Severed: The Ultimate Severance Podcast

Drop a note to Allen S. right here. (Can't respond...sorry.)LIVING LIFE 90 SECONDS AT A TIME...
Apple TV+ is back with another glimpse into the weird world of "Severance" Season 2. As we move closer and closer to getting the gang back into MDR, this promo is telling us they might not be the gang we want! Oh, and Mark might be unsevered!! Er...I'm sorry...re-integrated. Milchick's back, Dylan might not be in trouble and there's no word if Helly got a sitdown with 'The Board.'

There's a lot to unpack here. It...

Drop a note to Allen S. right here. (Can't respond...sorry.)WELCOME BACK, REFINER! ARE YOU READY FOR MORE DARKNESS...?
We're back, and it's time to finish our current "Origins" project. We're going to get into the final hour of 'Dark City.' This movie is deceiving. It's only 90 minutes but, wow...Director Alex Proyas jammed a LOT of stuff into 90 minutes! Literally thousands of cuts are telling a more involved story than you'd expect in such a short film.

We have Strangers to battle...creepy Dr. Schreber is a turn coat, surprise-surprise, and Johnny...

Drop a note to Allen S. right here. (Can't respond...sorry.)WELCOME BACK TO THE DARKNESS, REFINER!
This is Part Two of our epic "Dark City" breakdown. This 1998 Sci-fi opus was a huge influence on Dan Erickson as he was creating 'Severance.' Last time, we met the players. This time out, we're going to dig into the mystery that is Dark City. Why is there no daylight? Why can't anyone seem to give directions to 'Shell Beach'? And, just how many dead hookers is it going to take before someone stops the serial killer who's run...

Drop a note to Allen S. right here. (Can't respond...sorry.)Huge thanks to Adam Scott, star of 'Severance' and host of the Severance Podcast for recording a custom intro for "Severed." Make sure to check out 'The Severance Podcast w/Ben Stiller & Adam Scott" wherever you found this one!Support the showAPPLE PODCAST LISTENERS: If you are enjoying "Severed: The Ultimate 'Severance' Podcast" please make sure to leave a 5-star rating (and, if you want, a review telling others to give it a try). Higher rated podcasts get better placement in suggestion lists. It...

Drop a note to Allen S. right here. (Can't respond...sorry.)WELCOME BACK, REFINER! Big news! 
The powers that be from Lumon have made a huge announcement. Er, umm...maybe it's the Powers that be at Red Hour/AppleTV+. Whoever it is, they've graced us with a release date. Sure, it's next year and it means there is, technically, a three-year difference between the premier of S1 and the premier of S2. Admittedly, some folks have left the fold, claiming the show is good, but this is far too long to wait for more content. The rest o...

Drop a note to Allen S. right here. (Can't respond...sorry.)LET'S FINISH THIS THING! 
This is it, Refiner...our final visit to the head of John Malkovich. Join me!!
This episode has it ALL! We go to the "Malkovich" restaurant, we race through Johnny M.'s rather disturbing subconscious AND we discover the Future Vessel!! Will Lotte and Maxine get together? Will Craig ever find love? Will John Malkovich get back to being an actor?? All this and more will be revealed when you hit 'play' on this chapter of "Severed: Origins".

SPOILERS: T...

Drop a note to Allen S. right here. (Can't respond...sorry.)WELCOME TO MORE WEIRDNESS!!
It's time for "Being John Malkovich"-PT2. If you remember last time, our good buddy and frustrated puppeteer Craig Schwartz started a new job. While in the file room at LesterCorp. he discovered a tiny door. All indications are he's about to go through it...and we're going with him!

This is PART TWO of the "Severed: Origins" breakdown of "Being John Malkovich." It's one of the things cited by Dan Erickson as an inspiration during his creation of "Severance."<...

Drop a note to Allen S. right here. (Can't respond...sorry.)SORRY TO BOTHER YOU AT HOME, REFINER…
This was just too good to keep. I didn't think I could wait until the next time you were down on the Severed Floor. On June 10th, 2024, Apple held it's annual Worldwide Developer's Conference. As part of the welcome, they debuted a promotional video teasing upcoming series and movies available during the fall season. THERE WERE 12 NEW SECONDS OF 'SEVERANCE' FOOTAGE IN THIS PROMOTION!! 

