[s1e1] What Have We Done? Here

: By severing their memories, employees become "individuals" who are essentially prisoners of their service, a theme also explored in other dystopian dramas like The Handmaid’s Tale . "Severance" Good News About Hell (TV Episode 2022) - IMDb

: The department is located in a basement with seemingly infinite, sterile white hallways, emphasizing a sense of entrapment. [S1E1] What Have We Done?

: Mark Scout, a grieving widower who works for Lumen Industries . : By severing their memories, employees become "individuals"

The premiere introduces the concept of "severance," a medical procedure that surgically divides a person's memories between their work life and their personal life. The premiere introduces the concept of "severance," a

: The show explores the extreme literalization of work-life separation and the ethics of corporate control.

: Mark is promoted to department head of Macrodata Refinement (MDR) following the mysterious departure of his friend and former boss, Petey. His first task is to orient a new hire, Helly R. , through a cryptic survey.