Severance’s Original Script Had a Different Ending

A Twist in the Script: ‘Severance’ Reveals Its Hidden Layers

If Severance hasn’t yet twisted your mind into a mangled labyrinth, then recent revelations will do the trick. The debut episode of The Severance Podcast with Ben Stiller and Adam Scott reveals a drastically different vision for the show’s original script. Originally penned by Dan Erickson in 2015, the first episode was meant to introduce us to a far more disorienting world than we know.

An Unexpected Plot Turn

In the initial draft, Mark, played by Adam Scott, was divorced rather than widowed. The story began with him interviewing at a video store named Crazy Eagle Video, following a bizarre accident. After accidentally running over a cat, he returns to the scene, only to find it missing. A strange twist unfolds when he knocks on a door, only to meet his Lumon boss, Ms. Cobel, portrayed by Patricia Arquette.

The peculiar encounter escalates when Cobel introduces Mark to a rat in her care. She tortures the rat, then suddenly switches its state from severed to conscious. This unsettling scene would have explained the concept of severance differently, setting a new tone for the show. This revelation also provides a tantalizing clue about the show’s later mysteries, such as the goats roaming Lumon’s enigmatic floors.

Diverging From the Known Path

Presenting Mark to Cobel as a Lumon employee, actively recruiting him to be severed, would alter the story’s stakes. In the existing version, Mark undergoes severance to cope with his wife’s supposed death. This journey forms the backbone of the series, culminating in the shocking twist that his wife may be alive, assuming the identity of the wellness counselor, Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman).

Mark’s awakening, prompted by this discovery, fuels the narrative drive toward the second season. Another significant deviation from Erickson’s original plan was in the pilot’s opening sequence. Initially, Mark was intended to awaken at Lumon, emerging from a bizarrely constructed scene, which could have reshaped the narrative dynamics entirely.

An Altered Perspective

Erickson’s proposed narrative was markedly different from the final product. It imagined a day-in-the-life experience with Mark as the trainee, experiencing Lumon’s surreal environment firsthand. This role reversal with Helly, played by Britt Lower, would have changed the foundation of their character interactions.

In the version we know, Helly is at the center of the opening scene. She embarks on a journey through the severance process while wrestling with her decision. The shifted storyline would have placed Mark in situations marked by desperation, such as the self-inflicted writing and attempted escape we associate with Helly.

Insights Await in the Podcast Journey

As fans eagerly anticipate Season 2’s January 17 premiere, the podcast promises more revelations. Only one episode in, we’ve received a glimpse into what could have been. With eight episodes left, we might find Severance evolving in our minds, its layers of intrigue deepening with each revelation.

Whether these early revelations have already reshaped your perception of the show or you’re holding out for even more surprises, one thing remains certain. Severance is a series that continues to captivate its audience with its enigmatic storytelling, and the podcast is only adding to the allure.