San Diego, Thursday, July 21, 2022, Ballroom 20 — The Severance panel at SDCC 2022 was one of the most talked-about panels of the weekend, and for good reason. The cast and creators took the stage to discuss how the show came together and why it resonated so deeply with viewers. They talked about the original concept of severing work and personal memories and how that idea grew into a commentary on work culture, identity, and control. Hearing them explain how carefully every detail was planned, from the sterile office design to the unsettling tone, made the show feel even more layered and intentional.
The panel also included behind-the-scenes stories about filming, including how the actors approached playing two versions of the same character and how the production team worked to make Lumon Industries feel both mundane and deeply disturbing. Fans were treated to exclusive clips and teases that hinted at where the story might go next, which only fueled more theories and excitement. The room was completely locked in, and you could feel how invested everyone was in unraveling the mysteries of Lumon.
That panel made us even more excited for the Severance offsite experience. When we arrived, we were treated like new Lumon employees. Each of us received an official badge with our assigned “innie” name, and mine was Ariel P. From there, we were guided through a recreation of the severed floor. We walked through hallways and rooms designed to look just like the show, and many of the props were actual pieces used on set. It felt eerie in the best way, like stepping straight into the series.
We passed through the Macrodata Refinement area and searched for the scary numbers, posed for a family photo, and stayed fully immersed as staff remained in character the entire time. At the end, our group earned a defiant jazz style dance party, a nod to the Music Dance Experience from the show. We wrapped up by grabbing Lumon themed snacks, including pretzels and shriveled raisins, before stepping into the elevator that took us back out into the real world as outies.
Between the panel and the offsite, Severance is easily my favorite SDCC 2022 experience. It was thoughtful, immersive, and slightly unsettling, which felt exactly right for the world of Lumon Industries.
