Severance
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Thankfully, it also has a gripping and cerebral plot.
But severed Mark seems to have a droopy aura of sadness about him too.
Or maybe hes just hungover.
When his work bestie Petey goes MIA, Mark gets a promotion.
Its questionable whether either of these characters are severed like Mark, but they both make formidable impressions.
And newcomer Helly R. (Britt Lower)?
Well, to say shes having a hard time would be an understatement.
he asks, over and over again.
Of course she goes ballistic.
I mean, wouldnt you?
Who is she?!
Mark tries and mostly fails to orient Helly to her new reality.
She clocks him in the headhardwith the speaker and then demands to leave.
Her severed consciousness doesnt extend past the door, so something or someone keeps nudging her back.
Once she gives up, she walks back to Mark.
Shellshocked, she asks, Am I dead?
This isnt like hell or something?
Mark laughs her off with an obvious work laugh and says that its not.
But maybe it is.
), which is that its a construct made up by overactive human imaginations.
But humans can generally create anything they can dream up, so.
The world-building within Lumon is impressive.
Stillers thoughtful framing creates a world rife with loneliness.
Unfortunately, Marks off-the-clock antics arent quite as interesting as his Lumon escapades.
But Mark isnt ready to have that conversation yet.
Mark returns to his humdrum life.
He wraps up his weekend by staring out at the bleak winter landscape while cleaning his gutters.
There, he finds a friend.
And he wants to know whats for dinner.
In the end, he concludes, Were not monsters, Mark.
At least most of us are not bad people.
It looks like its time for my staggered exit, so Im going to go grab the elevator.
As winter drags on, it can feel so oppressive and bleak, andSeverancetakes full advantage of this feeling.
A weird perk for people who live in colder climates?
Maybe, but I sure enjoyed it.
Did anyone else get the Whos Who Are You stuck in their head after watching this episode?
Theres not much blue sky between the names Adam Scott and Mark Scout.
I hope this choice was intentional.
For dealing with such dark material, this show is often laugh-out-loud hilarious.
Two of the funniest lines in this episode?
What I think Im saying here is that if you likeSeverance, you may enjoyBetter Off Ted.
(Currently available for streaming on Hulu.)
