Los Angeles, California – The workplace is a familiar yet uncanny space where many of us spend a significant portion of our lives. Lumon, the fictional office setting in the TV series “Severance,” embodies the essence of this surreal environment, blurring the line between reality and artificiality. The show delves deep into the unsettling nature of office life, drawing inspiration from various sources like Philip K. Dick’s paranoid narratives and the concept of the uncanny valley.
One of the core themes explored in “Severance” is the idea of waking up to a manufactured reality, similar to what is portrayed in films like “The Matrix” and “The Truman Show.” Characters in the series begin to notice subtle imperfections in their surroundings, triggering a journey of self-discovery and realization of their entrapment in a controlled existence. The show’s aesthetic, heavily influenced by the concept of liminal spaces, creates a sense of unease and disorientation within the audience.
The meticulously designed Lumon Headquarters, situated in the fictional town of Kier, embodies a sense of surreal dread with its sterile decor and endless hallways. The show’s creator, Dan Erickson, drew inspiration from online phenomena like the Backrooms, a creepy internet story that explores the unsettling nature of empty, infinite rooms. The uncanniness of Lumon’s design mirrors the feeling of being trapped in a dreamlike state, where reality and illusion blend seamlessly.
As the narrative of “Severance” unfolds, viewers are taken on a journey through the uncanny valley of their own artificial office lives. The show challenges the perception of reality and delves into the complexities of human existence within corporate environments. Through its masterful storytelling and thought-provoking themes, “Severance” invites audiences to question the nature of their reality and the true essence of their existence.
While some have criticized the second season of “Severance” for not living up to the expectations set by its predecessor, the show continues to captivate audiences with its exploration of the human psyche in a manufactured world. The shift in focus from the workplace to external elements adds a new dimension to the narrative, expanding the boundaries of the uncanny valley and pushing the characters towards greater self-awareness and enlightenment. In essence, “Severance” challenges viewers to confront the artificial constructs of their own lives and question the authenticity of their existence.