The Complex Sincerty of SEVERANCE
With the release of AppleTV’s most anticipated show, SEVERANCE SEASON 2, there has been a complex mix of emotions surrounding each episode’s (thankfully weekly) release. From the highs of the shows return with excellent hints of mystery paired with the most engaging visuals on television right now; to the lows of frustrating plot choices and slower pace for unpopular episodes as the season expands to 10 episodes. Frustrations that I found myself agreeing with since I felt that the show could have peaked with the release of Episode 6, “Atilla”, halfway through the season (spoilers for Severance after this point, watch the show!).
I agree that the tension of major plot points in the episode reintegration had the most significant impact on the audience compared to any other episode ending outside of the finale. But Atilla gave me a feeling of tension that no other show has given to me throughout the entire episode, not just the striking implications of the last scene. Every scene was so masterfully edited around multiple of the best performances I've seen on TV in situations that always at the right balance of uncomfortable sincerity & subtle comedy. Severance has been the only show where I hold my breath until I laugh at an unexpected line delivery. The only show that gets me to hold completely still as it demands, and earns, all of the attention I can give to it. The only show where I’m actually engaged & fascinated with the relationship struggles that come from the concept of severing a person’s mind in two.
I have an aversion to relationship drama in TV, most likely due to my high-functioning autism, as it usually comes from a lack of sincerity that I can’t relate to. Luckily, the science fiction premise of Severance itself creates inherent drama while being sincere. Yeah, most television relies on Drama between characters and the relationships to be created by obscuring information, which usually has to come from holding secrets from the rest of an ensemble intentionally. Even the television I love has, what I would say, a frustrating pace with sharing information to the characters compared to the audience. The most irritating thing about the secrets that shows base themselves around is often that a conflict can easily be resolved by sharing secrets with people you're supposed to trust. Time and time again, I feel like characters act irrationally to not put trust in characters that the show wants the audience to trust, severing a connection between the audience and a character with a secret.
Ironically, Severance does an excellent job of having secrets kept from the characters the audience is supposed to be connected to, as the show builds an ominous corporation/cult that takes the brunt of frustration from the audience. Having the antagonistic force of the show by a driving force for secret drama between characters is infinitely more satisfying than the frustrating regression and trust character relationships. Every scene in this episode improves the relationship between the characters as they are able to be sincere without losing the tension of hidden information throughout the show, a sincerity that is necessary to get audience members like myself invested in relationships as complex as the ones in Atilla.
The scene that gets me to think about sincerity the most is, ironically, the scene where there's an ongoing debate about whether or not parties are actually sincere. My reading of the scene is that the actors are presenting contrasting moments that are initially insincere, but with the chemistry of the characters (and actors), a manipulative character can’t help but let her guard down, only to transition back to manipulation.
After a dramatic refusal of the call to reintegrate, Mark goes to eat a full table’s worth of Chinese food before getting interrupted by Heleana Eagan. Heleana has become a full-fledged member of the ensemble, as the entire ‘cast’ of characters expands to the outside lives of Helly, Dylan, and Irving. The whole episode is the first time that explores how the concept of Severance affects the relationships both inside & outside of Lumon. In the restaurant scene I’m discussing, the sincerity of their interior lives bleeds into a scene that is initially supposed to be manipulative. Heleana is the blurred line between our core innie cast and the antagonistic force of Lumon, which leads to moments of sincerity to be dramatically interesting due to the audience’s distrust of her. Thanks to the historic performance of Britt Lower, I wouldn’t be surprised if my readings turn out as incorrect for how well she portrays the complex feelings of Helena throughout the show, as Helena herself often seems to have some much emotion stamped down under the surface. Both actors and characters are believably charmed by each other despite the circumstances and influences that keep them (rightfully) distrustful of each other. A genuine laugh following sincere humor around this bizarre situation is hard to see as insincere from either party. Sincerity adds drama to the beginning & ending of the conversation as I can’t help but question how a genuine moment can be sandwiched in manipulation that is as convincing as the rest of Lower’s performance. Not to mention Adam Scott’s wonderful moment where Mark has a single second of self-awareness that this chemistry doesn’t feel natural to his outie since their inside connection has grown to something more in this episode.
I would have to make separate posts for each scene in this episode to give the attention it deserves…
which I might do honestly.
Cover Image from Studio JJ: https://www.jjlendl.com
