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Slate News

Culture Gabfest: Congratulations! You Finally Got Your Severance.

Feb 23, 2025
Joining the panel is Nitish Pahwa, a tech reporter for Slate, who dives into the intriguing themes of identity and labor in the Apple TV+ show 'Severance.' They explore the emotional depth of the story and its commentary on work-life separation. The discussion also shifts to the poignant documentary 'No Other Land,' highlighting the struggles faced by Palestinians. Finally, Nitish shares insights from his reporting on BuzzFeed's upcoming AI-driven platform, BF Island, and its efforts to tackle online toxicity in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
01:02:19

Episode guests

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Quick takeaways

  • The discussion on Severance emphasizes the disconcerting exploration of identity and autonomy in a dystopian corporate setting.
  • No Other Land poignantly captures the human cost of displacement through personal stories, intertwining individual struggles with broader political issues.

Deep dives

Exploring Season Two of Severance

The return of the Apple TV show Severance for its second season is highlighted, emphasizing its unique premise where employees separate their work and personal identities. The main character, portrayed by Adam Scott, navigates a bizarre work environment that plays on psychological themes of memory and identity. This disassociation creates an unsettling tension as characters interact without bridging their separate ‘innie’ and ‘outie’ selves, leading to a critique of modern work culture. The conversation reflects on the show’s ability to resonate with audiences by exploring the innate desire to escape the monotonies of corporate life.

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