procedure that effectively separates their work memories from their personal experiences. This thought-provoking series offers a sharp critique of modern office culture, especially highlighting the ethical implications of such a drastic measure. This severance procedure raises significant concerns regarding mental health and the dual identities that emerge from it. But what exactly does this transformative process entail?

The Severance Procedure Creates Distinct Personalities for Employees

The central plot device in Severance is the severance procedure, which plays a critical role in the unfolding narrative. This procedure involves a doctor surgically implanting a device known as a “severance chip” into the brain of a Lumon employee. This remarkable technology creates a distinct split in the employee’s consciousness: the primary persona, referred to as the “outie,” possesses no memories related to work, while the secondary persona, called the “innie,” exists solely within the Lumon workplace, devoid of any recollections of their life outside the office.

The procedure takes place on Lumon’s premises and is initiated by the outie, who records a video message for the innie, detailing the process and granting consent for their memories to be divided. Upon awakening, the innie has no knowledge of their identity or past, rendering the outie responsible for all decisions regarding their shared physical form, while Lumon assumes control over the innie’s experiences during work hours.

The transition from outie to innie is governed by a physical threshold, known as the “severed floor” within Lumon. The innie assumes control as they step onto this designated area, while the outie resumes dominance upon exiting. This transition is facilitated by a sensor located at the entry point of the severed floor within Lumon’s main building. Notably, this sensor can also be triggered remotely, allowing an innie to be awakened outside the confines of Lumon under specific protocols referred to as the Overtime Contingency Protocol.

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The Severance Procedure Raises Significant Ethical Concerns

Although the outies may relish the absence of workplace stress and the innies appear to lead a blissfully ignorant existence, the severance procedure is steeped in controversy, and for very compelling reasons. Innies are often treated as mere tools rather than real individuals at Lumon, subjected to reprimands and even psychological manipulation if their behavior fails to meet company expectations. For instance, employees in Macrodata Refinement are oblivious to the true nature of their tasks, blindly executing ambiguous instructions without a full understanding of their implications.

Once an innie is severed, quitting their job becomes an impossibility, regardless of their dissatisfaction. Helly R. (Britt Lower) illustrates this plight by attempting extreme measures, including self-harm and suicide, to compel her outie to resign. However, her attempts are thwarted, leaving her trapped in a dismal existence at Lumon, where she is regarded as “not a person.” For innies, their reality consists solely of work hours, with brief moments of respite occurring only when they meet work quotas, leading to a monotonous and joyless life. Their healthcare is largely superficial, featuring “wellness sessions,” where a fellow severed employee reads fabricated accounts of their outie’s life.

In the broader societal context, organizations like the Whole Mind Collective are vocally opposing the severance procedure, mistakenly believing that employees are coerced into undergoing it. Nevertheless, many people find this practice unsettling, with a growing political movement advocating for its legalization and widespread implementation, spearheaded by influential figures such as state senator Angelo Arteta (Ethan Flower).

The Reintegration Process Poses Serious Risks

The procedure opposing severance is known as reintegration. Although the Lumon Board officially dismisses it as unfeasible, there has been at least one documented case involving a former severed employee named Peter Kilmer (Yul Vazquez). Rather than eliminating the severance chip, this complex process aims to achieve “full synaptic recoupling”, thereby merging the innie and outie into a unified consciousness.

In Season 1, we learn that Kilmer’s reintegration was performed outside of Lumon by Dr. Reghabi (Karen Aldridge), a former Lumon doctor who was once responsible for conducting the severance procedure. Tragically, Kilmer ultimately loses his life, potentially due to complications stemming from the reintegration process. The motivations behind his decision to pursue reintegration remain one of the most captivating mysteries of Severance, particularly considering that both he and Dr. Reghabi were once part of Lumon but later turned against the organization. As anticipation builds, fans hope Season 2 will provide further insights into the enigmatic severance procedure and explore the possibility of its successful reversal.

Severance is currently available for streaming on Apple TV+, with Season 2 set to premiere on January 17.

Mark leads a team of office workers whose memories have been surgically divided between their work and personal lives. When a mysterious colleague appears outside of work, it begins a journey to discover the truth about their jobs.

Release Date

February 18, 2022

Cast

Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Zach Cherry, Tramell Tillman, Jen Tullock, Dichen Lachman, Michael Chernus, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, Patricia Arquette, Sarah Bock, Marc Geller, Michael Cumpsty

Seasons

2

Story By

Dan Erickson

Writers

Dan Erickson

Showrunner

Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman

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WATCH ON APPLE TV+