Hugh Jackman Can’t Get Enough of This Apple TV Sci-Fi Series

It is official, Severance has officially caught the attention of Wolverine himself, Hugh Jackman. While guesting on The Graham Norton Show, the Song Sung Blue actor revealed that he enjoyed watching the Apple TV+ series with his daughter, Ava. Jackman has added to the billions of streaming minutes in a show that captured the world’s attention. When it first premiered in 2022, Severance became part of the conversation about toxic corporate culture.

Adam Scott stars in the series about the mysterious corporation, Lumen, a technology company that develops the ability to sever the consciousnesses of its employees. This voluntary procedure allows the memories of work and home life to be separate, allegedly under the guise of keeping confidential information of the company secret. Mark S. (Scott) has his own reasons for severing, but as the series progresses, he learns that Lumen has much more insidious plans. Severance captured minds for two seasons, even icons from X-Men.

‘Severance’ Is a Cross-Generational Hit

Just as Game of Thrones was a success for uniting fans of character-driven stories and fantasy, Severance has also been a crossover hit. The series has brought together multiple generations, if Hugh Jackman’s relationship with his daughter is any indication. This proves that the issues brought up in Severance don’t appeal to just certain people. Jackman called his viewing of the series a ritual he shares with his daughter, pinpointing exactly what has resonated so much with its audience.

Severance found a way to not just create compelling characters, but also weave in philosophical concepts that would have been right at home in Lost. This type of storytelling allows theories to run rampant, inviting viewers to discuss further and not just forget about the episode once it has concluded. Additional content, such as Ben Stiller and Adam Scott’s Severance podcast, where they discuss the show episode by episode, also elevates the series above what people now just call “content.”

Severance wasn’t created as a distraction for binge-watching but is closer to art. The series asks its viewers what sort of autonomy someone can have when they have not given their consent to live the lives they are leading. Mark and the rest of the Microdata Refiners are subjected to inhumane torture by living a gruelling existence with no choice. Mark at home has no idea what work is like on the inside, while his Innie has no concept of love, family, or even what the outside looks like. While an obvious indictment of how work culture runs its employees ragged, it also asks more personal questions that affect all humankind.

Workplace Anxiety Is Universal

If a star as big as Hugh Jackman can tune in week to week, it just shows that Severance did not happen in a vacuum. Severance speaks to an entire culture that people can respond to, and it all takes place around the horrors of a corporate job. The series has become so popular that it is in the zeitgeist, big enough to bring up on a large talk show such as Graham Norton. Severance truly hammers home what modern work culture has done to the present-day worker.

Burnout has been so prevalent that it is entirely plausible that workers would consider severing their memories so they wouldn’t have to think about it anymore. The daily grind at an office is not only commonplace, but it is also expected. Dan Erickson created Severance based on the wish that he could fast-forward to the end of his workday. Offices like these are full of people who aren’t fulfilled by their jobs, and wasting away in a cubicle is slowly killing people.

This idea is further explored with the secrets that Lumen is keeping and the treatment of the severed workers. Unsevered managers like Milchick (Tramell Tillman) do not see the Innies as people and don’t give a second thought that firing them would essentially be erasing a sentient being from existence. These managers are even more menacing because of their eerie calmness and consistent smiling.

Severance is more than just a mystery box puzzle; it speaks to the mindset of an entire generation locked into lives they never thought they would live. Jackman even mentioning the series goes to show how big Severance has become and the anticipation behind a possible Season 3. Viewers can catch the first two seasons streaming on Apple TV+.