[s1e1] What - Have We Done?

: By severing their memories, employees become "individuals" who are essentially prisoners of their service, a theme also explored in other dystopian dramas like The Handmaid’s Tale . "Severance" Good News About Hell (TV Episode 2022) - IMDb

: When Mark is at work, his "Innie" persona has no memory of his outside life; when he leaves, his "Outtie" persona has no memory of his job. Key Plot Points [S1E1] What Have We Done?

: Viewers have noted deliberate inconsistencies, such as Mark's watch showing different dates, suggesting that time may not be linear or is being manipulated within the Lumen offices. : By severing their memories, employees become "individuals"

: Helly wakes up on a conference table with no memory of who she is. She is forced to undergo a series of questions to confirm her "severed" state. Despite her immediate desire to leave, her "Outtie" has already signed her life away to the company. Visual and Narrative Motifs : : Helly wakes up on a conference table

: The department is located in a basement with seemingly infinite, sterile white hallways, emphasizing a sense of entrapment.

The premiere introduces the concept of "severance," a medical procedure that surgically divides a person's memories between their work life and their personal life.