“Chikhai Bardo”

• Creator: Dan Erickson
• Starring: Adam Scott, Britt Lower, John Turturro, Zack Cherry, Tramell Tillman, Patricia Arquette, Jen Tullock, Michael Chernus, Dichen Lachman

Grade: A

Warning: The review of Severance season 2 episode 7 will contain spoilers.

Why do we care about Mark’s (Adam Scott) search for Gemma (Dichen Lachman)? Besides the very relatable, human notion of wanting to reconnect with a lost loved one, we don’t have much to go on regarding Mark and Gemma’s relationship or their past. Episode 7 of season 2 fills in some necessary gaps in their backstories, and provides some shocking developments to show exactly what’s been happening since she disappeared into that dark hallway, and it’s another fascinating episode of Severance at its best.

“Who is Alive?”

• Creator: Dan Erickson
• Starring: Adam Scott, Britt Lower, John Turturro, Zach Cherry, Tramell Tillman, Patricia Arquette, Jen Tullock, Michael Chernus, Dichen Lachman

Grade: B+

Warning: This review of Severance season 2 episode 3 will contain spoilers.

Of all of the juggled storylines in Severance, I never expected the romance between Mark S. (Adam Scott) and Helly R. (Britt Lower) to be so prominent, but season 2 episode 3 brings it closer to the center, and I can’t say I’m upset about it. It’s a fascinating subversion of the love triangle trope: Mark is torn between someone he has genuinely fallen for, and someone who he knows, but another version of himself already loves. The show has already raised a number of intriguing questions because of its unique world-building, but this finds a way to take both the characters and their circumstances in interesting, new directions.

“Hello, Ms. Cobel”

• Creator: Dan Erickson
• Starring: Adam Scott, Britt Lower, John Turturro, Zach Cherry, Tramell Tillman, Patricia Arquette, Jen Tullock, Michael Chernus, Dichen Lachman

Grade: A-

Warning: The review of the season premiere of Severance will contain spoilers.

I often wonder if AppleTV+ knew it had such a massive hit on hits hands when they quietly dropped season 1 of Severance in early 2022. The show quickly became a word-of-mouth darling amongst critics and fans as the season went on – culminating in a number of Emmy nominations – and expectations have only grown in the 3 year wait for season 2. It can’t be overstated how rare it is in today’s TV landscape to have a truly original show that succeeds at being thrilling, insightful, and mysterious. Creator Dan Erickson rightfully earned comparisons to Lost with the sheer depth of his world, and it felt like season 1 had only scratched the surface.