Severance Season 2 Episode 1 delivers a major development right off the bat

Warning: This article is intended for real followers of Kier only. If you haven’t watched the Season 2 premiere of “Severance,” beware Spoilers.

Well, we finally know what’s going on after that ill-fated thriller “Severance” left us all literally on the edge of our seats nearly three full years ago… and the answer, apparently, is nothing? The first episode of the second season (Which I reviewed here for /Film) picks up pretty much where we left off, with Eni Mark S waking up. Our favorite Adam Scott is back on the Severed Floor at Lumon Industries just seconds after – from his perspective, at least – after he shouted that his colleague’s (presumed) wife was actually alive. For those who need a refresher on what happened last timeMark leads a rebellion against their corporate masters which results in Healy R. (Brett Lauer) blowing the whistle on several of Lomon’s bigwigs and Irving B. (John Turturro) urgently searching for his short-lived romantic flame Bert (Christopher Walken).

When the smoke cleared and Mark returned to work, he was faced with the shock that his old team at Macrodata Refinement (MDR) had been completely replaced by an entirely new trio of exotic groups. This should create a new status quo for at least the first few episodes of the season. not so! In the first big draw of the season (with more to come), the extremely busy first episode turns the tables on Mark S and viewers alike instantly… and in doing so, sets the tone for a sophomore season that’s sure to leave fans guessing every step of the way. .

Oh, how easily any of us will be replaced as the wheels of capitalism continue to grind. Season 2 of “Severance” is back and hasn’t missed a beat in its biting satire of workplace norms, the latest of which is best represented by the three newest characters introduced — and just as quickly eliminated — in this first hour of the season. 2. When it seemed like we had to get used to it Pizarro’s version of MDR Led by guest stars Bob Balaban, Alia Shawkat, and Stefano Caranante, Mark’s desperate, rule-breaking plea to the board delivers. Halfway through the premiere, the first big development is that our beloved group of new players have reunited and are ready to be an even bigger thorn in Lumon’s side.

Trailers for season 2 They’ve gone out of their way to highlight the new MDR team, lending credence to the assumption that series creator Dan Erikson and his writing team might let them stay for a while. Well, you know what they say about those who assume. After being caught trying to sabotage poor Mark W. (Not even Mark S seemed to be trying very hard, as Trammell Tillman’s Mr. Melchik points out, even neglecting to hide his handwriting on the incriminating note he tried to plant), Mark S. decides to… Submit his complaints to the highest level of decision-makers at Le Mon. His reckless infiltration into Mr. Melchik’s office pays off incredibly well, as the board seems to realize that giving in to the internal employee’s demands will be the easiest way to get him back in the office and improve all that macro data.

Sometimes, workers He can Take a small victory over the bosses – although perhaps our owners will finally be able to figure out how to unionize by Season 3 and make things a little easier on themselves, right?

So where does all this leave our promising new recruits to the MDR? While they’re on their way to the new and improved Break Room to watch a Lumon-certified animated video unlike anything we’ve seen from this show before (including a hidden voice you’ll probably recognize), Dylan G. (Zach Cherry) urges Mark not to… He feels bad about “ending their lives.” Dylan shows no remorse for these workers who are put in the position of taking his and his friends’ jobs, but their uncertain fate is as entertaining as it is quietly unsettling. Our favorite characters could have easily ended up being “killed off” in exactly the same way, ceasing to exist as Sweet ol’ Burt did last season when he was forced to retire.

Again, to be fair, “Severance” plays coy. The premiere doesn’t tip its hand one way or the other about whether any (or all) of this trio of new characters will appear again later in the season. But, if nothing else, this subversion of expectations feels like a huge, blatant neon sign that our heroes need to watch their backs more in the coming episodes.

For now, the premiere leaves us in a confusing place, and yes, it happens to be exactly what our energies were last season. But don’t let appearances fool you. Mark S, Hailey R, Irving B, and Dylan G may have all their old jobs back, but they reside in… very Emotional headspaces are different than they used to be. Despite conflict over whether to accept Lomon’s offer to resign voluntarily, Irving Bee decided to stay and help his friends. After Dylan finds out that his outside partner has a wife and children, he remains more excited than ever. As for Helly R. and Mark S., our newest power couple, it seems like a sure bet that these two will get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding the missing Mrs. Casey/Gemma (Dichen Lachman).

New episodes of “Severance” air on Apple TV+ every Friday.