Severance
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Severance
Severance is a psychological thriller series that explores extreme work-life balance through a controversial surgical procedure that severs employees' memories between their work and personal lives. Set primarily within the sterile, labyrinthine offices of the mysterious Lumon Industries, the show follows a team of severed employees who begin to unravel the truth about their work and the corporation's sinister agenda. It delves into themes of identity, corporate control, and the ethics of human memory manipulation. The series is intended for mature audiences, featuring intense psychological elements, strong language, and mature subject matter.
Things to Consider
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The series features significant and celebrated LGBTQ+ representation, including a central gay romance and a casually mentioned queer identity for a main character's sibling. This representation is woven into the narrative, particularly highlighting a loving relationship between two older male characters.
The most prominent example is the developing gay romantic relationship between 'innies' Irving Bailiff (John Turturro) and Burt Goodman (Christopher Walken), whose affection provides a tender counterpoint to Lumon's dehumanizing environment. Additionally, Mark Scout's sister, Devon Hale (Jen Tullock), is revealed to be queer, with the actress confirming that this was an intentional part of the character's backstory, stating Devon 'had dated people of all genders' before her current husband.
Violence
Severance contains mild to moderate violence, including physical altercations, psychological torture, and disturbing depictions of self-harm and death. While not consistently gory, certain scenes are highly impactful due to their psychological intensity and unexpected nature, with Season 2 reportedly escalating in graphic detail.
Profanity
The series features strong language, including frequent use of explicit curse words. While some sources describe it as infrequent, specific reviews highlight a high count of profanity in early episodes, intensifying its overall impact.
Scary & Intense Content
Severance is a psychological thriller with significant scary and intense content, including pervasive psychological horror, themes of emotional abuse, disturbing medical procedures, and depictions of suicide and self-harm. The show's central premise itself is inherently unsettling, contributing to a constant sense of unease.
Disrespect & Rebellion
Disrespect and rebellion are central themes, as the narrative revolves around employees rebelling against the oppressive, dehumanizing authority of Lumon Industries. The 'innies' actively defy corporate rules and seek to expose the company's secrets.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
TV-MA (for mature audiences 17+) due to strong language, mature themes, psychological intensity, suicide themes, mild to moderate violence with instances of gore, and some sexual content. The complex and disturbing nature of the show's central premise also makes it unsuitable for younger viewers.
Good to Know
The show's philosophical and existential themes, particularly regarding identity and free will, can be complex and may spark deep discussions. Parents should be prepared to discuss these weighty concepts with older teens. The psychological manipulation and corporate power dynamics are consistently disturbing, emphasizing control over human autonomy.
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