Pop Culture Happy Hour: Breaking Down Severance Season 2

Host: Glen Weldon
Guests:

• Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR White House Correspondent
• Jarrett Hill, Co-author of Historically Black Phrases
• Priya Krishna, New York Times Food Reporter and Author of Indian-ish

Episode Overview:
In this episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour, host Glen Weldon delves into the intricate and enigmatic second season of Apple TV+'s Severance. Joined by NPR’s Danielle Kurtzleben, Jarrett Hill, and Priya Krishna, the panel dissects the season finale, exploring the show's escalating weirdness, complex narratives, and character developments.

1. Introduction to Severance Season 2

Glen Weldon opens the discussion by summarizing the premise of Severance: a mysterious corporation, Lumen, employs a procedure called severance, which splits employees' work and personal lives into separate existences. The second season picks up after the season one finale, where characters known as "innies" have started interacting with their "outie" selves, uncovering deeper layers of Lumen’s dark secrets, including the revelation that Mark's wife, presumed dead, is actually imprisoned within Lumen's facilities.

Glen Weldon [04:07]:
"As the second season began, Lumen was reeling from the events of the season one finale... We have not even mentioned the Ortbow yet, but we'll get to as much as we can."

2. Guest Reactions and Insights

Priya Krishna's Perspective

Priya Krishna shares her initial confusion while watching the season, pondering the show's cryptic elements and plot twists. Despite the meandering narrative, she appreciates the season finale's coherence and likens it to pivotal moments in other complex series like Lost.

Priya Krishna [04:59]:
"I am the severance viewer who spends most of the season wondering, am I too stupid for this show?... and then I get to the finale and I'm like, oh, my God, this show is awesome."

She praises the show's aesthetics and visuals, drawing parallels between the finale's impact and memorable scenes from Lost.

Priya Krishna [06:00]:
"the finale reminded me of season one of Lost, when John Locke is banging on the hatch door and suddenly, like, the light illuminates."

Jarrett Hill's Take

Jarrett Hill echoes Priya's sentiments about feeling lost amidst the show's complexities. He highlights the deliberate precision of Severance's scripting, noting that every line carries weight, which adds to the challenge of keeping up with the unfolding narrative.

Jarrett Hill [06:37]:
"It always feels like every line is important on this show... Everything feels very measured on this show."

He reflects on the finale's ability to tie together various threads, albeit with some lingering confusion about character motivations and plot devices.

Jarrett Hill [07:59]:
"By the end, it brought me to that same tension of the first season."

Danielle Kurtzleben's Critique

Danielle Kurtzleben offers a contrasting viewpoint, expressing disappointment with the second season's direction. She feels the show ventured into excessive weirdness without meaningful purpose, detracting from its core themes.

Danielle Kurtzleben [08:25]:
"This season disappointed the hell out of me... It just felt like Easter eggs for the Reddit crowd."

She criticizes specific elements, such as the inclusion of the goats and erratic character behavior, which she believes served no narrative function.

Danielle Kurtzleben [15:29]:
"Why did no one ask Brienne of Tarth what her name is? What was up with the goats?"

Danielle appreciates certain character developments but laments the overall lack of cohesion and purpose in the season's storytelling.

Danielle Kurtzleben [18:09]:
"To me, this season was just trying to do too much... Bringing in the topic of race and then getting rid of it."

3. In-Depth Discussion on Plot and Character Development

The panel engages in a thorough analysis of Severance's second season, debating the effectiveness of its narrative choices and character arcs.

Pacing and Narrative Structure:
Glen Weldon praises the season finale for successfully tying together complex plot threads, describing it as "surprising but inevitable."

Glen Weldon [10:51]:
"I cannot remember a more satisfying season finale. This thing hit every box that needed checking plot-wise."

Danielle argues that the pacing was uneven, with the finale overshadowing the rest of the season's meandering storyline.

Danielle Kurtzleben [10:28]:
"I wish the rest of the season had been at that pace."

Character Dynamics:
Priya highlights the exploration of Mark's dual selves, referencing the "Gollum and Smeagol" dynamic, which delves into the psychological conflict between the innie and outie versions.

Priya Krishna [12:23]:
"The Gollum Smeagol stuff between innie Mark and outie Mark was so interesting."

Jarrett appreciates the show's disorienting nature, viewing it as an intentional stylistic choice that enhances the narrative's depth.

Jarrett Hill [19:17]:
"The disorienting nature of Severance is part of why it works."

Despite differing opinions on the show's execution, all guests acknowledge the ambitious scope of Severance and its willingness to push narrative boundaries.

4. Themes and Symbolism

The discussion touches upon the thematic elements of Severance, particularly its exploration of identity, autonomy, and the psychological impacts of corporate control.

Claustrophobia and Limited Choices:
Glen Weldon interprets the show's environment as a metaphor for claustrophobia and limited personal agency, mirroring real-world anxieties about corporate overreach.

Glen Weldon [22:14]:
"This show is so weird that what she's bringing can be very easily overlooked. She is grounded. She is real, she's funny, she's warm."

Metaphorical vs. Literal Elements:
Danielle critiques the season for losing its allegorical depth, arguing that the increasing weirdness detracts from the underlying messages.

Danielle Kurtzleben [20:07]:
"In the first season and parts of this season, what I got from the weirdness was it was standing in for something it was almost allegorical."

Conversely, Jarrett suggests that the show's intentional disorientation allows viewers to engage more deeply with its themes.

Jarrett Hill [19:28]:
"We as viewers have kind of gone through our own procedure to say we're gonna allow a certain level of wild and crazy."

5. Final Thoughts and Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, the panel reflects on the overall impact of Severance Season 2. While opinions are mixed, there is a consensus on the show's boldness and complexity.

Priya Krishna [21:29]:
"I still don't understand the goats. I'm still very confused."

Glen Weldon reinforces the idea that binge-watching enhances the viewing experience, allowing audiences to appreciate the intricate details and references that might be missed otherwise.

Glen Weldon [11:17]:
"Take a Saturday. Watch it all at once. That is what this show is built for."

The guests acknowledge both the strengths and shortcomings of the season, agreeing that while some narrative choices were divisive, Severance remains a compelling and thought-provoking series.

Danielle Kurtzleben [22:14]:
"There were so many moments where people didn't act like people... I don't get it."

Notable Quotes from the Episode

• Priya Krishna [06:00]:
  "The finale reminded me of season one of Lost, when John Locke is banging on the hatch door and suddenly, like, the light illuminates."

• Danielle Kurtzleben [10:28]:
  "I wish the rest of the season had been at that pace."

• Glen Weldon [11:17]:
  "Take a Saturday. Watch it all at once. That is what this show is built for."

• Jarrett Hill [19:17]:
  "The disorienting nature of Severance is part of why it works."

• Danielle Kurtzleben [15:29]:
  "Why did no one ask Brienne of Tarth what her name is? What was up with the goats?"

Conclusion:
Pop Culture Happy Hour offers a multifaceted analysis of Severance Season 2, highlighting both its ambitious storytelling and its areas of contention. The panel's diverse perspectives provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the show's strengths and the challenges it faces in maintaining narrative coherence amidst its intricate plotlines.

For more insights on Severance and other pop culture phenomena, tune into future episodes of Pop Culture Happy Hour.