I really enjoyed these first two episodes, and I'm looking forward to seeing where they go from here. So much weirdness and so much to speculate about. Let me know what you think.
This show has got me hooked!! Definitely my favorite type of show. I am soo intrigued! & I am rooting for my girl Helly to get the hell out of there! She’s definitely my favorite so far.
I think when they work on the data they’re refining the chip in their head. I think each department is working on different chips - so the optic department is working on the vision side of the chips. I think the overall project is to produce an artificial brain. That’s my theory.
Oooh yes I had a similar theory too when watching - the data that they are clearing up is the actual data they are clearing up in their own minds, and with each number they throw away, they are erasing a piece of their own memories.
@@stingray6551 it’s an interesting theory but why would they employ people just to erase their own memories though? They’re still using these people as labor it seems unless it’s some sort of experiment you mean to test the process?
I'm watching this video after rewatching the show at least 10 times. I find it so interesting and can't wait for the next season so we can start getting answers (hopefully). One thing I wanted to comment here that's been bothering me since a recent re-watch is Irving's work timeline. He says he's been at Lumon for 3 years, but when he's teasing Dylan about the waffle party, he makes it seem like he's been there so much longer. His line is something like, "Back in my day, we were rewarded with a handshake and a refill on the creamer." It seems implausible, especially with Cobel at the helm, that the reward system grew from CREAMER to WAFFLE PARTIES over only three years. If it did happen in that time span, something else is happening behind the scenes. But my theory is that their innie's memories are reset if things start getting out of hand. See also: Petey telling outie Mark he filed a complaint as his innie because he was unhappy, and then that complaint is never brought up again and innie is seemingly happy at the start of the show. I have some other Irving theories I won't post here because the info shows up in later episodes, but his character holds a lot of the answers to the severance mystery, I believe!
It would be more efficient to play the video of the employee explaining everything to herself/himself upon awakening rather than have a stranger break the news. People tend to trust themselves over strangers.
This is like Hermans Head, old tv show from the 90s, these different characters are part of someone subconscious.. thanks for the review Pete! Keep them coming!
So security guy at entrance has dell monitor from our time with that POE phone (neither of them are cabled for some reason). Cars are from 80-90ties. I am puzzled.
At first i thought they just took advantage of the crash, like “hey here’s a dead body let’s test stuff out on her” but now that I’ve seen the whole series it seems more like Mark & Gemma were chosen.
The description of the process gave me a flashback to Split Brain, which was an old experimental treatment for severe epilepsy. The people who went through the treatment exhibited some extremely spooky symptoms regarding the structure of human consciousness (seemingly, one entire half of us is a silent passenger, equally aware of our surroundings and in control of some of our body, but invisible to the consciousness who speaks). I wonder if those experiments/the theories it birthed will be part of the mystery.
I found these episodes fascinating and completely compelling. I did, however, feel like I needed a Silkwood shower for my brain afterwards. The stylized offices and fluorescent lighting is incredibly depressing and the story is unsettling. I have to make sure I’m in right frame of mind to watch it and That’s probably a testament to how well they’ve pulled it off.
Marks boss/neighbor Peggy definitely isn't severed. Remember it was mentioned that if a severed employee meets another severed employee on the outside world 'it isn't good'. Yet his boss is also his neighbor. Which means that only applies between severed employees. They don't want any kind of relationships outside work with the severed outies to take place incase that compromises the project or experiment going on at work. My question would be to why Peggy his boss has particularly interest in keeping an eye on Mark as his neighbor?! 🤔 What's the relation to that! What makes his attention to her more special than the other severed workers. Only time will tell. And why did mark choose not peak around the wall to the stairwell where Helly was tryin to exit the building. He basically is doing what he has been instructed by his employers. But imaging if he didn't listen and took a peak. Just imaging what he would have actually saw. He would see two versions of Helly, one going out the door and the other version of her coming back in. That's my assumption anyway. But all in all I am absolutely loving these first two episodes and can't wait to see what unravels in the next episode.
