Warning: This article contains spoilers for season 1 of Severance.
Quietly but consistently, Severance entered the list of the best television can offer. After one season, the AppleTV+ series is already among acclaimed TV shows, receiving praise for its on-screen brilliance. While there's much to know about the Eagans, there's also much to discover behind the cameras.
Behind the break room and hallways of Lumon lies the effort of every worker on set, humorous situations, and quirky stories. Like Ms. Casey would agree, it's advisable to enjoy each fact equally.
Severance Was Written 5 Years Ago
Ben Stiller has been engaging with Severance's fan community from the beginning, sharing memes and facts about the show. Replying to a tweet that compared the AppleTV+ show to Disney+'s Loki, the director said that Severance was "written 5 years ago," way before the Marvel series.
Talking about inspiration, in an interview, Dan Erickson mentioned other sci-fi projects that encouraged the show's atmosphere. However, it's fair to say Severance stands on its own when the subject is originality. Erickson is the creative mind behind the unique writing in the show, which happens to be his first job on television. What a way to start!
There Are More Ricken Quotes Already Written
In a Q&A on Twitter, Adam Scott revealed that there are more inspirational words from Ricken than the ones shown in season 1. According to Scott, Dan Erickson wrote "about 50 pages" of "The You You Are," which "needs to be released," the lead actor defended.
Ricken's quotes have become famous among the fans, inspiring memes and serving as the comic relief of the drama series. Since Severance already has a companion book, fans would welcome a new release from the "Bullies are just Bulls and Lies." writer.
Patricia Arquette Kept Getting Lost On Set
If fans found the hallways at Lumon confusing, they should know that it wasn't just a camera trick. Patricia Arquette kept getting lost on the show's set, like "a rat in the maze."
In an interview, the actress said she was usually getting lost in the long, identical hallways of Lumon and joked about yelling that she couldn't find the others. While this is just a lighthearted story from behind the scenes, it illustrates why Burt had to give Irving a map for him to find the O&D department.
How Theodore Shapiro Wrote The Main Theme
Music (and sometimes the lack thereof) plays an exquisite role in the series, building the tension even in seemingly relaxing environments. Because of that, the main theme is a superb, unsettling piece of music that encapsulates the dichotomy between innie and outie.
Composer Theodore Shapiro said he took four chords of a draft and used them with a "different palette" to create the tune. Keeping the electronic component of the music, Shapiro used a "reversed piano note" so the piece would have a "weird glitchy" sound. He intended to evoke the idea of "somebody's self fraying," aiming for the core idea of Severance.
John Turturro Got Christopher Walken To Play Burt
Fans of Christopher Walken can thank John Turturro for Walken's sweet role in Severance. In an interview with Screen Rant, Turturro said he was asked to suggest an actor for the part of his on-screen crush Burt G, and he replied "Chris," referring to Christopher Walken.
The two veteran actors go way back, being friends outside the filming sets and working together on projects such as Romance & Cigarettes. It's wholesome that Turturro suggested his friend for the job, as it's unsurprising that their hypnotizing on-screen chemistry makes Irving and Burt the best relationship of the show.
The Waffle Party Idea Came Up From A Joke
Yes, the waffle party is what it seems to be: an orgy with masks. But at first, it was only a joke. According to Dan Erickson, the idea "started" as a funny comment in the writers' room. However, the more he thought about it, the more the concept of Lumon using sex as a commodity fit in the narrative since "they would find a way to do that."
What was only a humorous remark on a "masked orgy" became the creepiest concept of the show, serving as an example of how everything in the company surrounds the Lumon mythos, even a natural expression of human nature like sex.
Ben Stiller Dreaded The Egg Bar Scene
Dylan might think that the egg bar is "coveted as f***.", but Ben Stiller isn't a fan of the delicacy. During a Q&A on Twitter, the director said he "abhors" eggs and even considered changing the scene because of the food.
Fortunately for the fans of deviled eggs, Stiller realized the egg bar was "necessary for the story" and kept it. It wasn't his favorite day of shooting, which is hilarious given that the scene inspired several fans to make their own egg bars.
Tramell Tillman Got A Compliment From Christopher Walken
Tramell Tillman's brilliant performance is one of the highlights of Severance, and Christopher Walken agrees. In an interview, Tillman spoke about how Walken is a "generous" and "present" professional during shooting and how the veteran actor complimented him.
After work, Walken told Tillman he was "absolutely terrific," which was a joy to the newcomer. Lumon wouldn't be the same without the authoritarian Mr. Milchick, and neither would the series without the character's smugness, as Irving would put it.
Originally There Was An Episode 10
Fans were on the edge of their seats during the 41-minute finale of the show. As soon as the episode ended, they found themselves on a major cliffhanger, having to wait for season 2. Initially, however, season 1 had 10 episodes, as Dan Erickson explained in an interview.
Ben Stiller decided the end of the overtime contingency should be the end of season 1, which Erickson thought was the "most effective point" to end the season, and "The We We Are" became the finale. Given the number of burning questions Severance has raised after the episode, their decision paid off entertainingly.
The Flowing Finale
In an interview with Metacritic, Ben Stiller discussed the use of cameras and their impact on shooting different scenes. For most of the show, the crew used dollies so the camera would be static and steady, creating "very composed images." In the finale, however, Stiller used Steadicam so the episode would feel "completely flowing."
Since the innies are going through the equivalent of a "drug trip," the director decided everything should be "moving all the time." The use of Steadicam helped create the enthralling finale, becoming the paprika on top of the egg, the final touch of the masterpiece that is season 1 of Severance.