WELCOME BACK, REFINERS!! The 'Severed' ORIGINS Series continues with a look at a fun an interesting movie from 1998. This time out, we take on "The Truman Show" directed by Peter Weir and Starring Jim Carrey, Ed Harris and Laura Linney. In this installment, we learn about the long and twisting path this movie took when it came to getting both a director and a script. We'll actually hit 'play' and fire it up. That's when we'll meet Christof, Louis and Hannah. Although Truman doesn't know Christof...
Jan 12, 2024•2 hr 34 min•Season 1Ep. 30
WELCOME BACK, REFINER!! This week, the "Severed: Origins" series is taking a look at a masterpiece created by a French Madman. His name is Jacques Tati and the film we'll be discussing is his 1967 opus "Play Time." "Play Time" is like no film you've ever seen. We'll get into just exactly why it's so different. Since it is so different, I can't even break it down the way I would normally review a movie. I'll explain, and we'll get into it...kinda. Tati doesn't believe much in plot, character or c...
Dec 15, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 29
WELCOME BACK FOR MORE "ORIGINS", REFINER!! We've got some fun planned for today. Maybe not as exciting as an Egg Bar...but still a good time. The "Severed: Origins" series is taking a look at a couple of oddball inspirations cited by Dan Erickson as he was creating 'Severance.' This week, we're looking at a video game...and something called an internet "creepypasta." Don't worry if you're not familiar with either of those things. You will be brought up to speed. So if you're ready Refiner...it's...
Nov 17, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 28
WELCOME BACK, REFINERS! ARE YOUR TPS REPORTS COVERED?? It's time for the second installment of our breakdown of "Office Space." The hilariously dry 1999 comedy was an influence on Dan Erickson as he was creating "Severance." That's why we're breaking it down as part of the "Severed: Origins" series. This time, Refiners, we'll be finishing up "Office Space." We've got a lot of ground to cover!! We meet 'the Bobs', Peter and Samir get fired, Tom gets hit by a truck and "Superman III" swoops in to ...
Nov 03, 2023•2 hr 41 min•Season 1Ep. 27
HEY THERE, REFINERS...READY FOR A LITTLE FUN?? If you happen to hang out in the SeveranceAppleTVPlus sub on Reddit, you may have seen an "ABC" list being posted for the past few weeks. A dedicated Redditor named "Milchicksgirl" really put a lot of great work into compiling this list...and a lot of folks really got into it!! After reviewing the finished list, I noticed nearly all of the items listed are audio quotes from the show. I pulled a few...then a few more...until I decided I really needed...
Oct 29, 2023•5 min•Season 1Ep. 26
WELCOME BACK, REFINERS!! IT'S TIME FOR MORE "ORIGINS" FUN!! This week, we're starting the breakdown of a 1999 comedy that was a huge influence on Dan Erickson and his creation of "Severance". It's the hilarious "Office Space" from Mike Judge. We'll get deep into the inner workings of Initech, what it can mean if you improperly cover a TPS report and just how bad a boss COULD be. It may not be the Severed Floor...but you'd have to agree, it's a pretty f-ed up way to make a living. Not only was "O...
Oct 20, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 25
WELCOME BACK, INTREPID REFINER!! READY TO FINISH THIS THING?? You've found yourself at the third and final installment of the Severed: Origins look at the 1999 blockbuster "The Matrix." It was one of those things that inspired Dan Erickson in the creation of "Severance." When we last left Morpheus and the crew, they were just preparing to jump into the Matrix and introduce Neo to the Oracle. This time out, we meet the Oracle, Morpheus gets abducted by Agent Smith, Neo attacks a skyscraper with a...
Oct 06, 2023•2 hr 53 min•Season 1Ep. 24
WELCOME BACK, REFINERS!! ARE YOU READY FOR MORE "ORIGINS"? Last time we gathered, we were just getting into the 1999 sci-fi classic "The Matrix." It's about time to meet Morpheus. It's also about time to find out just what the heck "The Matrix" is and why Neo is such a threat to the continued peaceful existence of the A.I. that has all humanity enslaved in a giant VR machine. But I might be getting ahead of myself. We need to free Neo from his goo-pod before we can get to the business of saving ...
