'Severance' on Apple TV
- Thread starter ahalpert
- Start date
drboffa
Well-known member
Woah! That's high praise. I've been curious ever since listening to a podcast episode about some of the philosophical issues raised by the show. I'm currently enjoying three free months of Apple+ so I'll add this to the list.
For anyone interested in it: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...rman-rebroadcast/id1509951964?i=1000684610207
For anyone interested in it: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...rman-rebroadcast/id1509951964?i=1000684610207
ahalpert
Major Contributor
I'll have to check that out! I love the show but here are my caveats:
It's probably not for everyone. It has a very strong vibe. It's very bleak and the pacing feels quite slow. That being said, more happens in terms of actual plot-changing events and character development per episode than in most shows.
I also think it's funnier than most comedies I see. Not laugh out loud funny, more like wry smile funny.
The first half of season 1 filled me with introspection. The second half became a bit more of a race-against-time "will the good guys win?" story which I found compelling but not different from most other good TV. I was afraid that the 2nd season would fail to spark further introspection and just continue following the plot. But to my surprise it's been just as interesting as the first half of season 1.
The cinematography is superb. Almost Kubrickian. Granted that the compositional achievements are aided by the fact that it mostly uses static shots.
The entire cast is fantastic. Kudos to Ben Stiller (who has directed more than half the episodes) and the other directors.
My comparison of the most recent episode to Bergman/Tarkovsky is partially superficial because the bleak dreamy/epic landscapes and psychological delving and various forms of death reminded me of their themes and style. But there's definitely a depth to this show that you don't get in the vast majority of TV or films. I'm lovin' it.
It really is one of the best series out there right now, and generally one of the best I’ve seen. Production design is absolutely brilliant, as are the writing, casting, directing, sound design, etc. But really, the overall visual design of that world is stunningly effective.
ahalpert
Major Contributor
The funny thing is that I was initially not interested in it at all because I thought Severance was a reference to getting fired and that it was about overworked Silicon Valley types who were afraid of losing their jobs. Boy was I wrong
drboffa
Well-known member
This is literally what I thought as well.
I’m not sure I ever had an impression of what it was or wasn’t. It was a show that was on my list, but I couldn’t get my wife interested in it. That changed after their Times Square PR stunt a few weeks ago; something about that made her change her mind.
And yeah… the first impression was dead-wrong.
They started writing S3 while S2 was dropping, so I hope that means it won’t take quite as long to get the next season.
POTENTIAL SPOILER.
If you’re current on S2, please read below. If you haven’t watched the show, or at least finished S1, you might want to ignore this post.
Have y’all read the Lexington Letter? This is a supplemental resource from the show’s creators. It’s a free e-book, and well worth the read.
If you’re current on S2, please read below. If you haven’t watched the show, or at least finished S1, you might want to ignore this post.
Have y’all read the Lexington Letter? This is a supplemental resource from the show’s creators. It’s a free e-book, and well worth the read.
ahalpert
Major Contributor
Holy ****. S2E7 was a tour de force. And it was directed by the cinematographer! Apparently this is her directorial debut. Damn, some people are talented.
One thing they do really well in this show is the order in which they reveal details. The intrigue and mystery are so well developed.
This show really feels hand-made in the sense that many TV shows have predictable arcs or formats or tropes or episode types, etc. In this show it really feels somehow like every scene and every episode is crafted from scratch.
But they better have a good ending to the whole thing figured out or it will be a massive disappointment. I don't feel like this show can go on for more than 3 seasons? Dunno.
One thing they do really well in this show is the order in which they reveal details. The intrigue and mystery are so well developed.
This show really feels hand-made in the sense that many TV shows have predictable arcs or formats or tropes or episode types, etc. In this show it really feels somehow like every scene and every episode is crafted from scratch.
But they better have a good ending to the whole thing figured out or it will be a massive disappointment. I don't feel like this show can go on for more than 3 seasons? Dunno.
I have enjoyed it including tonights S2E8 but your I share your thought above. I would go so far as to say I don't think they have an ending figured out. Mindhunter was similarly a series I looked forward to. It canceled before concluding and like Severance, highlights a difference between a movie and a series. The Fugitive is the only fictional long running series with a final concluding episode. Series if they're good are designed to keep going until canceled. So when it comes to writing, I would give the edge to daytime soap "The Young and the Restless" over anything. How they keep those stories and actors fresh day after day for years is the most impressive.
With Severance, I think we already know what it's about.
drboffa
Well-known member
I finally got around to watching Season 1 of Severance and wow, that is some fantastic TV. Truly one of the few shows that not only lived up to the hype but exceeded it. Super smart, beautifully and intelligently shot, and compelling as hell.
Time to dive into Season 2...
Time to dive into Season 2...