@@Graziano45 gosh such a rude reply. Did I upset you? I wrote all that and u took one little thing from everything I said and replied back with a 'duh' and laughing emoji. Why are u typing to me like someone who is still in 2nd grade?! Just to let u know i made that comment here a month ago when episode 1 and 2 was just released. I was stating the obvious because I wanted to. What's your problem with that? Why are u laughing when we're both on agreement about the boss?! Something is wrong with u dude. Btw the boss gets fired from her job in episode 8. Helly is an Egan. She is the daughter of the CEO of Kier Lumon company. And Marks wife is that oriental woman who does the therapeutic wellbeing sessions. There is loads of stuff that was going to be obvious and not so obvious. It happens mate so grow up.
@@TitusDafox 😂 The hell are you writing paragraphs for? I just watched 2 episodes and It’s obvious that the bosses aren’t severed, you mentioned like you did discover something. 😂 And why did you find it a good idea to add spoilers in you reply?
@@Graziano45 dude u write to me like I'm an idiot in your first comment. So what did u expect back! Telling me 'duh' and putting these emoji's '😒😂' like I'm an idiot who insulted your mother or something. No need to comment to someone like that and be rude straight off the bat. So what if something is obvious but I haven't said it in a way that seems so obvious to your liking. It doesn't mean u comment to me like I'm an idiot. Glad u enjoyed the spoilers u earned that. Work on your attitude mate. Criticism is fine but laughing and saying duh to people while your criticising is f*cked up. Grow up!
I think that part of their coworkers theory is correct. If this 'corporation' was created in the 1800's, something likely changed the course of history and thus everything that has happened throughout the 1900's possibly didn't even happen. I'm thinking one man created AI and biotechnologies have influenced human history to the point where this one company has complete control over society. People on the outside with jobs where there is no severance, likely are not aware either, perhaps they are more 'accepting' of the reality they are told about.. My guess is they aren't employees either, likely they data-manage their own memories or others, perhaps emotions and other behaviors entirely too. Perhaps they are being manipulated into becoming enslaved, but to what purpose? It's very strange how robotic most interactions are, there is great psychological manipulation, but feels like a robot with poor social abilities as we saw in the 'wellness' session. The worshipping of a so-called man as the figure head for their corporation, is also bizarre, I feel like this is cult-based but perhaps all just a manipulation in order for the machines to keep humans in check.
Apparently new hires wake up on the table according to others' recollections. My question: Why can't a company with the means to employ 1 person per 1100 Sq feet of office space splurge for a futon for the orientation process?
@@gddeen1 It was more a rhetorical question since it's apparent that Lumon has the means for a much more suitable recovery/orientation environment than a conference room table. But yeah...
Ms. Cobel is Mrs. Selvig on the outside. The management have last names and appear to be able to communicate between the inside and the outside. Mark calls in sick to Millchick while he is outside and Millchick is inside. When Helly tries to leave, she meets Milchick on the outside who convinces her to go back in. He's working both sides.
At 36:34 of episode 1, they've hidden Radiohead - Everything in it's right place in the soundtrack. Which is also in the Vanilla Sky opening scene. I felt this should be mentioned :)
I saw the trailer for the show when it first premiered, but I held off from watching it. But I finished watching all nine episodes within two days and the show is a masterpiece, can’t wait for season two.
I just started the series just two days ago. I think they are doing some important work that if they knew what it was, they would object or would succumb to the pressure. I remember reading a Phillip K Dick book where a man was induced into thinking he was in a safe fantasy world working on puzzle constests in the newspaper. He was predicting where the enemy was going to drop their next nuclear bomb, in fact. I recognize their work stations. They are using 1980s era Data General computer terminals.
