I’m a big fan of Severance and I’m so glad Ben and Adam are back for a few episodes of their podcast this summer to follow up the impeccable season 2. The first episode, Points of Vibration is a major overlapping Venn diagram for me since it guest stars Conan O’Brien (go Team Coco).

Around 26 minutes Conan talks about why he loves the show, which captures what I resonates with me:

[My son] loves it. And we talk about it. And then my wife will get into the conversation and we’ll really drill down in it and discuss things. And that is my favorite thing; shows that invite discussion, debate afterwards. When someone else makes a world that I believe is real, I’m taken for this great ride and I am invited to be part of it. And it’s just, you know, joyous. It’s great. You guys built a world.

Later on:

I also like the format in Severance: something very serious is happening. And Mark has, we know that he’s widowed, believes he’s widowed. He’s gone through a terrible tragedy. He wants to escape. It’s very dark. There’s some truly dark moments, but then Tramell [Tillman], as Milchick, will go into that dance. And I laughed. I mean, I stood on my feet when that happened.

Because when you set up a world like Severance, when the comedy does come in, or not even comedy, something comes in at an odd angle and there’s so many very funny moments, but it can come 30 seconds after someone really believes that the love of their life has gone forever. And so I’m at the mercy of the show, which I really like. I’m just there to witness this world.

I also have to say, I love the way the computers look, the way there’s this kind of mid-80s, late-80s design aesthetic. And so the cars are very generic and square and all of the stuff. I find myself looking at the stuff and the way it’s lit and the way the shots are composed.

And, you know, we live in this world now where people say, “was it a TV show or is it a movie?” I think we’re beyond that now because yes, this is technically a television show, but as someone who has hosted the Oscars, I don’t really see the difference anymore. You string all of Severance together with different edits and you make some cuts here and there and you make something that’s three and a half hours long. And I don’t see why that’s not an Oscar-worthy film.

They also interviewed Allen Stare, host of the Severed podcast (which I had not heard of). He conducts tons of research into the production of the show and goes far beyond a typical rewatch podcast.

Not related to the show but I loved Conan’s anecdote around the 13 minute mark about his personality:

My father was a scientist and he once looked at me — and he wasn’t kidding — and he went, “I think I understand. You’re making your living off something that should be treated.”

I certainly relate to this. I find that the things I get obsessive about are some of the same reasons I’m can be gainfully employed as a halfway-decent designer. (It bleeds into all areas of my life.)

PS. Transcriptions from the podcast were provided by Macwhisper.