Essential viewing: Dan Aldridge reviews 'Severance'
Severance: Season 2 – Adam Scott as Mark Scout | Image courtesy of AppleTV+
3 min read
Severance may appear far-fetched but this compelling dystopian drama is an increasingly relevant commentary on the future of work
Being the MP for Weston-super-Mare leaves little time to indulge my fascination with alternate reality drama – but catching up with Season 2 of Severance is my one guilty pleasure since it hit AppleTV+ in February.
Like many of my generation, 90s GCSE English literature permanently implanted dystopian fiction like 1984, Brave New World and The Handmaid’s Tale at the centre of my consciousness.
Britt Lower as Helly, Zach Cherry as Dylan and Adam Scott as Mark
Image courtesy of AppleTV+
Severance details a dystopian world where employees undergo a neurosurgical procedure to sever their work memories from their personal lives. It delves into the psychological, political and philosophical consequences of a hyper-controlled, compartmentalised work environment. Compelling viewing it most certainly is.
Tramell Tillman as Milchick | Image courtesy of AppleTV+
However, it struck me very early on that Season 2 hit me differently, making me squirm more. It was only when asked to write this article I started to think it’s because as a legislator, in a world of such dramatic and fast-paced technological change, I have a different level of responsibility than when I watched Season 1, safe in my pre-political life.
At first the concept of Severance seems far-fetched. The protagonist, Mark Scout (played by Adam Scott), works for Lumon Industries, a company that asks some of its employees to undergo brain surgery so that when they’re at work, they have no memory of their personal lives, and vice versa. But as the story unfolds, its themes become increasingly relevant.
It struck me very early on that Season 2 hit me differently, it makes me squirm more
Severance highlights that no matter how much we try to disconnect work from the rest of our lives, we are more than just our jobs – our identities, emotions and relationships cannot be switched off. But in the pursuit of productivity, how far are we willing to push our humanity? The show demonstrates how a strict separation between work and life can strip employees of agency and autonomy.
On a personal level, Severance made me reflect on how, in my first few jobs, I would hide my sexuality, my partner’s identity, and keep myself to myself for fear of being outed. I knew my reality but kept it separate from my workmates out of fear. I’m grateful that this is no longer the case for me, but severance as a concept is something many of us do or have done selectively in many ways. And it is exhausting.
What struck me most about Severance was its deeper philosophical question: if our memories and experiences define who we are, what happens when half of our existence is erased?
As parliamentarians, we see firsthand how workers’ rights have evolved, from calls for a ‘right to disconnect’, for better pay and job security, to demands for improved mental health support. The issues raised by Severance echo the conversations happening in Parliament today. The show forces us to reflect on the importance of not only fair pay but also supporting dignity, autonomy and wellbeing.
While Severance is fictional, it serves as a timely commentary on the future of work, highlighting the need for a balance between productivity and humanity, stronger workers’ rights protections, and the ethical implications of workplace control over people’s lives.
Dan Aldridge is a Labour MP for Weston-super-Mare
Severance
Primary director: Ben Stiller
Created by: Dan Erickson
Broadcaster: AppleTV+
