S1E34 - SEVERED Origins - "Being John Malkovich" PT01

Drop a note to Allen S. right here. (Can't respond...sorry.)

WELCOME BACK, REFINER! TIME FOR MORE "SEVERED: ORIGINS"!
This week, we're beginning a voyage into the mind....of John Malkovich. It's time to break down the notorious and infamous "Being John Malkovich" from 1999. Dan Erickson has mentioned this as one of his inspirations while creating "Severance." It's easy to see the questions about 'self' and who is in control raised by this movie. John Malkovich also has literal 'innies' who inhabit his consciousness...but only for fifteen minutes.

This time, in Part One, we're going to meet a 'happy' couple: Craig and Lotte Schwartz. She works at a pet store, he's a professional puppeteer. Stop snickering! He's devoted to his craft, and he's REALLY good at it...he's just not always the most appropriate. We see Craig get punched in the face thanks to the randy antics of his 12th Century puppets.

Due to the current "wintry economic climate" Craig agrees he should go find a job...and not necessarily as a puppeteer.  Craig finds LesterCorp, a professional file management service. Craig's incredibly strong marionette fingers make him great when it comes to high-speed precision filing. It's while working at LesterCorp that Craig both meets the alluring Maxine and discovers a portal into the head and consciousness of actor John Malkovich.

This time we are going to meet the gang and get hired at LesterCorp. We'll follow things in Part One right up to the point where Craig discovers the portal. So, Refiner, if you're ready, it's time to open the "Severed: Origins" file called "Being John Malkovich."

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Season 2 of "Severance" has been announced for 1/17/2025. While waiting on S2, we will continue to break down those things that Dan Erickson has listed as inspiration. Be watching for those episodes under the title "Severed: Origins."

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.

Also, let's talk!! Comments? Theories? Corrections? I LOVE 'EM!! Send to: [email protected]

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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.pdf

You haven't completely watched 'Severance' until you've listened to 'Severed.'...