Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Severity the second season is finally here and we can’t close on this. That we have more than two months of new episodes on the way is certainly one of the best things that a very bad 2025 has brought so far, and things start with a bang in the premiere. We have to spend all kinds of time with hymns to the broken floor of Lumon and saw some very enticing new mysteries.
Last month, we talked with showrunner Dan Erickson about the episode because we know you would you want to know what he had to say about a few things. Here are the spoilers we originally cut our full interview.
Germain Lussier, io9: I was shocked when Helly lied about what she saw as her outtie and then set in motion so many questions about who this person is, what they want, etc. What a great part of the season. what and where did the idea come from?
Dan Erickson: Well, that’s a pretty big part of it. Something we talked about in that scene is, would each character be honest and how honest would they be? We talked about “Would Helly tell the truth?” or “Would you hide it?” I think if nothing else, Helly would be ashamed of what she learned. So, there’s definitely a reason why each character would want to be possibly dishonest to others. Mark too. I think there is a question of wanting Helly to know this thing that he learned, or does he feel that he needed to take his time to admit this and present that to her? Then we had that conversation for each of the three characters who had made their way to the top.
io9: Another big surprise is Miss Huang, who is just the most interesting and strange character. What can you tell me about her?
Erickson: Yes, there was always something interesting about the idea of having a child in that role and there is this big question of why? Why does Lumon do that? What is it? What are the major implications of this? But I think his presence really throws off the characters. I mean, they’re definitely all weirded out by her presence because the fact that she’s this kid (and) she has this disarming quality to her where it’s hard to hate a kid, you know? But at the same time, it fulfills that management role and it is also, at least because of the experiences, older than them, because each of the hymns has only had, at least, two years of life and even this is only eight hours a day. So it was a very strange power dynamic that you could really only have on this show. And we were lucky enough to find an actor who could really play the smiling corporate thing and then also suddenly walk by and see this strange darkness underneath it. And so in a way is Lumon incarnate. It is both things at once.
io9: Another fascinating twist this season is the “outtie family visit suite.” How crucial is this season and, again, where did the idea come from?
Erickson: The thing about Lumon and part of his evil brilliance is that they will encourage what is most important to you. And for Dylan in the first season, he was very happy with this kind of artificial meaning created of the erasers and the finger traps and these little awards that represent success. The moment you find out he has a family, a finger trap is just a finger trap. Suddenly, he completely restructures his sense of importance in life. And then what is Lumon going to do? They have to encourage that. They will tell him that you can see your wife if you have your work done and you get out of line because it is the most important thing for him. He is willing to do it even at the expense of his working family. And this is the situation in which I find myself.
The first episode of Severity The second season is now on Apple TV +. New episodes drop every Friday.
Want more io9 news? Check when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Warsand Star Trek free, what is next for the DC Universe in film and TVand everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
