Severance’s Secret Weapon: Why the Show Is Actually TERRIFYING

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The TV series “Severance” masterfully blends the bizarre with the everyday, resulting in an extraordinary and intriguing production.

It’s not surprising at all that people around the world have grown fond of the Apple TV+ show and the Macrodata Refinement (MDF) team. After all, who doesn’t identify with feeling discontented at work sometimes, and isn’t it chilling to think about being bound to a job forever?

It’s troubling that Lumon appears ready to commit heinous acts against its Innie workers, confident that their outer selves will be appeased with a voucher for Pip’s Bar and Grille.

Beyond the chilling image of a continuous workday until one is essentially ‘killed’ by retirement, there’s an additional factor that might make you uneasy as you watch Mark navigate Lumon’s halls. This could be the underlying fear of being trapped in a monotonous routine for an endless period.

It makes no sense…

It’s quite possible that a part of you has picked up on it already, maybe your inner self, but even if you haven’t consciously recognized it, Lumon seems illogical. I’m not just referring to the goats or the “bad numbers” being confusing; no, I’m talking about architectural inconsistencies within the building itself (or the Severed Floor at least), which appear to be impossible based on conventional design principles.

Instead of walking along the office corridors, lined with endless expanses of bland white walls, it appears as though certain characters often get lost, making U-turns or taking seemingly illogical paths that lead into areas that defy the known layout of the internal space, contrary to what should (and can’t) be there. However, if you pay close attention, you might notice this is a frequent occurrence among the MDF team.

A shrewd move by the creators of Severance is designing the Severed Floor in such a way, giving the series a hint of unsettling mystery. Just as Stanley Kubrick masterfully achieved with the interior design of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining, using architectural anomalies to craft an insidious and ingeniously disquieting atmosphere that separates the characters from one another.

Additionally, the elaborate set design isn’t the only factor that makes Lumon chilling, similar to feeling anxious about an upcoming workday on a Sunday. Instead, it’s due to the fact that The Severed Floor serves as a liminal area.

In simpler terms, a liminal space refers to transitional areas such as hallways, waiting rooms at airports or hotels, and even doorways. They’re not particularly exciting, but they serve an essential purpose – helping you move from one place to another. Strangely enough, their very function of transition can make them feel quite unsettling.

Compels me though…

People generally feel more comfortable with what they know and understand, and tend to gravitate towards familiar environments. On the other hand, liminal spaces – areas undergoing change or transition – can be unsettling because they represent the unknown and the prospect of change. This is why many people prefer to stick to their favorite places, as they offer a sense of security and predictability.

On an instinctual level, these transitional areas, or ‘liminal spaces’, tap into the ancient reptilian part of your brain, suppressing rational thought and inducing feelings of apprehension and discomfort. Have you ever found yourself feeling eerily uncomfortable while walking down a deserted hotel corridor? Maybe you picked up your pace to reach your destination sooner? This is the primal fear of the liminal, your prehistoric instinct to seek safety in familiarity.

Additionally, Severance amplifies the discomfort by removing any context from its hallways. Consequently, it’s uncommon to observe other Lumon employees traversing the Severed Floor or utilizing the offices.

In the recesses of your thoughts, numerous questions about this vast expanse arise: Why is it so expansive? Why don’t we ever see anyone working here? Whose workspace is that? All these queries contribute to a profound feeling of unease, as not only are you venturing into the uncharted, but you’re doing it solo.

The genuine mystery behind Severance lies not only in its ability to ignite existential anxiety using everyday life, but also in its skillful exploration of the deepest recesses of our minds – what we might call our inner selves. If you’re hungry for more insights, don’t miss our review on Severance Season 2, where we share our most fiery thoughts yet. Additionally, we have an article that unpacks the climactic twist in Severance Season 2’s finale.

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2025-01-17 02:35