Sep 22, 2023•2 hr 36 min•Season 1Ep. 23
WELCOME BACK, REFINERS! TIME FOR MORE "ORIGINS"... It's been a long, hot summer on the picket line for both WGA and SAG-AFTRA members. Nothing is moving so far in the way of negotiations or agreements. Instead of sitting around bored down here on the Severed Floor, I've started to take a look at those things that influenced Dan Erickson as he was creating "Severance." I'm calling it the "Severed: Origins" Series. Hey, it may not be Season Two, but it's better than listening to Dylan tell us abou...
Sep 08, 2023•2 hr 39 min•Season 1Ep. 22
LET'S HAVE SOME FUN TODAY, REFINER!! Since things are kinda quiet down here on the Severed Floor, I've decided to lighten things up a bit. This week, we're going to do a full breakdown on the file marked "Sizzler" Corporate Video. It's loaded with Big Hair, Big Plates of Food and some Big Platitudes about corporate Steak House chain 'Sizzler.' Dan Erickson has talked about it in interviews as being an inspiration for "Severance." What is it? Where did it come from? How did the not-quite-40-year-...
Aug 18, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 21
WELCOME BACK FOR MORE, REFINER!! (My, you are a glutton for punishment, aren't you??) This is it! We've finally reached the third, and final, part of our "Severed: Origins" deep dive into the 1985 movie "Brazil." If this is the first installment you've found for "Brazil", STOP HERE!! You need to go back and find parts One and Two before you wade into this. Enjoy, refiners! Tons of interesting new goodies to lay on you about this storied film. We get to break down the coolest scene Terry Gilliam ...
Aug 04, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 20
HEY THERE, REFINERS! Welcome back for more "Severed: Origins." This time out, we are continuing our re-watch of the 1985 Terry Gilliam dystopian sci-fi comedy "Brazil." We've got a LOT to cover....and we won't even finish it this week. The coffee is on, refiners...time to boot up your workstations and open the file called "Brazil." Having trouble finding "Brazil"? It's been pulled from streaming services all over the U.S. You can find the 142 minute copy on the free "Internet Archive." Here's a ...
Jul 21, 2023•2 hr 51 min•Season 1Ep. 19
HEY THERE, REFINER!! Glad to see you've come back for more Severed: “Origins”! Since the WGA continues to strike for the rights of our beleaguered writers, I decided we needed something to keep us busy between now and S2. Enter the "Origins" series from "Severed"!! It's a deep-dive look at those things that INSPIRED the creation of "Severance"! The logic goes like this: if you like the end result, you'll probably like what went into it, right?? This time out, we're going DEEP into the 1985 Terry...
Jul 07, 2023•2 hr 46 min•Season 1Ep. 18
WELCOME, REFINERS, TO A SPECIAL "ORIGINS" EDITION OF "SEVERED"! As the WGA strike grinds on, I decided to look into some of the things that have been cited by Dan Erickson as inspiration for "Severance." I'm calling this the Severance 'Origins' series. Look for it in the regular 'Severed' Podcast feed. Philip K. Dick's work is often referenced as heavily influential to 'Severance'...some even think the relief statue in the Lumon Atrium is an homage to PKD. I don't know if I would go that far, bu...
Jun 02, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 17
HEY THERE, REFINER! I realize waking you up at home is not the most ideal situation, but I had more thoughts about "Severance" Season One. We'll make this quick. Don't expect to hear from me again until Season Two...but, you never know. Keep the lines of communication open, just in case I need to be in touch between now and then. In the show I mention checking out Dylan's tour of the Severed Floor. It's a series of short videos available on the Lumon LinkedIN page. Here's a link that will take y...
