Adam Scott in "Severance." Photo: Apple TV+. CHICAGO - Adam Scott gives the performance of his career in "Severance" — a good thing, as Apple TV+‘s nimble, riveting workplace thriller-dramedy is enough to make its audience think seriously about retirement, to say nothing of its cast.
If he never takes another role again, we can and should hold Ben Stiller accountable.Stiller, an executive producer who directs the majority of the episodes in this excellent first season, won’t be the only one to blame. (Aoife McArdle directs episodes 4-6, and as those episodes are also very good, she, too, belongs on the list).
There’s also series creator Dan Erickson and his top-notch writers’ room, who crafted this nightmarish yet oddly familiar world — a little bit "The Office," a little "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and a tiny dash of "Lost" are all in the mix.
But Scott might be most at fault. If he weren’t so damn good in the two linked-but-distinct roles he plays, "Severance" wouldn’t pack even half of its undeniable and unforgettable punch.RELATED: Oscars 2022: Where to watch the Best Picture nominees (and other movies like them)Scott ("Parks and Recreation") plays Mark Scout, a former professor whose grief drove him to accept a job on the "severed" floor at Lumon Industries, a ubiquitous, mysterious and massively powerful corporation that’s developed a technology that brings a whole new meaning to the idea of work/life balance.