Good News About Hell – The show begins with Helly R. (Britt Lower) lying on a platform. A male voice, emitting from a speaker asks, “Who are you.” Helly appears to be confused and in pain. She says hello while grabbing her neck. The board asks would be willing to take a survey. She questions who is talking, looking around the room. The board promises she will feel better if she answers just five questions. She gets off the table and walks over to the door, which is locked. The board agrees to talk if she completes the survey. She verbally refuses to participate. Trying the doorknob once again, she falls backward on the floor. She asks what’s the reward for answering the questions. The board says it depends on your answers.

In the first question, she is asked to identify herself. She doesn’t know her name. The board asks where she was born. She doesn’t know the answer.  The board asks her to name one US state. She says, Delaware. The fourth question pertains to Mr. Eagan’s favorite breakfast. She is confused by the question. The last question is in regard to her mother’s eye color. Strained, Helly asks what’s happening. The man reads off her answers. She questions what they have done to her when the door opens. Frightened, she pushes her body backward on the floor. Standing in the doorway, the man says, “That’s a perfect score.”

Mark Scout (Adam Scott) sits in his, sobbing. He wipes his eyes and checks the time before entering Lumen Industries. As he approaches the receptionist, he shows her his ID. She calls Mr. Scout to see if he is ready for Mark. He walks through the facility to a locker, where he stores his belongings. He replaces his shoes, keycard, and watch. Judd (Mark Kenneth Smaltz) greets him before sweeping his body with a handheld metal detector. He enters an elevator that transports him up to another floor. He walks through a maze of halls. He takes a seat in front of a computer. A cough draws the attention of Dylan (Zach Cherry) who comments on his shitty breathy. When asked if he is sick, he says maybe. He tells Dylan that Petey Kilmer (Yul Vazquez) sniffled yesterday. Dylan threatens to pull out his larynx if he breaths on him. Mark questions if they would be risker than him just breathing on him.

Dylan is concerned about Petey being out because he has a file that needs to be processed. Mark says he thinks Petey is out. Dylan isn’t happy because it will delay them knowing the results, calling it “Lumon bullshit.” Mark warns him to be cautious as Irving “Irv” (John Turturro) enters. They discuss Petey’s absence and the Tumwater case that is expected to be ready for processing today. Dylan is worried that Petey’s absence will knock him out of a waffle party. Irv tells them about getting a handshake and creamer for each completed file.

Seth Milchick (Tramell Tillman) asks to speak with Mark. As he escorts Mark through a maze of halls, he tells Mark about Ms. Cobel’s new office. Mark asks what’s the purpose of the visit. He isn’t sure but suggests he pay her a compliment on her new office. When they knock on the door, Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette) tells them to enter and shut the door behind them. Mark immediately compliments her office. She disagrees, calling it “horrid.” He switches gears by saying her other office was better. She is taken aback by his appearance, which she describes as “hungover.” Confused, he looks down at his clothes.

The board joins the meeting remotely via a speaker. Cobel informs Mark that Petey is no longer with Lumon Industries. He appears to not understand her comment, so she repeats it much slower. Milchick apologizes for the loss of Petey. He describes Mark and Petey as his “favorite office friendships.” Marks says there should have been a notice before asking what happened. Milchick reminds him of the non-disclosure agreement, protecting Petey’s privacy. Cobel asks for his keycard. He is given the role of Macrodata Refinement Department Chief and a new keycard. She tells him a handshake is optional. When he requests the handshake, she appears disappointed. Milchick offers him a bit of time, but he instantly refuses. Before leaving, he turns to thank the board.

Irv speaks of Carol, a former refiner at Lumon Industries. He assures Mark everything will be okay. Mark has concerns about his first task, an input survey. Milchick shrugs off his concerns, saying it is standard. He comments on their working together before leaving the room. Mark speaks the microphone, “Who are you.” He repeats the question as Helly who is lying on a desk appears on his computer screen. Irv reminds him about the preamble. He skips back to the preamble in the survey book. Helly sits up on the table as he asks if she would answer some questions. She asks who is talking. He flips through the pages of the book to find the answer. She walks to the door that leads to the room they are in. He offers to chat after she answers the questions. She refuses to participate, yelling to be released. Startled, they stare at the door as she forcibly turns the doorknob.

Irv is concerned she will break into the room. Milchick enters Cobel’s office to see if she is watching the survey. She refuses his offer to assist. Mark opens the door to where Helly is being held. He says, “That’s the perfect score.” She stands up. He addresses the disconnect that is believed to be related to an oversight. She asks if her memory loss is related to her being grown as livestock. He denies the allegations before revealing her name. Smiling, he explains this is an orientation for a position on the severed floor at Lumon Industries. She asks, “What floor.” Ignoring her, he skips directly to the life/work balance. She throws the speaker at him and runs to the door. He tells her the door locks from the outside. She screams at him to let her go. He pleads with her to have a seat.

Mark tells her that he was in the same situation several years ago. He admits to threatening the disembodied voice’s life. She asks if he followed through with the threat. He says the voice belonged to Petey who became his best friend. She tries to grab his notebook, demanding to be set free. Irv and Cobel watch the conversation from their computers. He suggests she ask him to let her go. When she asks a third time to be released, he agrees. He taps on the door to get Irv to unlock it. As he escorts her through the building, he tells her about a future expansion. She asks if the expansion involves her. He says no, you are a replacement. She questions why he says it as he detests it. He escorts her to a stairwell. She asks if he is going to escort her. He says no, I can’t.

