Fans have been waiting patiently for new episodes of Severance. It’s been almost three years since the first season concluded, and it left viewers on quite a cliffhanger. Now it’s time to check back in with Lumon Enterprises to see what’s next for our heroes of the Macrodata Refinement division.
The season two premiere takes little time to bring viewers back into the action. The opening sequence of Mark S’s return and his search for his coworkers is frantic and playful. The movement of the camera along with the switching from first to third person develops a sense of urgency and displays how much of a labyrinth the severed floor is. However, the accompanying song lightens the mood despite as if it were a game of hide-and-seek. Things may slow down at times throughout the episode but the intro makes sure your hooked in for the ride.
The most anticipated part of “Hello, Ms. Cobel” is the reunion of the four main protagonists. Severance throws a curveball initially, but much like the crew itself, there’s a big sense of relief when they are back together. It’s an emotionally charged reunion since each person processes their previous experience differently. Irving specifically finds it difficult.
John Tuturro shines as a man who is burdened by awareness and knowledge and who longs for simpler times. More surprising is Zach Cherry’s performance as Dylan. The character is typically smart mouthed and perk driven, so it’s rare to see such vulnerability and sincerity. The acting pair make me misty eyed and we’re only one episode back.
An intriguing aspect of the premiere is all the deception and manipulation that occurs throughout. It adds to the uncomfortable feeling because you, nor the characters, know what to believe since everything is already so mysterious. Severance is planting seeds for later with regards to some people’s motivation. Lies and secrets eventually catch up leading to conflict and strife.
Although Lumon has an enigmatic aura, “Hello, Ms. Cobel” does a good job of revealing bits and pieces here and there through subtle ways. Conversations between coworkers in Macrodata Refinement show insight into other locations. A corporate video encapsulates what we know of Lumon: it’s awkwardly wholesome with cult like vibes. You would expect nothing less from a company that employs a child to manage the innies. It’s a delightfully bizarre world.
Lastly, the good work of George Drakoulias and Theodore Shapiro doesn’t go unnoticed. The combined soundtrack and score elevate the scenes by accentuating the mood from playful to supsence. Then, for the final shot of the foursome back at their cubicles, “God Walked Down” is perfect for the triumphant reunion adding the right amount of hip and cool.
Severance wastes no time with an emotionally powerful season premiere that brings us back to the delightfully bizarre and mysterious world of Lumon Industries.
New episodes of Severance release Fridays on Apple TV+.
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