I Think II Get Why Chris and Andy Aren't Liking Severance

I made this comment under the YouTube video of the latest podcast but I thought I'd just post it here too.

I don't think it's that big of a deal that these two - Andy especially - don't like Severance. Even beyond the "everyone has their own opinion" point. It's just a show that doesn't vibrate with their frequency. Listening to them over the years, they just prefer stories that have the sheen on "realism" and "reality" and the notion that this is happening in the "real world". As soon as that is hit, they're pretty forgiving or can go on the ride for anything else.

Severance really isn't interested in doing that, so all the bumps that they have - that they'd typically let go or forgive or be more patient for - is just compounded by the fact that the show isn't interested in who's president or what team Mark supports or where in America this is. It's asking different - equally interesting - questions. I love these guys trying to intellectualise their low view of this show but I really think it's just that.

I encourage everyone to read this really thoughtful critique of The Bear: https://slate.com/culture/2024/06/the-bear-season-3-fx-hulu-bad.html

So many problems that are brought up in this article mirror exactly the issues that Andy and Chris have with Severance. Yet because the Bear is set in Chicago (even though there's plenty of critiques from locals about how accurate that is) and because there's a realistic patina and there's pop culture and sports references and there is a considered effort to place this in the real world, the same things that they bump on for Severance (lack of forward momentum, beautiful cinematography but to what end, lack of a clear character arc, the plot circling the drain, a hermetically sealed window into a culture/world, non-linear narratives that gets in the way of the story being told, etc.) they're either more forgiving for or completely blind to.

Now, I actually don't feel that way about Severance or the Bear - I think the shows are purposefully doing those things that people are criticising them for and I think the reasons why they are doing that are great and engaging - but it's just super interesting watching these two guys (who I love) bend themselves into knots trying to explain why they really don't like the most popular prestige show currently on television as much as everyone else and I think the answer is just super obvious.

(the one thing that they are wrong about, I feel, is the idea that people are watching and primarily enjoying the show for the mystery box aspect of the story. I just don't think people would be making fan art of the core four or writing Mark/Helena and Burt/Irving fan fiction if that's the case. They wouldn't be so instantly hyper aware that Helly isn't Helly if they didn't actually love the characters as much as they do. Those four innies/outies are why this show is resonating. I think anyway)