Chikhai Bardo

It's kind of insane to think this was originally inspired by the backrooms. Almost every scene leaves you mind blown with the camera work, set design, color grading. Everything is phenomenal. The transitions are so constantly creative you are siting there wondering how did they do that nearly every other scene. As far as story telling goes this is easily the most abstract and non-linear severance has ever been. It's unclear who's memories we are looking at half the time and who's perspective we are watching, and yet it still makes senses. We see more of lumon and what they are doing but there is still pieces missing, everything is there but it isn't quite connecting yet. I think most importantly this episode effectively sells Gemma as a character and it sells Mark and Gemmas relationship as something we should care about. This show continues to push television as a median forward and I'm on the edge of my seat to what comes next.

This episode is nothing but perfection and for Severance standards that is a high bar. I truly believe Severance is one of if not the best show ever made (at least in my opinion) and this episode proves why I love this show. It hit me in the feels, it gave me adrenaline, it made me smile, laugh even, and of course it made me cry. This episode is the core reason why Severance is what it is and why it asks more questions instead of answers them, because when they finally answer them it feels better than if they resolved this story in episode 1. Best episode of the season so far and possibly one of the best episodes of television ever created.

One of the most beautifully crafted episodes of television ever, and the most emotional episode of Severance yet.

It's hard to talk about how amazing this episode is without spoiling anything but god the way it just weaves this mind-bending torturous sci-fi story with this beautiful Orpheus and Eurydice analogy of two lovers mourning each other, not knowing how close they really are. Just absolutely heart wrenching.

As many lore bombs as someone could hope for, impeccable cinematography, set design, acting, writing, just absolutely beautiful from the top down.

There are still three episodes left and whole season(s?) ahead of this show and this still feels like the Magnum Opus of Severance.

In my opinion, this is the greatest episode of television ever, and this cements Severance as my favourite show of all time.

Severance has exceeded my expectations in multiple ways. The last three episodes of season one cemented the show for me but this episode managed to bring this series to a whole different level.

The first thing I would like to point out is the cinematography and directing. Severance hasn't fallen short, especially in this second season, but this one blew my mind. You can feel the passion and care that has been put into this project. The transition and the grainy look in the flashback sequences really made it feel intimate and meaningful.

The acting was also top notch. Dichen Lachlan (Gemma) was incredible and managed to bring a powerful rollercoaster of emotions, all ranging from confusion, sadness, and hope. Adam Scott and Jen Tullock have always impressed me but they also tapped into untouched territory that we haven't seen yet in this series.

I'm trying to avoid spoilers but if you haven't seen this series and want to know if it's worth watching, the answer is yes.

Take a bow Jessica Lee Gagné! Everything about this episode - the plot, the pace, the sets and most importantly, cinematography is 10/10.

I have never seen better 50 minutes of television - and rarely 50 continuous minutes of any motion picture.

It has the dead wife montage. But it blooms in a way that we feel like the honeybee flying around in anticipation.

It opens up the Severance lore more than any other episode (barring S1 finale). But it makes it even more eerie.

We see more of the sterile Lumon but with georgious aesthetics. It is menacing with a friendly facade. Its clinical precision is handled by steely grip. It takes you to a prison of hope - that you volunteered into but cannot escape.

This episode should be (and I hope, will be) studied in art schools for ages.