When is Severance actually set? Retrofuturistic theme explained
Season 2 of Severance is currently underway with more mysteries at Lumon Industries.
But it's not just the lives of the severed employees that has viewers confused, with many wondering when the show is set.
While the sci-fi thriller tells the story about the effect of futuristic technology, it's hard to ignore the retro design of the Lumon offices. The floor is fully kitted out with retro computers, yet has a very mid-century feel to it, while outside the office appears to be a modern society.
In the show, Mark (Adam Scott) and his coworkers use computers with CRT screens and outdated keyboards, but are being manipulated by sophisticated brain implants, with some fans speculating that the Lumon corporation may also have the capacity to clone human beings.
So, exactly what time zone is Severance set in?
We did some digging, and found some theories behind when the show is actually set...
Severance is set in the present day
While the blend of old school technology and the modern outside world might cause some confusion as to when the show actually takes place, some contextual clues may prove that the Apple TV+ show is actually set in the present day.
In season one, Mark's driving license reveals that he was born in 1978. There's another date on the license, which some fans believe to be either the issue or expiry date, and the year is 2020.
This would mean that the show takes place closer to the present day and it also matches the show's production, which was initially due to take place in 2020, however, was delayed until 2021 by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The timeline is ambiguous
If you're just as eager as we are, you're probably trying to figure out an exact date for the show's setting. Well, it turns out that the time period might not actually be that important.
Speaking in an interview with The Wrap, creator Dan Erickson explained that they purposely left out details around the time and place.
"We sort of intentionally kept a lot of ambiguity to the time and place," he said.
He went on to explain that Severance happens "around now, it’s like vaguely now-ish. We’re not going for something where this is 10 years in the future where severance has been invented and already exists. It’s sort of an alternate, vaguely now-ish timeline."
Retrofutrism is used for a reason
The biggest confusion when it comes to the time period is the technology used at Lumon Industries. In the show, Scott and his coworkers, including Britt Lower, Zach Cherry, and John Turturro, use computers with CRT screens and very old-fashion keyboards.
Viewers will know that office-dwelling characters in Severance have undergone a procedure that separates their work selves from their life outside, which effectively creates two people, one of whom exists only within the basement offices of Lumon Industries.
Because of this, the show's production designer, Jeremy Hindle, wanted to create an office space that was outside of time and space.
Speaking to The Verge, Hindle explained: "You have to make sure that the inside and outside world are [different] enough that you’re immersed in the world, so you feel like you’re severed when you’re down there with them."
On the computers, he added: "We kept thinking, 'If you’re experimenting with these people, what would you put in front of them?'"
"Imagine how fun it would be to sit at this thing, as opposed to if I put a laptop in front of them. It’s like a child’s device."
WATCH NOW Severance is available to watch on AppleTV+.
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