It Was Worth the Wait

All second seasons carry the weight of prior expectations. In the case of Severance, the burden is especially heavy. Many of the shows that have premiered since 2020 have been excellent, poignant, and ambitious; none of them has had the lightning-bolt sensation of crackling, thrilling creative force that came with Severance’s first season. It had the too-rare science-fiction concept that unravels something otherwise inexpressible about contemporary life: characters who “severed” their work selves from their home selves...