How Disturbing Is Severance, Really - And What Is It Rated?
The following article contains mentions of suicide.
"Severance" on Apple TV+ was one of the best shows of 2022. It had a timely premise satirizing capitalism and worker exploitation with an intriguing premise of workers who choose to sever their working lives from their recreational ones. Their worker identities don't know anything about their lives outside the office and vice versa, which opens up horrifying possibilities. The plot alone is enough to signify this is a mature show, and parents should take heed before letting younger viewers watch.
The show is rated TV-MA or 15+ for its subject matter. All of the usual culprits are here, including strong language like "f***" and "s***." Characters also use drugs and alcohol, but honestly, the most sensitive content stems from the central conceit. Plenty of physical and psychological violence ensues. Characters are emotionally abused in the workplace because the higher-ups know they won't remember any of it once they leave the office. It's also revealed that Mark Scout (Adam Scott) is grieving the death of his wife in real life, which is why he pursued the severance program in the first place. It's complex subject matter to the point where even if parents are all right with their kids hearing profanity, they may not be ready to be exposed to such weighty concepts.
Severance isn't for the squeamish
To fully answer the question of how disturbing is "Severance," there needs to be a discussion of the physical violence that manifests throughout the show. It isn't simple punching or gunfire. A character drills into a corpse's head while another character loses their mind and collapses to their death. Another scene shows someone getting hit with a baseball bat over the head. But the most shocking piece of violence comes when a character attempts suicide. That particular episode even comes with a trigger warning to alert viewers of what's about to transpire and take necessary precautions.
That scene is an encapsulation of the kind of mental anguish all of the severed employees go through. They are not seen as individuals, merely cogs in a machine who are not allowed to bring any of their experiences or emotions into the workplace. "Severance" is an exceptional show that perfectly taps into the zeitgeist, but it's not for the faint of heart or younger viewers. Older teenagers may be fine with the content as long as they have a firm grasp of what they are getting into and are okay with sensitive images.
"Severance" doesn't pull any punches. It's an unflinching look at how corporations could treat their employees if they had the power to do so, and it's every bit as bleak as that sounds. Viewers should know what they're getting into so it doesn't become too much to handle.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).