Deconstructing the Art of the Cliffhanger: Insights from the Creators of Severance

Staff
By Staff 4 Min Read

The highly anticipated second season of Severance premiered on Apple TV Plus, marking the return of the mind-bending sci-fi thriller after a two-year hiatus. The first season concluded with a dramatic cliffhanger, leaving viewers in suspense and eager for the story’s continuation. The art of crafting a compelling cliffhanger is a delicate balancing act, requiring the creators to maintain audience engagement without resorting to manipulative tactics. Severance, thus far, has expertly navigated this challenge, leaving viewers with burning questions while simultaneously offering glimpses of resolution.

The creative team behind Severance, including creator Dan Erickson, director Ben Stiller, and star Adam Scott, discussed the complexities of crafting such a pivotal moment. Stiller acknowledged the inherent uncertainty in predicting audience reactions, emphasizing the importance of establishing genuine stakes and earning the audience’s investment. The show’s unique premise, centered around surgically altered minds separating work and personal lives, presented an added layer of complexity. The duality of “innies” confined to the enigmatic Lumon Industries and “outies” navigating the outside world, combined with the show’s surreal and often unsettling atmosphere, made it difficult to anticipate how viewers would respond.

The production of the first season took place in a bubble, shielding the show from public scrutiny until its completion. This isolation added to the pressure on the creative team, as they were unsure whether the show’s unconventional narrative would resonate with audiences. Stiller recalled the anxiety surrounding the cliffhanger ending of episode 8, wondering if the subsequent episodes could maintain the same level of suspense. Fortunately, their gamble paid off, as Severance garnered a dedicated following, validating their creative choices.

Adam Scott, who plays the central character Mark and also serves as a producer, echoed Stiller’s sentiments, recognizing the inherent risk involved in such a narrative strategy. The intention was to meticulously construct the season’s architecture, leading to a climactic moment that would hopefully connect with viewers on an emotional level. Scott recalled the filming of the finale, where Mark encounters Harmony Cobel (played by Patricia Arquette) and addresses her by the wrong name. He and the team recognized the potential impact of this scene, provided the audience remained invested in the narrative’s intricacies.

The success of the season 1 finale can be attributed to its ability to simultaneously answer existing questions while introducing new mysteries. This duality provided viewers with a satisfying sense of closure while also igniting their curiosity about the unfolding narrative. In the final episode, Mark and his colleagues embark on a forbidden venture, experiencing the outside world as their innie selves. This transgression unveils crucial information about their true identities. Mark, in particular, discovers a shocking revelation: his wife, whom he believed to be deceased, is alive and working at Lumon under the alias Ms. Casey. The episode concludes with this startling discovery, leaving viewers on the precipice of a new chapter.

The second season picks up immediately after this revelation, providing answers to some of the lingering questions while simultaneously introducing new layers of intrigue. Mark’s discovery of his wife’s survival fundamentally alters the dynamics of both his innie and outie lives, raising questions about the repercussions of this newfound knowledge. The intricate web of relationships within Lumon, the true nature of the severance procedure, and the overarching motives of the company remain shrouded in mystery, promising a season filled with suspense, intrigue, and unexpected twists. The long-awaited return of Severance promises a deeper exploration of its complex characters, the unsettling world they inhabit, and the ethical dilemmas at the heart of its premise.

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