Let’s face it—not everyone lives for barbecues, beach towels and awkward family road trips. For some, summer means overpriced everything, sweaty public transport and far too much forced cheer. If you’re counting down the days until September, there’s a show tailor-made for your anti-summer soul. And no, it doesn’t involve sunshine or sand.
A chilling escape from sun-drenched clichés
Severance, available on Apple TV+, is the perfect antidote to summer escapism. Instead of sunlit streets and poolside cocktails, it offers stark corridors, fluorescent lighting and a premise that’s as unsettling as it is intriguing. Created by Dan Erickson and executive produced by Ben Stiller, the show offers a quiet, eerie dive into a world where your work and personal life are permanently—surgically—separated.
The story centres around a strange company called Lumon Industries, where certain employees undergo a procedure that splits their memory in two. When they arrive at work, they forget everything about their personal lives. The moment they clock out, every detail of their workday disappears. It’s total compartmentalisation, corporate-style.
Who are you when you’re not you?
At the heart of the story is Mark, played with haunted restraint by Adam Scott. He’s part of a tight-knit group that includes the brilliant and rebellious Helly, the fiercely loyal Dylan, and the enigmatic Irving. Together, they begin to unpick the bizarre reality they live in—and what they discover inside Lumon’s maze of corridors is far darker than they could have imagined.
What happens when your “work self” starts asking questions your “outside self” will never remember? What kind of person chooses this life? And what are the consequences of severing who we are from what we do?
An atmosphere that chills and charms
The beauty of Severance lies in its atmosphere. It’s not flashy, loud or fast-paced. Instead, it creeps up on you, delivering slow-burn suspense, thought-provoking themes, and just the right amount of dark humour. Think Black Mirror meets The Office, if The Office had a hidden basement full of secrets and existential dread.
The cast is razor-sharp: Patricia Arquette as the unnervingly serene Ms Cobel, Christopher Walken as the curious Burt, and John Turturro in a role that quietly breaks your heart. It’s a series built on character and emotional precision, not explosions or summer love triangles.
A break from reality (and summer itself)
With its muted colour palette, oppressive office setting, and constant low-level tension, Severance offers a total sensory break from the heat and noise of August. It’s ideal for evenings when you want to forget the chaos outside, pour yourself something cold, and get lost in a world that makes your job feel downright relaxing by comparison.
So, if you’re over the idea of “fun in the sun” and just want a series that challenges your mind while giving you goosebumps, Severance is your next watch. And you won’t even need sunscreen.