Apple has been steadily working to expand the world of the Apple TV+ series “Severance,” through online materials, e-books, podcasts, and other content – and so have its fans. Taking advantage of its platform power, the Cupertino tech giant has been able to easily distribute supplemental material that adds to the show’s storytelling abilities, offering viewers more clues about the mysterious employer at the heart of the series, Lumon Industries, and other characters.
And for fans of the production itself, a companion podcast with creator Ben Stiller and star Adam Scott delves into the nuts and bolts of how scenes were filmed and other behind-the-scenes content.
Currently the most popular Apple TV+ series ever, “Severance” has gained attention and awards for its cinematic techniques, direction, production design, and more, but is also resonating with viewers because it reflects a certain discontent with American society.
With its borderline absurdist takes on topics like the perils of capitalism, the lengths people will go to achieve work-life balance, corporate oppression, classism, and the evils of technology, “Severance” is reaching a broader group than those who normally watch sci-fi.
The marketing around the “puzzle box-style” TV series, where online content becomes a part of the show itself, is something that brings to mind the work that was done in previous years around the cult classic, “Lost,” where website tie-ins offered further clues about the show’s mysteries, like the Dharma Initiative.
Unlike “Lost,” however, “Severance’s” creators have promised that they know where the series is going and how it will end – which makes it more fun to go down the rabbit hole chasing online clues.
Below are some of the supplemental materials that expand “Severance’s” universe and offer hints at what’s to come.
Official Companions
“Severance: The Lexington Letter,” published by Apple Books. This companion story and tell-all is told from the perspective of a severed Lumon Industries employee Margaret “Peg” Kincaid, who discovers some of the dark truths about her employer.
ScreenshotImage Credits:Apple Books
Included in this download is also the Macrodate Refiner’s Orientation Booklet for newly-severed employees, which features a Lumon version of Microsoft’s Clippy — except he’s an anthr …