In a recent episode of Severance, a surprising Easter egg offers fans a glimpse into the early work life of the show’s creator, Dan Erickson. The fan-favorite Apple TV+ has woven its narrative around the unsettling concept of surgically separating employees’ work selves and personal selves.
The show has amassed a huge fan base, and the fans are eager to find out who or what lies behind Lumon, and the mysterious Cold Harbor project. One theory even involves Severance being a Lovecraftian Horror, with Lumon workers serving an entity beyond human comprehension. However, in the second episode of Season 2, “Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig,” the show’s creators, expanded on the journey of the Outies. In one storyline, viewers follow Dylan, portrayed by Zach Cherry, as he looks for a new job after being fired from Lumon. He attends an interview at a company called Great Doors, where the interviewer asks, “If you could be any kind of door, what would you be?” Dylan responds, “Pocket.”
Although this hilarious scene seems like straight-up satire, it is actually a direct reference to Erickson’s own past. According to a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, before he created Severance, Erickson worked a mind-numbing job at a door factory. His position involved cataloging various door parts in a windowless basement, a description that also evokes the isolation of Lumon Industries. This, among other odd jobs on Erickson’s resume, was the inspiration behind the entire show. Even the idea of Lumon’s phony image rehabilitation seems as if it was pulled directly from corporate America.
In a surprising twist, Erickson also admitted he actually pitched the show while he was working for a driver at Postmates. After landing the Severance pilot on the 2016 Blood List, Erickson was invited to pitch for Ben Stiller. “I remember stopping for a doughnut before the meeting and thinking, ‘OK, just don’t humiliate yourself in a way that will haunt you for the rest of your life,” Erickson said of the encounter. “Once Ben got involved, everything changed. Suddenly, all these doors that I assumed would never open started opening.” The show was recently picked up for a third season.
By incorporating struggles from his own life into the writing, Erickson’s high-concept world remains grounded in its relatability. Audiences have been engrossed in the mystery of Severance since season one. However, the plight of characters like Dylan or even Adam Scott’s Mark resonates with audiences on a deeper level by using real experiences to expand on its themes of labor and identity.
Severance is now streaming on Apple TV+.
Severance
- Release Date
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February 18, 2022
- Showrunner
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Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman
- Directors
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Ben Stiller
- Writers
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Dan Erickson
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Tramell Tillman
Seth Milchick
