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.
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Episode notes
Severance's Disorienting Start
- The show Severance starts with a woman waking up on a conference table in a white room, disoriented.
- This woman, called "Innie", has no memory of her outside life due to a severance procedure.
Relatable Desire to Unplug
- Nitish Pahwa finds Severance relatable to a fundamental truth about work: the desire to unplug.
- The show reflects this by portraying meaningless work and the innies' curiosity about their purpose.
Best Show on TV?
- Dana Stevens considers Severance the best show on TV due to its smart writing, unique style, and humor.
- Despite the show's confusing overarching mystery, she trusts the creators' vision and enjoys the character dynamics.
