Severance has quickly become one of my favourite TV Shows of all time. I am honestly expecting it to reach number 1 before I watch season 2.
The pacing and writing is unparralelled. If you haven’t watched it yet I really think you should. There’s symbolism LITERALLY EVERYWHERE and the philosophical conundrums are so, so fascinating. It also looks great and has some really good art direction. Severance is a TV Show that isn’t afraid to let the audience draw the conclusions themselves. This is so good to see in an age with things like Netflix’ “second-screen viewing”-policy and horrendous attention span and media literacy.
I am now going into some really big spoilers. Be warned.
Just wanted to vent about the dreadfully sad and tragic way Burt and Irving’s budding relationship ended up. I was rooting for them from the very start. At first when they were simply exchanging glances I tried to not jump to any conclusions since the intentions easily could have been merely platonic. Then they outright said that their relationship was bordering on being romantic.
The very thing they bond over, worshipping Kier, is so tragically ironic given how it is his company that ends up not just separating them by literally murdering Burt, but also dehumanises and enslaves them. I also appreciate how naturally this all plays out. The issue isn’t that they are two men, it’s that the company is opposed to any sort of close-knit relationship. They are also two older men and I must admit that older gay men is not something you see on TV often and certainly not in a way where their relationships are treated seriously.
The last 20 minutes were honestly worse for me to watch than any horror movie. I guess it’s because it’s more real than a ghost that jumpscares you or even creeping dread from a supernatural force.
Irving can’t stop it. Even if they ran away Burt would be killed eventually. All they got was an overly formal handshake and a missed chance. A spark of connection that never got to shine. When Burt tells Irving to stop trying to turn the others against Milchick, it is a kindness. He knows that if Irving plays nice he may get to see him just a little more. Irving can do nothing but to stare on in horror as the death of the only love he’s ever truly had is celebrated.
This is so harrowing to watch. It just is. It was similarly distressing as the [DECEASED] scene in a completely different piece of media about a completely different doomed relationship.
BURN THE PLACE DOWN IRVING! DO IT!