Wtf's going on with the food in the outside world? Why people appear not able to share a meal? You can see it in the scene at her sisters house: they sat around a table that only holds big glasses of water. There they make some strange comments about some problem with the food. Later, after her friends are gone, her sister makes a sandwich for him. But strangely she does not eat anything at all. The next night, he is eating -again alone- at the dinner when Pete appears and sat at his table. And then I believe that he quits eating. In ep 2; when the workers are thrown the office party, only one of them is seen eating. And later in the episode he is having a date with his sister's doula.. and again they do not share a meal. May i be misremembering anything? Please don't spoil me; I've just seen eps 1 and 2
My theory is that management is definitely not severed. Not only do they have last names at work while the Mark and his co workers don't, but they can talk to each other on either side. Millchick is on the outside stairwell talking to Ms. Cobel on the inside during Helly's orientation. And also, Ms. Cobel is Mrs. Selvig on the outside.
@@PetePeppers1, he did look very relaxed, but we didn’t actually see him close his eyes or lower his head. Irv didn’t even yawn. Irv is the character that has been working at Lumon Industries the longest. I think he might be seeing through the facade.
I find the retro futuristic nature of their work space terrifying for some reason. That green color in the office from decades ago makes me almost sick to my stomach and the sterile white hallways makes them feel like rats in a maze. So far, loving it.
Stumbled across the show "by accident" and I feel happy that picture got me interested enough to click "play". :D It's a fascinating, Black Mirror/Outer Limits kind of setting that definitely has me curious what hides behind it - and the cast and direction complete everything, because so far I really enjoy them. It's all got such a ... Stanley's Parable - atmosphere somehow. I wonder how much we will even be told about what's going on... :D
Another reason that management is NOT severed. Ms. Cobel remembers her mother and people who are severed remember no details about their personal lives.
I was actually really enjoying Herbs Wellness session and was smiling with him along the way. I would probably be a perfect Luman worker, not questioning a thing and enjoying the work life, lmao.
That's the old Bell Labs complex; think tank of the 60s; home of the most cutting edge tech in history generally speaking. Currently Bell Works. Bell Labs is no more. The scientists there were Nobel Laureates. It was designed by Saarinen, a very famous architect, who also designed the St. Louis Arch. Everything about the site they chose to model Lumon after is fascinating.
I like this show and the mystery is super fascinating. I think our four person crew keeps watch of individuals in the program, when they see a number pattern that looks scary it reflects a rogue within the program that is eliminated.
What I don't like - not on this review, but on most - is that nowadays video-producers feel compelled to rush things down our throat not to loose the impatient. This results in them cutting out all pauses which naturally occur in speeches - turning those reviews into uncomfortable frenzies.
As a musician who graduated from Berklee COM I have to say that I absolutely love the score for this show as well as the writing. The melodic ideas give the show such a great vibe and enhance the production overall.
i dont wanna be that guy but no one gives a shit what college you went to or how much money you spent, like it has nothing to do with anything lmao why u tryna flex on a yt comment section
Loved that your covering this show... I thought the first 2 episodes were intriguing I was watching like I was in a trance loved it ❤️ just need you cover the new show just released this week called "from" seems to be right up your street 🤔 thanks again 👍
It better be a real good story in the end. I got the feeling it could be a Lost like thing where they invent more and more stupid mysteries and give few answers.
When I read the description I was thinking of PK Dick and "Paycheck" except done on a corporate level, but this is more sinister. It reminds me of Westworld as you can abuse the employees all you want because they won't remember it and can't tell anyone about it. "You don't like the Break Room, but your outie says she loves working here"
So I was sitting in my cubicle today and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life. Is there any way you could just sort of zonk me out so that I don't even realize I'm at work?
Looking at Mark's list of daily duties, he has to review employee lunches. Does that mean Lumon monitors what their employees eat? And acknowledging the Kier Eagan portrait? That is really get into cult weirdness. This whole list is ridiculous. They treat their employees like children. Mark is supposed to be the department supervisor, and all it seems to mean is that he has to do menial housekeeping tasks every day.
The innes are children. A cult gives these children something to grasp and make sense of their world. I believe they check lunch and everything because the workers are very shielded from everything and functional at a minimalistic level. They get exactly what they need to continue. Their world has been designed to be enough for every aspect of being a sub human.