This is a detailed breakdown of those 12 seconds. There's a lot more there tha...

Drop a note to Allen S. right here. (Can't respond...sorry.)WELCOME BACK, REFINER! TIME FOR MORE "SEVERED: ORIGINS"!
This week, we're beginning a voyage into the mind....of John Malkovich. It's time to break down the notorious and infamous "Being John Malkovich" from 1999. Dan Erickson has mentioned this as one of his inspirations while creating "Severance." It's easy to see the questions about 'self' and who is in control raised by this movie. John Malkovich also has literal 'innies' who inhabit his consciousness...but only for fifteen minutes.

This time, in Part One, we're...

Drop a note to Allen S. right here. (Can't respond...sorry.)WELCOME BACK, REFINER!! 
Ready for more "Black Mirror" weirdness?? It's time to jump right back into the twisted mind of Charlie Brooker and his "Black Mirror" episode called "White Christmas"? Is it a Christmas Special? Is it a dark and twisted look at the future of Social Media? Is it a Crime Drama with a twist? Turns out, it's all three.

This time, in Part Two, we will be FINISHING the "White Christmas" episode. We're going to discover the future of 'Cookies'...turns out t...

Drop a note to Allen S. right here. (Can't respond...sorry.)HAPPY HOLIDAYS, REFINERS!! WELCOME BACK TO 'SEVERED'!! Ever wonder what it would be like to spend Christmas in a tiny cabin in a blizzard with John Hamm? Find out in this latest episode of "Severed: Origins." We're breaking down the incredible 'Christmas' Episode of the Black Mirror Anthology Series called "White Christmas." It's freaky all the way around. It's easy to see why it was an inspiration for Dan Erickson during his creation of 'Severance.'

This time out in Part One, we get some...

Drop a note to Allen S. right here. (Can't respond...sorry.)WELCOME BACK, REFINER!! IT'S TIME FOR MORE SEVERED!!
Well, better late than never, right Refiner?? This week, "Severed: Origins" is finally taking some time to break down the weird little document Red Hour released a month after the premier of the show: "The Lexington Letter". It was presented as a whistleblower letter written by a Severed Employee working at the Topeka, KS location of Lumon Industries. It contained a few clues, but it was REALLY another attempt on the part of the producers to explain the...

Drop a note to Allen S. right here. (Can't respond...sorry.)WELCOME BACK, REFINER!! READY TO JUMP INTO A VOLCANO?
So glad to have you along for the exciting conclusion of "Joe versus The Volcano." Last time we were just about to board the "Tweedle-Dee" and head for the fictional island of Waponi-Woo.

This time, we hit the water for some fishing...and falling in love...and falling overboard. It's a very eventful trip. Joe and Patricia (Angelica's half-sister) do finally make it to the island of Waponi-Woo. Joe is ready to fulfill his obligation...

Drop a note to Allen S. right here. (Can't respond...sorry.)WELCOME BACK TO THE SEVERED FLOOR, REFINERS!
Our look at those things that inspired Dan Erickson as he was creating 'Severance' continues!! This time out, we're breaking down the 1990 fairy-tale Rom-com "Joe vs. The Volcano." It stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in their FIRST movie together! It was also written and directed by Oscar and Pulitzer prize-winning writer, John Patrick Shanley. With a pedigree like that, you'd think it would be a better movie! Then again, maybe it's just misunderstood. We're going to delve deeply...

SORRY TO BOTHER YOU AT HOME, REFINERS!!
I wouldn't have initiated the OTC if this were not something important. Make sure to check out the latest information about the Second Season of 'Severance'.

Huge thanks to Adam Scott, star of 'Severance' and host of the Severance Podcast for recording a custom intro for "Severed." Make sure to check out 'The Severance Podcast w/Ben Stiller & Adam Scott" wherever you found this one!

Support the Podcast on Patreon! (Click Here)

APPLE PODCAST LISTENERS: If...

