The Surprising True Story Behind a Severance Easter Egg

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As a devoted cinephile, I recently stumbled upon an intriguing Easter egg in the latest episode of Severance. This captivating series on Apple TV+ has left viewers like me spellbound with its chilling exploration of dividing workers’ professional identities from their personal ones through a surgical process. But what truly caught my attention was the glimpse it provided into the early career life of the show’s creator, Dan Erickson, subtly woven into the narrative.

The series has garnered a vast following who are intrigued by the enigma surrounding Lumon and the Cold Harbor project. A popular theory posits that Severance could be a Lovecraftian Horror, implying that the Lumon workers serve an entity beyond our understanding. However, in the second episode of Season 2, titled “Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig,” the creators delve deeper into the Outies’ voyage. One narrative strand focuses on Dylan, played by Zach Cherry, as he seeks employment after being dismissed from Lumon. He attends an interview at a company named Great Doors, where the interviewer queries, “If you could be any kind of door, what would you be?” To which Dylan replies, “I’d be a pocket door.

As a movie enthusiast, I must say that a particular humorous scene in “Severance” feels strikingly satirical at first glance, but upon deeper reflection, it appears to be a vivid depiction of Dan Erickson’s own past. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he revealed his intriguing backstory – before creating this captivating series, Erickson spent years laboring in a soul-crushing job at a door factory. His role involved meticulously categorizing various door components in a windowless basement, which eerily mirrors the solitude experienced by Lumon Industries employees. This, along with other peculiar jobs on his resume, served as the foundation for the entire show. The concept of Lumon’s deceptive image restoration seems to have been plucked straight from the pages of corporate America.

In an unexpected turn of events, it turns out that Erickson had pitched the series while he was employed as a delivery driver for Postmates. Following the success of the Severance pilot on the 2016 Blood List, Erickson was asked to pitch his idea to Ben Stiller. Reflecting on this moment, Erickson recalled stopping for a doughnut before the meeting and thinking, “I need to avoid making a blunder that I’ll regret forever.” Once Stiller became involved, everything shifted. Suddenly, it seemed like all the doors that Erickson thought would remain closed started opening instead. The show has recently been renewed for a third season.

As a fan, I’ve been captivated by Erickson’s intricate world-building in Severance since its first season. Yet, what truly hooks me is the way he weaves his personal struggles into the narrative, making it remarkably relatable. Characters like Dylan or Mark, brilliantly portrayed by Adam Scott, touch a nerve with viewers because they seem to embody real-life experiences, enriching themes of work and self-identity in an extraordinarily powerful way.

Severance is now streaming on Apple TV+.

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2025-02-06 21:59