As the second season of Apple TV+’s “Severance” concludes, viewers may feel an unsettling sense of unease. The show delves into themes of work, grief, and relationships, but this season focuses on the concern that you can never truly know those closest to you – or even yourself.
Now, paranoia is pervasive, with a growing distrust evident in society, politics, and media. Long-standing spy films and secret-identity thrillers have catered to this anxiety, but “Severance” stands out by exploring the fear of not knowing anyone, including oneself.
The show follows employees at a mysterious company whose consciousness is split into two identities: innies (their work selves) and outies (their personal selves). The first season’s absurdist take on work-life balance has given way to a second season that examines how people often hide their true selves or pretend to be someone they’re not.
As society becomes increasingly distrustful, “Severance” poses a thought-provoking question: are we not paranoid enough?
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/opinion/severance-finale-paranoid-fantasy.html