*Warning – this article contains mild spoilers for Severance Season two episode one and two*
One of the greatest shows ever created has finally made a triumphant return with its second season, blowing my mind in less than a minute.
Severance, once a hidden gem on Apple TV+, premiered in 2022 and has been my top recommendation for anyone seeking a fresh binge-worthy series.
This task has become easier as the streaming service’s library is now accessible through the Amazon Prime Video app. It’s crucial for viewers to catch up, as within a minute, the second season firmly established itself as the best show currently on television.
For those unfamiliar, Severance is a sci-fi thriller that follows a small team working for a company named Lumon. The twist? This compact workforce have all opted for a procedure that separates their professional and personal memories.
It took three years for the second series to release (Image: Apple TV )
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At work, they have no memory of their lives outside the office, and vice versa. However, in the first season, their ‘innies’, as they call themselves, begin to question their treatment and seek to uncover the secrets of the outside world, reports
The gripping plot immediately captivated me, marking one of the most remarkable first seasons on television in recent history. It has garnered critical acclaim and a passionate following, with viewers heaping praise on sites like Rotten Tomatoes, where it enjoys a stellar 96% rating. One fan enthused: “Incredible writing and acting, one of the best TV shows ever made.”
Yet, the finale left audiences hanging with a nerve-wracking cliff-hanger, leading to an agonising three-year wait for the resolution. The anticipation built up to the release earlier this month, and the opening sequence of Severance season two did not disappoint.
The opening scene alone took five to six months to film (Image: Apple TV)
Its first minute is perhaps the finest moment on television this year. It leaves you wondering ‘How did they do that?’ while skillfully encapsulating the story and characters through such a simple act as Adam Scott racing through corridors.
In that scene, we see Scott’s character, Mark, transitioning from his outer self to his inner self in a lift; then, upon recognising his location, he bolts through the office maze, now altered with dead ends. Scott and director Ben Stiller have disclosed that the sequence alone took a staggering five to six months to film, with shots picked up depending on the readiness of the sets.
The production made use of a robotic arm for some camera movements, with Scott running on a treadmill for certain parts, and green screen technology also being utilised. Scott revealed that he drew inspiration from watching Tom Cruise’s running scenes in films, knowing he had more running to do when a crew member asked him about his preferred Gatorade. The duo explained that the scene effectively establishes the drama right from the start.
While viewers like me have been eagerly awaiting the next chapter of this show for years, the character finds himself back in the office immediately after receiving earth-shattering news. It’s logical that he would sprint around the corridors, trying to ascertain what has changed and where his former colleagues are.
I wasn’t the only one impressed by this sequence. One fan posted online: “The opening scene for Severance Season 2 is a masterful work of cinematography, by utilizing the best usage of camera angles, coupling it with suspense and adrenaline combined. And it took five months. Wow.”
This trend continues into the second episode, which is being released – almost unbearably – on a weekly basis. I contemplated waiting until all episodes were available for binge-watching but failed to resist.
While we focus on the office workers in its premiere episode, the second took switches perspective and takes us outside the confines of the office. We follow the outies and it fills in some blanks while simultaneously creating new mysteries and ramping up the suspense.
Despite Adam Scott not breaking into a run, the cinematography was as breathtaking as ever. The best show currently gracing our screens is back and it’s ready to blow you away.
Severance is streaming on Apple TV+.