IT'S TIME TO END THIS THING, REFINERS!!
Our three part "Truman Show" Origins Odyssey is about to come to an end. Truman's freakout is in full bloom. He crossed the bridge!! (This may or may not mean he has fixed his inner soul).  There's a nuclear plant meltdown, a forest fire and a fugitive escapee in the woods...and that's all in the first 20 minutes of this final Opus.

Meryl must bid us a fond farewell...but don't worry. Christof has found another young actress willing to sleep with the star of the show. We'll m...

WELCOME BACK, REFINERS!!
It's time for more "Severed: Origins" as we continue to break down the 1998 Jim Carrey classic, "The Truman Show."

I'm making a long winter meal out of this one, gang. We start this segment by meeting Truman's mother. The lovely Holland Taylor is stellar as "Mom." We hang out with Truman as he's watching some of the offerings on Seahaven's TV channel. 

Truman hears some weirdness on the radio and sees a LOT of weirdness in a building elevator. He follows both Meryl and Marlon to work then decides he H...

WELCOME BACK, REFINERS!! 
The 'Severed' ORIGINS Series continues with a look at a fun an interesting movie from 1998. This time out, we take on "The Truman Show" directed by Peter Weir and Starring Jim Carrey, Ed Harris and Laura Linney.

In this installment, we learn about the long and twisting path this movie took when it came to getting both a director and a script. We'll actually hit 'play' and fire it up. That's when we'll meet Christof, Louis and Hannah. Although Truman doesn't know Christof at all and he thinks Hannah's name is Meryl a...

WELCOME BACK, REFINER!!
This week, the "Severed: Origins" series is taking a look at a masterpiece created by a French Madman. His name is Jacques Tati and the film we'll be discussing is his 1967 opus "Play Time." "Play Time" is like no film you've ever seen. We'll get into just exactly why it's so different. Since it is so different, I can't even break it down the way I would normally review a movie. I'll explain, and we'll get into it...kinda.

Tati doesn't believe much in plot, character or close-ups. How is it possible...

WELCOME BACK FOR MORE "ORIGINS", REFINER!! 
We've got some fun planned for today. Maybe not as exciting as an Egg Bar...but still a good time. The "Severed: Origins" series is taking a look at a couple of oddball inspirations cited by Dan Erickson as he was creating 'Severance.' This week, we're looking at a video game...and something called an internet "creepypasta." Don't worry if you're not familiar with either of those things. You will be brought up to speed.

So if you're ready Refiner...it's time to hit 'play' on more "Origins." Duration: 00:36:53

WELCOME BACK, REFINERS! ARE YOUR TPS REPORTS COVERED??
It's time for the second installment of our breakdown of "Office Space." The hilariously dry 1999 comedy was an influence on Dan Erickson as he was creating "Severance." That's why we're breaking it down as part of the "Severed: Origins" series.

This time, Refiners, we'll be finishing up "Office Space." We've got a lot of ground to cover!! We meet 'the Bobs', Peter and Samir get fired, Tom gets hit by a truck and "Superman III" swoops in to save the day...kinda. Peter and Joanna get together...

HEY THERE, REFINERS...READY FOR A LITTLE FUN??
If you happen to hang out in the SeveranceAppleTVPlus sub on Reddit, you may have seen an "ABC" list being posted for the past few weeks. A dedicated Redditor named "Milchicksgirl" really put a lot of great work into compiling this list...and a lot of folks really got into it!! 

After reviewing the finished list, I noticed nearly all of the items listed are audio quotes from the show. I pulled a few...then a few more...until I decided I really needed to do something w...

WELCOME BACK, REFINERS!! IT'S TIME FOR MORE "ORIGINS" FUN!!
This week, we're starting the breakdown of a 1999 comedy that was a huge influence on Dan Erickson and his creation of "Severance". It's the hilarious "Office Space" from Mike Judge. We'll get deep into the inner workings of Initech, what it can mean if you improperly cover a TPS report and just how bad a boss COULD be. It may not be the Severed Floor...but you'd have to agree, it's a pretty f-ed up way to make a living.

Not only was "Office Space" an...

WELCOME BACK, INTREPID REFINER!! READY TO FINISH THIS THING??
You've found yourself at the third and final installment of the Severed: Origins look at the 1999 blockbuster "The Matrix." It was one of those things that inspired Dan Erickson in the creation of "Severance."