May 05, 2023•54 min•Season 1Ep. 16
HEY THERE, REFINER...SURPRISE!! I know, you thought I wasn't going to be talking to you until the Second Season rolled around. I didn't think so, either. Then I tried to give Season One a casual watch for fun after wrapping up the podcast. That's when I started to see MORE stuff!! I've got a few observations, a couple of weird theories and some other goofiness in this shortened "add-on" episode. Call it "Season Wrap-up PT1A". It won't take long...just until Dylan's kid counts to a thousand. Reme...
Apr 21, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 15
PULL UP A CHAIR, REFINERS!! Time to get out the red rubber ball and talk over what we just saw in Season One. I've got theories all over the place. Where is this going? How are they going to start out Season Two? I don't KNOW anything...but I've got enough wild speculation to keep everyone busy for a while, at least. There are things I didn't get deep enough into during the season. There are things I got WRONG! (can you imagine?) There are even things I totally MISSED! (I know, shocking, right?)...
Apr 07, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Season 1Ep. 14
WELCOME BACK, REFINERS! We've got a VERY SPECIAL guest for today... So, Refiners, as you've probably figured out...I don't do a lot of interviews. It's not that I don't like doing them, I just don't know anyone. PLUS, I've been really busy breaking down every episode second-by-second. I didn't have a lot of extra time to be tracking down actors and others. I was pleasantly surprised to receive a note from a guy named Marc Geller telling me how much he was enjoying the podcast. Yeah, ha-ha...I ge...
Mar 31, 2023•58 min•Season 1Ep. 13
WELL, REFINERS...IT'S ALL COME DOWN TO THIS. The Waffle Party was cut short and Dylan has made his way to the Security Office. The rest of MDR is out in the world as their outies, totally unaware of what these scheming innies have in store for them!! The OTC switches were thrown in the final second of last episode. This time, we pick up the action one second later. This is the one everybody was talking about...now we're going to talk about it even MORE!! If you're ready, Refiners...boot up those...
Mar 24, 2023•2 hr 42 min•Season 1Ep. 12
WELCOME BACK, REFINERS!! Are you ready for some Waffles??!!?? This episode is HUGE...tons of stuff to get to but, ultimately, this ep is summed up in two words: Waffle Party. The elusive and much sought after (maybe even 'coveted'?) Waffle Party is the culmination of this episode. We've got a BUNCH of great information to discuss about the waffles, but there is SO much more going on in this episode. We meet Irv's outie and learn the meaning of the black sludge. Helly makes quota and we meet a sp...
Mar 17, 2023•2 hr 37 min•Season 1Ep. 11
WELCOME BACK, REFINERS! WE'VE GOT EVEN MORE 'DEFIANT JAZZ'!! Sorry to have cut things short on you last time. The party continues!! This time out, Irv discovers outie-Burt is retiring...which means innie-Burt dies. Suddenly, being on the severed floor doesn't feel like all that much fun anymore. Knowing about the Overtime Contingency and finding the magical keycard leads Helly to a plan. What if they could do this to THEMSELVES? What if THEY could all wake up OUT THERE?? This is some radical and...
Mar 10, 2023•49 min•Season 1Ep. 10
WOW, REFINERS...ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?? Things are happening fast in the land of the Severed Souls. Right up front we witness a brutal murder. Mark didn't do it, but he was there. Even though Mark asked repeatedly, we're not EXACTLY sure who did it...but I'm betting her name is Reghabi. And the wages of sin are...a keycard. Not just any keycard, this is Doug Graner's keycard. It opens everything on the Severed Floor and WITHOUT any record of who was using it. Hmm...wonder if any workers down on...
Mar 03, 2023•53 min•Season 1Ep. 9
WE'VE GOT A BUSY DAY, REFINERS!! Welcome back to "Severed: The Ultimate 'Severance' Podcast." No time for pleasantries, refiners, we have a LOT to get to today. We are introduced to Harmony Cobel's secret shrine to Kier. Notes from Andrew Baseman give us ALL the details. Did you know there's a plant room on the severed floor? Burt found it and now he's sharing it with Irv. After their day out, Mark and Helly get in trouble, but it's Ms. Casey who's going to have to pay for it in the breakroom. H...
