S1E5-SEVERED-Grim Barbarity of Optics & Design

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." Philip K. Dick's work is often referenced as influential...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, but I'm certainly in awe of Mr. Dick's ideas and have been a fan ever since "Bladerunner."Today we're going to have a look at a story called "Paycheck" by Philip K. Dick. Dan Erickson has mentioned it several times in interviews as being an inspiration for "Severance." It was originally written in 1952. It was then adapted and made into a big-budget Hollywood blockbuster in 2003. It didn't bust any blocks...but it did hang onto some of the more important ideas found in Dick's original story.Fire up your workstations, Refiners, and let's take a look at the file called "Paycheck."[WARNING: SPOILERS!! This podcast will spoil KEY PLOT POINTS from the 2003 movie "Paycheck", the 1952 novella "Paycheck" and another movie inspired by a PKD story: 1990's "Total Recall." You have been warned...]Make sure to subscribe, Refiners!! "Severed" is on hiatus until the end of Season Two. Please continue to listen and re-listen to the available Season One episodes. Once Season Two has concluded, be watching for "Severed: Season Two"...the Ultimateness continues! Join the fun on our Facebook page @SeveredPod.While we're all waiting around on news of Season Two, I'll try to keep you updated on news about the show. Comments? Theories? Corrections? I LOVE 'EM!! Send to: [email protected] for listening to "Severed: The Ultimate 'Severance' Podcast." PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SHARE THE PODCAST WITH YOUR FRIENDS WHO ARE 'SEVERANCE' FANS. THE SHOW GROWS THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH!!If you like what you're hearing, please give "Severed" a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. Needing your own copies of the Lexington Letter and Orientation Booklet? I've got you covered with downloadable PDFs of both documents:LETTER: LEXINGTONLETTER-TheLetter.pdf HANDBOOK: LEXINGTONLETTER-MDROrientationHandbook.pdfYou haven't completely watched 'Severance' until you've listened to 'Severed.'

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 you to the entire collection. Enjoy:(18) Lumon Industries: Posts | LinkedInMake sure to subscribe, Refiners!! "Severed" is on hiatus until the end of Season Two. Please continue to listen and re-listen to the available Season One episodes. Once Season Two has concluded, be watching for "Severed: Season Two"...the Ultimateness continues! Join the fun on our Facebook page @SeveredPod.While we're all waiting around on news of Season Two, I'll try to keep you updated on news about the show. Comments? Theories? Corrections? I LOVE 'EM!! Send to: [email protected] for listening to "Severed: The Ultimate 'Severance' Podcast." PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SHARE THE PODCAST WITH YOUR FRIENDS WHO ARE 'SEVERANCE' FANS. THE SHOW GROWS THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH!!If you like what you're hearing, please give "Severed" a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. Needing your own copies of the Lexington Letter and Orientation Booklet? I've got you covered with downloadable PDFs of both documents:LETTER: LEXINGTONLETTER-TheLetter.pdf HANDBOOK: LEXINGTONLETTER-MDROrientationHandbook.pdfYou haven't completely watched 'Severance' until you've listened to 'Severed.'

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.Remember to keep listening to all past SEVERED Episodes!! Tell your friends!! Leave a 5-Star rating and review at Apple Podcasts!! Make sure to subscribe, Refiners!! "Severed" is on hiatus until the end of Season Two. Please continue to listen and re-listen to the available Season One episodes. Once Season Two has concluded, be watching for "Severed: Season Two"...the Ultimateness continues! Join the fun on our Facebook page @SeveredPod.While we're all waiting around on news of Season Two, I'll try to keep you updated on news about the show. Comments? Theories? Corrections? I LOVE 'EM!! Send to: [email protected] for listening to "Severed: The Ultimate 'Severance' Podcast." PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SHARE THE PODCAST WITH YOUR FRIENDS WHO ARE 'SEVERANCE' FANS. THE SHOW GROWS THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH!!If you like what you're hearing, please give "Severed" a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. Needing your own copies of the Lexington Letter and Orientation Booklet? I've got you covered with downloadable PDFs of both documents:LETTER: LEXINGTONLETTER-TheLetter.pdf HANDBOOK: LEXINGTONLETTER-MDROrientationHandbook.pdfYou haven't completely watched 'Severance' until you've listened to 'Severed.'