When we last left Morpheus and the crew, they were just preparing to jump into the Matrix and introduce Neo to the Oracle. 

This time out, we meet the Oracle, Morpheus gets abducted by Agent Smith, Neo attacks a skyscraper with a helicopter...and a mini-gun. Cypher goes Rogue, Mouse b...

WELCOME BACK, REFINERS!! ARE YOU READY FOR MORE "ORIGINS"?
Last time we gathered, we were just getting into the 1999 sci-fi classic "The Matrix." It's about time to meet Morpheus. It's also about time to find out just what the heck "The Matrix" is and why Neo is such a threat to the continued peaceful existence of the A.I. that has all humanity enslaved in a giant VR machine.

But I might be getting ahead of myself. We need to free Neo from his goo-pod before we can get to the business of saving the...

WELCOME BACK, REFINERS! TIME FOR MORE "ORIGINS"...
It's been a long, hot summer on the picket line for both WGA and SAG-AFTRA members. Nothing is moving so far in the way of negotiations or agreements. Instead of sitting around bored down here on the Severed Floor, I've started to take a look at those things that influenced Dan Erickson as he was creating "Severance." I'm calling it the "Severed: Origins" Series. Hey, it may not be Season Two, but it's better than listening to Dylan tell us about his caricatures again.

This time out on "...

LET'S HAVE SOME FUN TODAY, REFINER!!
Since things are kinda quiet down here on the Severed Floor, I've decided to lighten things up a bit. This week, we're going to do a full breakdown on the file marked "Sizzler" Corporate Video. It's loaded with Big Hair, Big Plates of Food and some Big Platitudes about corporate Steak House chain 'Sizzler.' Dan Erickson has talked about it in interviews as being an inspiration for "Severance." What is it? Where did it come from? How did the not-quite-40-year-old DE come across this relic from 1991?? I've got all...

WELCOME BACK FOR MORE, REFINER!! (My, you are a glutton for punishment, aren't you??)

This is it! We've finally reached the third, and final, part of our "Severed: Origins" deep dive into the 1985 movie "Brazil." If this is the first installment you've found for "Brazil", STOP HERE!! You need to go back and find parts One and Two before you wade into this.

Enjoy, refiners! Tons of interesting new goodies to lay on you about this storied film. We get to break down the coolest scene Terry Gilliam has ever shot as a director...

HEY THERE, REFINERS!
Welcome back for more "Severed: Origins." This time out, we are continuing our re-watch of the 1985 Terry Gilliam dystopian sci-fi comedy "Brazil."

We've got a LOT to cover....and we won't even finish it this week. The coffee is on, refiners...time to boot up your workstations and open the file called "Brazil."

Having trouble finding "Brazil"? It's been pulled from streaming services all over the U.S. You can find the 142 minute copy on the free "Internet Archive." Here's a link:

https://archive.org/details/7.9-8-brazil-1985<...

HEY THERE, REFINER!! 
Glad to see you've come back for more Severed: “Origins”! Since the WGA continues to strike for the rights of our beleaguered writers, I decided we needed something to keep us busy between now and S2. Enter the "Origins" series from "Severed"!! It's a deep-dive look at those things that INSPIRED the creation of "Severance"! The logic goes like this: if you like the end result, you'll probably like what went into it, right??

This time out, we're going DEEP into the 1985 Terry Gilliam movie, "Brazil." It's a personal fave of mine, and o...

WELCOME, REFINERS, TO A SPECIAL "ORIGINS" EDITION OF "SEVERED"!
As the WGA strike grinds on, I decided to look into some of the things that have been cited by Dan Erickson as inspiration for "Severance." I'm calling this the Severance 'Origins' series. Look for it in the regular 'Severed' Podcast feed.

Philip K. Dick's work is often referenced as heavily influential to 'Severance'...some even think the relief statue in the Lumon Atrium is an homage to PKD. I don't know if I would go that far, but I'm certainly in awe of Mr. Dick's...

HEY THERE, REFINER!
I realize waking you up at home is not the most ideal situation, but I had more thoughts about "Severance" Season One. We'll make this quick.

Don't expect to hear from me again until Season Two...but, you never know. Keep the lines of communication open, just in case I need to be in touch between now and then.