Feb 24, 2023•2 hr 31 min•Season 1Ep. 8
WELCOME BACK, REFINERS!! This week is a wild one! Helly has returned from her "unfortunate incident" and the vibe on the severed floor is...weird...weird energy out there. Burt has come calling...er, at least he's trying. He gets lost and winds up in MDR's conference room. He's working out a joke to tell Irv when Irv and Dylan find him. Dylan can only see nefarious motives on Burt's part, so he traps him in the conference room! Oh, and did I mention...we also find the room of the baby goats. Onc...
Feb 17, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 7
ARE YOU THE YOU YOU ARE? Welcome back, Refiners. Where to begin with this week's file...Helly is still in the Break Room. Petey is still dead, but this doesn't mean he's resting peacefully...not as long as his Severance Chip is still in his head. Burt ventures out to MDR and Irv practically follows him back to O&D. Mark and Selvig go on a date! No, it's not what you're thinking...it's a LOT worse. We meet Petey's ex...and, hang on, the boys also discover the copy of "The You You Are" Milchic...
Feb 10, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 6
LET'S ALL GO TO THE MUSEUM! It's time for a little field trip, Refiner! We're headed to the Wing of Perpetuity for a deep dive into all things Eagan. Marvel at the hall of past CEO's. You'll 'ooh' and 'aah' over the recreated bed chamber of Kier Eagan. You'll run to the barrier door and smash it with a fire extinguisher. Hmm...maybe hold up a minute on that last one. It's time to open the file called "In Perpetuity." Huge thanks to Adam Scott, star of 'Severance' and host of the Severance Podcas...
Feb 03, 2023•2 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 5
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER FILE... You've once again found yourself on the severed floor. So glad your outie decided to bring you back! We left last time just as Helly R. was stuck on the severed elevator. She was trying to sneak a two word postit note to the surface. The two words: I Quit. Helly is not adjusting quite as quickly to severed existence as everyone had hoped. She's still fighting it...HARD. Mark S. gallantly steps in and says its "on him." This is code for "I'll go to the Break Room in h...
Jan 27, 2023•54 min•Season 1Ep. 4
WELCOME BACK, REFINERS!! I hope you're feeling refreshed. So are you jazzed? You finished your first file! Now, let's continue the adventure, shall we? Day Two of severed existence means...Melon Bar!! Surely a Melon Bar and a round of get-acquainted, icebreaker games will make everything all right for newly severed worker, Helly R. Uh, spoilers...it doesn't help her attitude AT ALL! (Come on, not even the MELON BAR??). No, not even the Melon Bar!! Oh, and speaking of spoilers, just in case you'r...
Jan 20, 2023•55 min•Season 1Ep. 3
WELCOME BACK, REFINERS!! THE WORK IS MYSTERIOUS...AND IT CONTINUES... You're back! Everytime you find yourself here, it's because you decided to come back. If you remember last time, we left Mark on the Severed Floor just as he was given the title of "Department Chief" in MDR. His good buddy Petey is no longer with the company. No explanation was given. Mark is upset about it...but what are ya gonna do? We'll join Mark and Irv on the other side of the glass for that oh-so-cringy intake interview...
Jan 13, 2023•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 2
WELCOME, REFINERS! IT'S TIME TO OPEN A NEW FILE. Welcome to "Severed: The Ultimate Severance Podcast". This time out, we'll be welcoming a brand-new severed worker to Macrodata Refinement. Her name is "Helly R." and I really think you're going to like her. We'll meet her and find out more about this whole Severance thing in "The Good News About Hell"-PT1. We have a lot of folks to meet, locations to discover and we need to get that Severance procedure explained to us a good half dozen times or s...
Jan 06, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 1