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?) Let's pass that ball around and I'll spin your head around. I've got a ton of leftovers and goodies that didn't fit anywhere else from the first Season of "Severance" and the first season of "Severed: The Ultimate Severance Podcast." Join me, Refiners!! Shriveled Raisins all around... Make sure to subscribe, Refiners!! "Severed" is on hiatus until the end of Season Two. Please continue to listen and re-listen to the available Season One episodes. Once Season Two has concluded, be watching for "Severed: Season Two"...the Ultimateness continues! Join the fun on our Facebook page @SeveredPod.While we're all waiting around on news of Season Two, I'll try to keep you updated on news about the show. Comments? Theories? Corrections? I LOVE 'EM!! Send to: [email protected] for listening to "Severed: The Ultimate 'Severance' Podcast." PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SHARE THE PODCAST WITH YOUR FRIENDS WHO ARE 'SEVERANCE' FANS. THE SHOW GROWS THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH!!If you like what you're hearing, please give "Severed" a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. Needing your own copies of the Lexington Letter and Orientation Booklet? I've got you covered with downloadable PDFs of both documents:LETTER: LEXINGTONLETTER-TheLetter.pdf HANDBOOK: LEXINGTONLETTER-MDROrientationHandbook.pdfYou haven't completely watched 'Severance' until you've listened to 'Severed.'

WELCOME BACK, REFINERS! We've got a 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 get it...he's using the same name as the guy who plays Kier. Very clever! Only, turns out...this really WAS the guy playing Kier!! Marc was doing a play in Washington D.C. the first part of this year. Marc was away from home, away from his family and bored when he wasn't on stage. He happened to come across the "Severed" podcast during his downtime. Since he was a part of "Severance" he was, of course, interested in the topic. He really enjoyed the podcast and that's how I wound up with the note. There was no way I was going to let the guy who plays Kier send me e-mail and NOT talk about the show! We had to work around his schedule...and an extension to the D.C. play...but we were able to get together and discuss The Brilliant One. I hope you enjoy it!!As a BONUS, I also was contacted by a refiner who worked on the "Severance" support team at York Studios in the Bronx. She was trying to give me a wrap gift, I wouldn't let her off the hook until she talked to me about doing COVID support at York. The second half of today's show is my discussion with podcast listener and former "Severance" support staffer Katherine Shea.It's a relaxed one today, Refiners. We'll pull out the red rubber ball and have a few deviled eggs. The quarter turned out well...you deserve this!!Make sure to subscribe, Refiners!! "Severed" is on hiatus until the end of Season Two. Please continue to listen and re-listen to the available Season One episodes. Once Season Two has concluded, be watching for "Severed: Season Two"...the Ultimateness continues! Join the fun on our Facebook page @SeveredPod.While we're all waiting around on news of Season Two, I'll try to keep you updated on news about the show. Comments? Theories? Corrections? I LOVE 'EM!! Send to: [email protected] for listening to "Severed: The Ultimate 'Severance' Podcast." PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SHARE THE PODCAST WITH YOUR FRIENDS WHO ARE 'SEVERANCE' FANS. THE SHOW GROWS THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH!!If you like what you're hearing, please give "Severed" a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. Needing your own copies of the Lexington Letter and Orientation Booklet? I've got you covered with downloadable PDFs of both documents:LETTER: LEXINGTONLETTER-TheLetter.pdf HANDBOOK: LEXINGTONLETTER-MDROrientationHandbook.pdfYou haven't completely watched 'Severance' until you've listened to 'Severed.'

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 workstations for the last time this quarter. It's time to experience "The We We Are."Make sure to subscribe, Refiners!! "Severed" is on hiatus until the end of Season Two. Please continue to listen and re-listen to the available Season One episodes. Once Season Two has concluded, be watching for "Severed: Season Two"...the Ultimateness continues! Join the fun on our Facebook page @SeveredPod.While we're all waiting around on news of Season Two, I'll try to keep you updated on news about the show. Comments? Theories? Corrections? I LOVE 'EM!! Send to: [email protected] for listening to "Severed: The Ultimate 'Severance' Podcast." PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SHARE THE PODCAST WITH YOUR FRIENDS WHO ARE 'SEVERANCE' FANS. THE SHOW GROWS THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH!!If you like what you're hearing, please give "Severed" a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. Needing your own copies of the Lexington Letter and Orientation Booklet? I've got you covered with downloadable PDFs of both documents:LETTER: LEXINGTONLETTER-TheLetter.pdf HANDBOOK: LEXINGTONLETTER-MDROrientationHandbook.pdfYou haven't completely watched 'Severance' until you've listened to 'Severed.'

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 special voiceover artist, uncredited in the series. Also, big news...the Macrodats get to party with EGGS! Oh, yeah...and Cobel gets canned by Natalie. The whole thing is leading to Dylan throwing those OTC switches. Do not miss this one, refiners...your innie would be SO disappointed!!Make sure to subscribe, Refiners!! "Severed" is on hiatus until the end of Season Two. Please continue to listen and re-listen to the available Season One episodes. Once Season Two has concluded, be watching for "Severed: Season Two"...the Ultimateness continues! Join the fun on our Facebook page @SeveredPod.While we're all waiting around on news of Season Two, I'll try to keep you updated on news about the show. Comments? Theories? Corrections? I LOVE 'EM!! Send to: [email protected] for listening to "Severed: The Ultimate 'Severance' Podcast." PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SHARE THE PODCAST WITH YOUR FRIENDS WHO ARE 'SEVERANCE' FANS. THE SHOW GROWS THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH!!If you like what you're hearing, please give "Severed" a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. Needing your own copies of the Lexington Letter and Orientation Booklet? I've got you covered with downloadable PDFs of both documents:LETTER: LEXINGTONLETTER-TheLetter.pdf HANDBOOK: LEXINGTONLETTER-MDROrientationHandbook.pdfYou haven't completely watched 'Severance' until you've listened to 'Severed.'