She walks to the door and looks through the window at a set of stairs.  She opens the door and enters another corridor, with no stairs. She walks back through the door to the other side. This time, she runs through the door. When she returns to Mark, she asks if she is dead. He says no. She asks if the place is hell and why she can’t leave. He assures her that she did leave but returned. She denies the allegations.

Cobel speaks with Helly while Milchick treats Mark’s head wound. She says I have felt like hitting Mark at times, but I’m his boss and he is your chief. She assures Helly the last part of her orientation cannot be botched by Mark because it is a video. She gives her a disc and welcomes her to the company. Mark enters as Helly leaves. He asks if she is angry at him. Raising her voice, she screams yes. She goes on a tirade about an atheist mother used to say about hell.

Helly is in awe when she sees herself in the video. She talks about the severance procedure, which is agreed to undergo. The procedure was necessary to separate her personal life from work. She looks at Milchick who immediately looks away. She approaches Mark to ask if she will ever be able to leave. He assures her that she will be free to go at 5:15. She asks if they have a family. He says you will never know. She peeps between the computer to find Irv staring at her. Looking concerned, she doesn’t answer.

Mark tells Judd goodnight as he walks to his locker, where he replaces his watch, keycard, and shoes. He finds an envelope on his windshield He opens it up to find a note inside explaining how he injured his temple during a fall. The letter includes a gift card to Pip’s Bar and Grille. He touches his temple to find a band-aid. As he pulls out of the parking lot, he almost hits Helly. They don’t appear to not know each other.

Mark pulls into the driveway of a house. He has a beer while watching TV. He speaks with Mrs. Selvig about her trashcan being in his spot. Devon (Jen Tullock) arrives to pick him up for a dinner, which he appears to have forgotten. He complains during the drive. She reminds him that he owes her this because she was the better sibling. When she asks about his head wound, he tells her it happened at work. He tells her Lumon Industries apologized, with a gift card. She says did the apology include an explanation.

They arrive and Rickon “Rick” answers the door. Patton “Pat” (Donald Webber Jr.) explains how people overlook the fact that life is not food. Rick agrees with him. Pat says food is energy while life is a “complex quality of sentience and activity.” Mark describes his dad as an alcoholic who was misdiagnosed. They talk about Mark’s previous job as a history teacher. Pat questions him why WWI was known as the Great War. He says it’s because WWII didn’t exist at the time. Devon tells everyone that Mark is a “Lumon man,” which receives a lot of awes. Everyone is shocked when Rick tells them Mark is connected to the severance procedure. Devon scolds Rick, saying it is Mark’s decision who he tells. He immediately apologizes.

Pat describes Mark’s memory as being “bifurcated” to keep his work separate from his personal life. Mark isn’t thrilled when Pat refers to his memory being trapped at work. He asks him to explain himself, but Rick interrupts, saying he supports his decision to work for Lumon Industries.

Devon asks Mark to forgive her for dinner while making him a sandwich. When she broaches the subject of therapy, he is hesitant to say anything. She is proud of him for working at Lumon Industries. She accepts his offer to stay the night. He asks them to explain the three beds. Rick explains how the three beds allow the child to progress at will, instead of harming the child every time the bed is replaced.

After tossing and turning for a while, Mark gets up for a drink. While he looks out the window, something catches his eye. He walks outside to get a closer look. He imagines a man is standing beside a tree. Flashing lights appear and the man disappears. He is looking out the window when Devon approaches. He tells her about seeing the businessman outside last night. Jokingly, she asks if he was entry-level or management.  He says the man acted as he knew him.

Mark cleans out his gutters. He is having dinner when Mrs. Selvig calls. He tries to explain the situation with the trashcans. Petey Kilmer (Yul Vazquez) tells him to hang up when he sits down across from him. Mark doesn’t appear to know him. He says are you following me. Petey comments on how his voice sounds different before identifying himself. Marks says all his co-workers, including himself, are severed, which is permanent. Petey was able to bypass Lumon’s implant. He tries to remind him about how they filed a complaint at work. Mark asks if someone is after him. Petey believes Graner (Michael Cumpsty) maybe after him right now. Neither of them is fond of Graner. He gives Mark a red envelope, saying nothing at Lumon Industries is what they say.

Mark opens the envelope to find a card from Petey. He offers Mark an opportunity to find out what Lumon Industries is doing. If he wants to find out, he should visit the address on the back of the card. As he takes out his trash, Mrs. Selvig appears. She tells him about her mother who was a member of the Catholic church. She believed saints had to sleep eight hours to bless a child. He promises to get adequate sleep tonight. Mrs. Selvig just happens to be Mark’s boss, Peggy. She says you are a good person as the episode comes to an end.

 

Severance Review

The unbearable slow pace may overshadow the interesting premise.  Halfway into the episode, I was frustrated by the lack of action. Eventually, things started to come together. It is difficult to rate the acting since there wasn’t much going on. I don’t see how they got by calling this a psychological thriller. Of course, there is plenty of time left for the show to prove itself.

It is obvious how they were able to drag the show out nine episodes. I couldn’t imagine anyone sticking this out unless things pick up. With a second season on the table, the relevance of the first season most likely will not be significant. If you agree to stick it out, you can expect to be hanging on for several months, plus an additional six months or so for the second season to air.

The episode deserves a 6.5. Get more Severance recaps here. Support ReelMockery by clicking the link.