In the show I mention checking out Dylan's tour of the Severed Floor. It's a series of short videos available on the Lumon LinkedIN page. Here's a link that will take...

HEY THERE, REFINER...SURPRISE!!
I know, you thought I wasn't going to be talking to you until the Second Season rolled around. I didn't think so, either. Then I tried to give Season One a casual watch for fun after wrapping up the podcast. That's when I started to see MORE stuff!! I've got a few observations, a couple of weird theories and some other goofiness in this shortened "add-on" episode. Call it "Season Wrap-up  PT1A". 

It won't take long...just until Dylan's kid counts to a thousand.

Remember to keep listening to...

PULL UP A CHAIR, REFINERS!!
Time to get out the red rubber ball and talk over what we just saw in Season One. I've got theories all over the place. Where is this going? How are they going to start out Season Two? 

I don't KNOW anything...but I've got enough wild speculation to keep everyone busy for a while, at least.

There are things I didn't get deep enough into during the season. There are things I got WRONG! (can you imagine?) There are even things I totally MISSED! (I know, shocking, r...

WELCOME BACK, REFINERS! We've got a VERY SPECIAL guest for today...
So, Refiners, as you've probably figured out...I don't do a lot of interviews. It's not that I don't like doing them, I just don't know anyone. PLUS, I've been really busy breaking down every episode second-by-second. I didn't have a lot of extra time to be tracking down actors and others.

I was pleasantly surprised to receive a note from a guy named Marc Geller telling me how much he was enjoying the podcast. Yeah, ha-ha...I get it...he's using the same...

WELL, REFINERS...IT'S ALL COME DOWN TO THIS.
The Waffle Party was cut short and Dylan has made his way to the Security Office. The rest of MDR is out in the world as their outies, totally unaware of what these scheming innies have in store for them!! The OTC switches were thrown in the final second of last episode. This time, we pick up the action one second later.

This is the one everybody was talking about...now we're going to talk about it even MORE!! If you're ready, Refiners...boot up those workstations...

WELCOME BACK, REFINERS!! Are you ready for some Waffles??!!??
This episode is HUGE...tons of stuff to get to but, ultimately, this ep is summed up in two words: Waffle Party. The elusive and much sought after (maybe even 'coveted'?) Waffle Party is the culmination of this episode. We've got a BUNCH of great information to discuss about the waffles, but there is SO much more going on in this episode.

We meet Irv's outie and learn the meaning of the black sludge. Helly makes quota and we meet a special voiceover artist, uncredited in...

WELCOME BACK, REFINERS! WE'VE GOT EVEN MORE 'DEFIANT JAZZ'!!
Sorry to have cut things short on you last time. The party continues!! This time out, Irv discovers outie-Burt is retiring...which means innie-Burt dies.

Suddenly, being on the severed floor doesn't feel like all that much fun anymore. Knowing about the Overtime Contingency and finding the magical keycard leads Helly to a plan. What if they could do this to THEMSELVES? What if THEY could all wake up OUT THERE?? This is some radical and decidedly 'non-Kier' thinking. 

Speaking of things happening "Out T...

WOW, REFINERS...ARE YOU READY FOR THIS??
Things are happening fast in the land of the Severed Souls. Right up front we witness a brutal murder. Mark didn't do it, but he was there. Even though Mark asked repeatedly, we're not EXACTLY sure who did it...but I'm betting her name is Reghabi. 

And the wages of sin are...a keycard. Not just any keycard, this is Doug Graner's keycard. It opens everything on the Severed Floor and WITHOUT any record of who was using it. Hmm...wonder if any workers down on the Severed F...

WE'VE GOT A BUSY DAY, REFINERS!!
Welcome back to "Severed: The Ultimate 'Severance' Podcast." No time for pleasantries, refiners, we have a LOT to get to today.

We are introduced to Harmony Cobel's secret shrine to Kier. Notes from Andrew Baseman give us ALL the details. Did you know there's a plant room on the severed floor? Burt found it and now he's sharing it with Irv. 

After their day out, Mark and Helly get in trouble, but it's Ms. Casey who's going to have to pay for it in the breakroom.
Duration: 01:31:23