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 decidedly 'non-Kier' thinking. Speaking of things happening "Out There" Alexa is back...but it doesn't go well. It seems to, but then it doesn't. Then it REALLY doesn't. Seeing what Mark saw at Ganz College has left him a bit stymied. We also experience the grand-daddy of all 'Severance' reveals in the final few seconds of this one. What are you waiting for, refiners? Get back on that elevator and push 'play'!! We've got more 'Defiant Jazz' we need to listen to!! Make sure to subscribe, Refiners!! "Severed" is on hiatus until the end of Season Two. Please continue to listen and re-listen to the available Season One episodes. Once Season Two has concluded, be watching for "Severed: Season Two"...the Ultimateness continues! Join the fun on our Facebook page @SeveredPod.While we're all waiting around on news of Season Two, I'll try to keep you updated on news about the show. Comments? Theories? Corrections? I LOVE 'EM!! Send to: [email protected] for listening to "Severed: The Ultimate 'Severance' Podcast." PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SHARE THE PODCAST WITH YOUR FRIENDS WHO ARE 'SEVERANCE' FANS. THE SHOW GROWS THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH!!If you like what you're hearing, please give "Severed" a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. Needing your own copies of the Lexington Letter and Orientation Booklet? I've got you covered with downloadable PDFs of both documents:LETTER: LEXINGTONLETTER-TheLetter.pdf HANDBOOK: LEXINGTONLETTER-MDROrientationHandbook.pdfYou haven't completely watched 'Severance' until you've listened to 'Severed.'

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 the Severed Floor might have a use for something like that?? Outie-Mark decides to stick it in his pocket, just in case. Elsewhere, Innie-Dylan is haunted by the brief few seconds he had with his Outie's SON! There's no going back from something like that. The MDE gets rolling but then...oh, I'm sorry refiners, but I had a management issue that required my attention. There's still plenty for you to process in this PART ONE of "Defiant Jazz." Now push 'play' and get on the elevator!!Make sure to subscribe, Refiners!! "Severed" is on hiatus until the end of Season Two. Please continue to listen and re-listen to the available Season One episodes. Once Season Two has concluded, be watching for "Severed: Season Two"...the Ultimateness continues! Join the fun on our Facebook page @SeveredPod.While we're all waiting around on news of Season Two, I'll try to keep you updated on news about the show. Comments? Theories? Corrections? I LOVE 'EM!! Send to: [email protected] for listening to "Severed: The Ultimate 'Severance' Podcast." PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SHARE THE PODCAST WITH YOUR FRIENDS WHO ARE 'SEVERANCE' FANS. THE SHOW GROWS THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH!!If you like what you're hearing, please give "Severed" a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. Needing your own copies of the Lexington Letter and Orientation Booklet? I've got you covered with downloadable PDFs of both documents:LETTER: LEXINGTONLETTER-TheLetter.pdf HANDBOOK: LEXINGTONLETTER-MDROrientationHandbook.pdfYou haven't completely watched 'Severance' until you've listened to 'Severed.'

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.Harmony tells the Macrodats: that's it! No more wandering around in the halls! So, what's the first thing they do? Head right out for a visit to O&D!!Cobel sings, Selvig reveals another profession, Milchick visits Dylan at HOME and innie-Dylan meets his kid. Want more? Mark finally answers Petey's phone! If you think your head is spinning now, it's nothing compared to what it will be doing after you've hit 'play' on this episode of "Severed." Make sure to subscribe, Refiners!! "Severed" is on hiatus until the end of Season Two. Please continue to listen and re-listen to the available Season One episodes. Once Season Two has concluded, be watching for "Severed: Season Two"...the Ultimateness continues! Join the fun on our Facebook page @SeveredPod.While we're all waiting around on news of Season Two, I'll try to keep you updated on news about the show. Comments? Theories? Corrections? I LOVE 'EM!! Send to: [email protected] for listening to "Severed: The Ultimate 'Severance' Podcast." PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SHARE THE PODCAST WITH YOUR FRIENDS WHO ARE 'SEVERANCE' FANS. THE SHOW GROWS THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH!!If you like what you're hearing, please give "Severed" a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. Needing your own copies of the Lexington Letter and Orientation Booklet? I've got you covered with downloadable PDFs of both documents:LETTER: LEXINGTONLETTER-TheLetter.pdf HANDBOOK: LEXINGTONLETTER-MDROrientationHandbook.pdfYou haven't completely watched 'Severance' until you've listened to 'Severed.'