Is Severance a good idea? How would it work? (Video)

The concept of being ‘severed’ in the Apple TV+ show, Severance, is that a large corporation, Lumon, requires certain employees to undergo a procedure where their personal and past memories are removed every time they step into the Lumon building.

This idea that you could unlink your personal and work memories is discussed at depth by anyone that has watched the show. 

The show plays a huge role in questioning our identities 

Identity plays an important role in every decision we make. When we understand our identity, we use past experiences, decisions and habits to make future decisions too. When you take away those personal memories, what is left of your identity and what is your motivation?

We see Helly in the first episode of Severance when she is introduced to her new role at Lumon. She is also essentially introduced to herself again – her new self at the company.

She is instinctually in fight or flight mode. We can then gather that she understands basic concepts like safety and danger. 

Helly then meets her colleagues who have seemingly been there for a while and have grown contentment for their lives.

This begs the existential question of, what is their motivation? 

In reality, we often work to live, and live to work. Each motivates the other. Whether it is to put food on the table or provide for your family. To work doing your hobby or to just find enjoyment out of the simpler things in life.

When you filter out the bad memories and distractions from doing your best work, you can find yourself with less distractions and almost a tunnel vision approach to completing your tasks. You are also however filtering out past mistakes, or lessons that can be the reason you succeed this time around. 

The same can be said for your happy, positive memories and experiences. 

The joy you feel from things you love are a powerful motivator for you to do the things you love. But they also fuel you to complete the more mundane tasks you have to get through, so without that passion and drive, the mundane can seem unbearable.

You see later on in the episode that they have grown work-friendships amongst their cubicles, which highlights the human need we have for connection and motivation. In a constricted setting like this, they are seemingly clutching at straws to enjoy their day to day lives there.

It’s a fascinating show and really delves into some thoughtful questions about the choices we make and how even our tough, even traumatic experiences need to faced rather than buried away.

Watch the full video on Severance.