'Severance' Episode 3 Review: Thrilling, haunting saga of no escape from hellish work

Helly learns the hard way that there is no resignation at Lumon Industries as repeated attempts to escape fall flat
PUBLISHED FEB 25, 2022
Britt Lower as Helly in 'Severance' (Apple TV+)
Britt Lower as Helly in 'Severance' (Apple TV+)

Spoilers for 'Severance' Episode 3 'In Perpetuity'

It's finally Friday which means the gripping Apple TV+ thriller series is back with a fresh episode of 'Severance' that entails the intriguing concept of work-life balance that is achieved via a memory alteration procedure.

Previously on 'Severance', we saw one of the workers Petey, who managed to escape and become unsevered try to expose the company's unsettling conditions to his work best friend Mark. But he too himself is dealing with the aftermath of reversing the procedure causing Mark to doubt it all. With ever-increasing shadiness from the company here's what happened in the third episode and what we thought of it. 

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The episode begins as wee Petey (Yul Vazquez) experiences severe post-unseverance symptoms in Mark's (Adam Scott) house. Although Mark leaves for work, he's never safe from prying eyes as later Ms Cobel (Patricia Arquette) who is masquerading as his neighbor Mrs Selvig breaks into his house to investigate and find evidence of Petey. The hidden man narrowly manages to escape from her eyes but not before having a flashback of her in Lumon industries that jars him.

Adam Scott as Mark Scout in 'Severance' (Apple TV+)

The third episode of the series gives a deeper insight into the unsettling workplace. Helly (Britt Lower) learns the hard way that she cannot resign which scares her. Features a thrilling saga of escape the urgency of Helly's attempt to leave is marked by a haunting piano score and fast-paced scenes that brilliantly showcase the scenario. Her desperation leads to her arm getting cut with the chase sequence keeping us at the edge of our seats. Lumon's increasing bizarre and scary conditions are coming to the surface with Irving (John Turturro) displaying brain-washing-like symptoms. Patricia Arquette's Ms Cobel has a chilling presence which is always enjoyable in this office thriller that will hold your unwavering attention. Mark too is noticing discrepancies at Lumon and we look forward to him slowly uncovering the building mystery. The enigma that is Lumon industries, mystifies continually. 

Patricia Arquette as Harmony Cobel in 'Severance' (Apple TV+)

Episode 3 does an excellent job portraying the hellish workplace that seemingly has no escape. The antagonists who are trying to maintain control paired with the slow-burn unraveling grimness is a pairing that just works beautifully. With each episode better than the next, we look forward to more of the show that has us hooked with its gripping plot and originality.

'Severance' returns with a new episode each Friday on Apple TV+.

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