I think Helly's question about being livestock for consumption is very relevant. I also think when they talk about "cleaning the sea" theory, that may be a clue as to the kind of work they're intended to do or are already doing. Soylent Green comes to mind and I'm not saying "eating people" is the end result, but some kind of climate level eradication of overpopulation. We've seen a green house that has been destroyed which is maybe a clue too as to what is going on in the outside world. I'm not sure what the purpose of their work is, but I'm thinking it has two phases maybe. First, I think they're an experiment in control; if they can succeed in controlling the current crop of severed employees then they can move on to the next stage. The second phase is the work they're doing seems pointless, but the employees "in-ie" logic doesn't really question what they're doing. If they succeed in them not asking the relevance they can move on to do more horrific things just because they are told to or they can consent to being full time workers that have severed their "out-ie" lives completely.
Watching the beginning of the second episode, something bugged me: Helly gets her implant put in and then immediately comes to in the stairwell. This doesn't make sense, because the surgery room isn't a severed space. She should have remained aware after the implant was activated, then "switched" in the elevator like normal. Admittedly this could just be narrative convenience--the episode flows better with Helly going straight from the operating room to the stairwell--but it ties into a theory I've harboured about the show since before it aired. So, we've got the premise that people's minds are being split in half, with each half having no awareness of the other. What's the obvious plot twist that this premise suggests? There's a third persona. Remember, the only reason the innies even know about the outies is because they're told about them; keeping a third (or fourth, or fifth) persona hidden would be easy. My theory is that this accounts for Hellie's "missing time" after the surgery. If my assumption is correct, the third persona is the one that's told the secret behind the numbers, with some mechanism being used so that part of that knowledge bleeds over subconsciously into the innie's awareness. This is part of why the outies are watched so closely: to make sure that this awareness stays contained within the innie. The management realize that allowing any breach in awareness between the personas is risky, but presumably it's considered necessary for the work to function. This theory also explains a few other oddities, chief among them being the strange moment where Mark encounters Peatey in the woods, sees some kind of light, and then appears to lose awareness for an unknown amount of time. This was actually the third persona becoming active, as part of some pre-programmed contingency plan against employees meeting outside the company. This is the actual reason why their entrances and exits are staggered so rigidly to ensure that they don't meet. (Also note that in the first episode Mark nearly hits Hellie's car due to what appears to be a momentary lapse in awareness; my theory is that this was caused by their proximity to each other). Of course, for this to work we need to assume that Peatey has found some way to counteract the proximity trigger and has used it on Mark; but we know he's managed to un-sever somehow, and it would explain what he was doing skulking around outside Mark's sister's house in the middle of the night. Maybe there's some sort of trigger or "deactivation" codeword that can be used on the third persona. But now I’m thinking it has less to do about identities (as in a third persona), but more likely that the brain’s 3 explicit (and interconnected) memory compartments have been “partitioned”…the Hippocampus, the Neocortex and the Amygdala. The show has definitely dropped oddly specific mentions of the number “3” as noted by others (in the episode 2 thread). The Amygdala processes fear and emotions and is perhaps what is being accessed during the 9-5 working hours (Helly says her numbers were ‘scary’). Perhaps Lumon Inc is testing how the Amygdala processes fear to address PTSD disorders in traumatized people and war veterans. The Neocortex partition is accessed when they go home for motor and sensory commands. Most importantly the Hippocampus has perhaps been not only partitioned but disabled or ‘severed’ by the implant, so the significant autobiographical memories of Mark, Helly, et al cannot be accessed by the subject. Mark seems to be dispassionate about the anniversary of the death of his wife, an event he can’t process thus will never properly “heal’ as he sister remarks. Then there’s the lightbulbs. “Still waiting for that third bulb to revive itself?,” Mrs Selvig asks Mark. When looking for a replacement bulb, he opens his wife’s storage box labeled “Gemma’s Crafts,” which he quickly puts the lid back on. The dimmed third bulb is symbolic of his deep hippocampus memories he can’t access. The “black goo” is perhaps indicative of unintended “leakage” of deep memories in the brain partitions, which require the participants to undergo restorative therapy. Irving returns from his therapy refreshed and makes the odd statement “Hi kids, what’s for dinner?”… the same phrase Petey says to Mark in Pip’s diner.
