The Unsettling Relevance of Severance

Image: usatoday.com

If you haven't already been pulled in (like I was a year or so ago), "Severance" is a haunting exploration of work-life balance set in a dystopian future where technology allows for a complete separation between personal and professional memories.

And I'll admit—the premise seems like a far-fetched fantasy, even absurd at its onset. But, episode by episode, I realized that it resonated deeply with our current reality, raising unsettling questions about the nature of work, identity, and the erosion of boundaries in the digital age.

The central question is: what would happen if we could truly compartmentalize our lives? The characters undergo a procedure that divides their consciousness, creating "innies" who exist solely within the confines of the workplace and "outies" who live their lives outside of it. This separation promises a perfect work-life balance, but it comes at a high cost. The innies are essentially trapped in a perpetual workday, devoid of any meaningful experiences or connections outside their sterile office environment.

It's a little unnerving to see how the show mirrors some of our actual experiences. For starters, the rise of remote work, the expectation of constant availability, and the blurring of boundaries between personal and professional spheres have created a sense of always being "on" for many of us.

If you, like me, have experienced burnout and the feeling of being reduced to a mere cog in the corporate machine, then you know that we need a life outside of who we are as professionals. I know I do. My life outside of my "day job" is in stark contrast to how I function at work. 

I'm not going to say much more because I think the series will hit you where it needs to, should you be game. It holds a mirror to our current society, forcing us to confront the unsettling ways in which technology and work culture are shaping our lives—a powerful reminder of the importance of setting boundaries, preserving our identities, and seeking a fulfilling life beyond the confines of work.