Season 1 PERFECTION, Season 2 is great!
I started watching this show weekly when it first came out and absolutely fell in love with it! The music, acting, directing, writing, production design, editing, everything fell into perfect place. Every aspect meshed together flawlessly. Every moment was perfectly paced and fascinating to watch as it all culminated in a season finale that still stands, imo the best episode of television I've ever seen. Every character and story arc is so well written and profound, every shot is perfectly constructed. That was season 1...
Normally I'd set low expectations for a second season of a tv show, but Severance blew it out of the water that there was no way I would be able to tame my expectations. When the season finally finished, unfortunately it didn't meet them. A lot of things I enjoyed about season 1 weren't present anymore. The quirky and witty writing was replaced with a lot of cryptic and flat dialogue. In season 1 each plot point introduced had a purpose that carried the narrative that was perfectly weaved into a tightly paced and written finale, whereas season 2 each episode introduces a new idea and plot line that ends up not getting followed up on. The production is better than ever, but when the characters start to make weird decisions the whole thing falls flat and so it's hard to take the plot seriously. There are still incredible episodes that alone are wonderfully constructed and had my jaw on the floor, but as a season it felt very disjointed, whereas season 1 was able to balance multiple streamlined narratives that all culminated wonderfully in it's final minutes. Severance season 2 has insane ideas and situations that are all thought provoking, but as a of a season of television, it lacks the narrative cohesion, world building, and character work that truly made season 1 my favorite season of tv I've ever watched.
So Overall, Season 1 is a 10/10 pure perfection imo. Season 2 is an 8/10, definitely still worth the watch despite a few downsides, but am still holding out hope for season 3!
Normally I'd set low expectations for a second season of a tv show, but Severance blew it out of the water that there was no way I would be able to tame my expectations. When the season finally finished, unfortunately it didn't meet them. A lot of things I enjoyed about season 1 weren't present anymore. The quirky and witty writing was replaced with a lot of cryptic and flat dialogue. In season 1 each plot point introduced had a purpose that carried the narrative that was perfectly weaved into a tightly paced and written finale, whereas season 2 each episode introduces a new idea and plot line that ends up not getting followed up on. The production is better than ever, but when the characters start to make weird decisions the whole thing falls flat and so it's hard to take the plot seriously. There are still incredible episodes that alone are wonderfully constructed and had my jaw on the floor, but as a season it felt very disjointed, whereas season 1 was able to balance multiple streamlined narratives that all culminated wonderfully in it's final minutes. Severance season 2 has insane ideas and situations that are all thought provoking, but as a of a season of television, it lacks the narrative cohesion, world building, and character work that truly made season 1 my favorite season of tv I've ever watched.
So Overall, Season 1 is a 10/10 pure perfection imo. Season 2 is an 8/10, definitely still worth the watch despite a few downsides, but am still holding out hope for season 3!
- gabrielmikhno
- 22 may 2025