She passes out from the ketamine they gave her during the procedure and her outie appears next in the stairwell. It's from that perspective because the outie isn't aware of what happens on the other side of the door. It's the reverse of the innie's experience they showed in episode 1. The fact that she woke up on the table indicates they took her down for the first time while she was asleep.
You say you can’t pick a favourite acting performance cause they’re all good. I’ll go ahead for you- Tramell Tillman as Milchick. He is far and away the most captivating (for me at least). Everytime I’m on screen I can’t tell if I like or hate him but I DEFINITELY don’t trust him
The change of watches, from a Soviet era paratroopers watch to a "White Faced", nondescript watch. The "descent" into a form of hades (the workplace). The large, sterile room in pale greenish color (very Soviet work environs) with a small, tightly packed "Work Area" of retro computer tech where tedious mind control type tasks are performed which they all seem ok with. The bizarre corporate "Gift Perks" which seem to imbue characters with status which the co-workers covertly envy. Then there is the obvious LDS type "Smith" character which tells Helley he loves her and flys off the mountain to join a flock of birds in the sunny skies. A god complex here? The obvious images of highly educated people (outies) acting very eccentric. A possible reference to "Coastal Elites" mentalities. The "Men Who Stare At Goats" room where bottle feeding actual goats brings fear and consternation to the "Shepard" who expresses angst that it's too early to take them. They're not ready. The victorian house in Hades which is a memorial where various sexual characters evoke passions to be suppressed by violence if entertained. Etc...
Apple TV has shown itself as weird and this one is no exception. I was drawn in with See immediately even though the 1st season was badly flawed, I did become invested in the characters. Servant was also hugely promising but I haven't even bothered with the latest. Oh, yeah and there is another one about alternate realities where if you are rich and powerful enough, you can get your dead child back. I did quite like these two episodes, a bit ambivalent. Can an Apple TV show keep a god out of it?
love the show, but im wondering, even if you did agreed to this, would it be legal for a company like that to hold you against yer will, subject you to various forms of discipline?
Of course it isn't legal. But they get away with it because those people are virtual slaves with absolutely no way to communicate with the outside world that this is happening to them. And guys like Milchick are sadistic SOBS who are living their dream jobs.
The only thing I'm confused on so far is WHY would anybody choose to do this? Like why was she excited to do the severance? Maybe I missed something but why would any sane person split
This work is very important for mankind but I cannot reveal what you do as you will not be able to approve it because it is a small piece of the puzzle. We will give you a lot of money and you can look forward to a life of fun and enjoyment. You will live much longer without carrying stress from work around with you.
Helly did get a perfect score in her initial questionnaire. The purpose of the questions is to see if she has any memories of her unsevered self. She can’t answer any of the personal questions, which is “correct”: the chip is working.
I think the severence device also affects the user's perception of outside knowledge as maybe a side effect? Mark's date makes a comment about the cold weather and mark counters with she should be used to cold weather coming from Minnesota. The date the corrects mark saying she is from Montana, another cold state. So something strange is going on either in that states are in different places or Mark's date also has something going on like severence where she does not remember states. Or, the severence device makes mark hear his date's answers differently.
I wish that Mark had blamed Pip’s for calling in or that when Cobel was asking Milcheck if he thought Mark’s sickness was genuine and he said it was abdominal that they’d had a knowing exchange and said “....Pip’s. “
I like the show so far, but it did take 3 times for me to get through the 1st and 2nd episodes as they kept putting me to sleep...maybe I shouldn't watch further episodes late at night. Also, quite a character type change for John Tuturro.
I'm wondering if the Mrs. Selvig/Cobel is severed. Is she affecting the Selvig personality for security? Or does severance create divergent personalities on a long enough time line?
Watching paint dry would be more interesting than this show. I fell asleep 20minutes in. What a waste of time this was. I assume it will win awards and get 23 seasons. Utter bollucks.
