Severance Showrunner Might Be A Resident Evil 4 Fan

There’s something unsettling about the world of Severance. The eerie sterility of Lumon Industries, the unnatural calm of its hallways, the strange rituals and rules—all of it makes for a workplace that feels just slightly off in this Apple TV+ series. The show makes it feel like reality has been bent in ways you can’t quite grasp. The show’s second season continues to deepen this sense of unease, weaving in new mysteries that suggest Lumon’s influence extends even further than we thought. And in Episode 3, one particular scene took that creeping dread to another level, evoking a moment that might feel oddly familiar to fans of a certain horror video game.

When Mark and Helly descend into the basement of Lumon and stumble upon a pasture filled with goats, the surreal nature of their workplace reaches a new peak. But what really makes this scene stand out is what happens next—goat caretakers emerge, initially just strange, then increasingly menacing, until their hostility turns overt. It’s an unnerving sequence, and for those who have played Resident Evil 4, it might strike a chord. The moment feels eerily reminiscent of Leon Kennedy’s early encounter in the Spanish village of El Pueblo, where the locals at first seem merely odd before revealing their true, violent nature. The parallels are striking enough that it’s hard not to wonder—was this an intentional nod from Severance‘s showrunner?

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Did Severance Make An Intentional RE4 Nod?

The similarities between Severance and Resident Evil 4 might not be immediately obvious—one is a cerebral sci-fi thriller about corporate control, while the other is a horror game about bioweapons and parasitic mind control. However, the eerie sequence in Severance’s latest episode, “Who is Alive”, where Mark and Helly find themselves face-to-face with hostile goat caretakers, feels like a direct parallel to Resident Evil 4’s infamous village scene.

In RE4, Leon Kennedy’s first major confrontation occurs in a seemingly normal Spanish village. At first, the villagers appear simply wary of his presence, but as Leon explores further, the tension escalates. Suddenly, the locals become aggressive, revealing their parasitic infection and launching an attack.

There’s nothing so obvious as Lumon employees suddenly showing they’ve been mutated, but the discovery of the goat pasture is odd enough for Mark S. and Helly R. The people they run into who are tending to the goats are all dressed like someone might expect to find in a tiny farming community. And when they approach Mark and Helly, they go from being strange to being outright hostile. The entire vibe of the scene felt like something out of that video game.

Mark S. As Leon S. Kennedy

Another aspect of this parallel is the positioning of Mark in the role of an investigator stepping into an unknown, increasingly hostile environment—much like Leon in Resident Evil 4. Both characters are thrown into situations beyond their understanding and forced to navigate a reality where everything seems just slightly off until the full horror reveals itself. Leon enters El Pueblo thinking he’s on a standard mission to rescue the president’s daughter, only to discover a village infected with Las Plagas parasites. Similarly, Mark begins Severance thinking he’s simply compartmentalizing his work and personal life, only to realize the corporation he works for is hiding something deeply disturbing.

Even visually, there are small similarities. Leon Kennedy is often depicted wearing a simple brown leather jacket, which has become one of his most recognizable looks. Mark’s office attire might not be as rugged, but his muted color palette and increasingly weary expression evoke a similar sense of being an everyman forced into an escalating nightmare. And then there’s the coup de grace. The real clue that might show this scene in “Who is Alive” was meant as a nod to showrunner Dan Erickson’s favorite games. Leon’s full name is Leon Scott Kennedy, often referred to as Leon S. Kennedy.

Art Imitates Art In Severance

This wouldn’t be the first time Severance has drawn inspiration from outside sources to heighten its psychological horror elements. The show’s cinematography and pacing often evoke classics of the genre, including The Shining and Brazil. Resident Evil 4, while a video game, has had a massive cultural impact, particularly in how it structures suspense and reveals danger through unsettling but methodical build-up. If Severance is paying tribute to RE4, it wouldn’t be out of character for the show, which thrives on layered storytelling and subtle references.

The goat pasture scene is one of the most jarring moments in Severance so far, precisely because of how it transitions from odd to outright menacing. This kind of tonal shift is a hallmark of Resident Evil 4, making the connection between the two properties feel all the more intentional. Whether or not Severance’s showrunner is an RE4 fan remains unknown, but one thing is certain—the scene is an excellent example of how horror storytelling can transcend mediums, making an impact regardless of whether it’s on a screen or a console.

Severance

Release Date

February 18, 2022

Showrunner

Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman

Directors

Ben Stiller

Writers

Dan Erickson

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  Tramell Tillman

  Seth Milchick

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