Having canceled my Netflix account, I've gotten the chance to spend a lot of time outside of the big red streaming machine. Yes, this past week didn't see Netflix rope me back in, as I didn't feel any pangs about missing any of the big Netflix Originals, such as the hyped Inventing Anna — which has actually failed to drum up any FOMO for me.
The same can also be said the Netflix's other recent big releases. The Cuphead Show!, Space Force Season 2 and Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022) all failed to actually get that buzzy drive on social media. And without the pressure of being left out of the conversation, I spent another week off Netflix.
I've managed to carve out time for one of the lesser-watched streaming services I already pay for: Apple TV Plus (which I get with my Apple One bundle). This past week was also perfect timing for me to be poking around in Apple TV Plus, as Friday saw the debut of the new (slightly) sci-fi drama Severance, a show that might be the only thing I talk about for the next month.
Since it's available on Apple TV Plus, you can try Severance for free with Apple's 7-day free trial. So, allow me to explain why you've gotta check Severance out. Don't just take my word for it either, Severance has a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes right now, complete with the “Certified Fresh” sticker. It also has a 95% audience score.
Severance is more than just Black Mirror
At first, Severance drew a lot of comparisons (from myself included) to Black Mirror. This makes sense, as Severance is built around a hypothetical technology that allows people to disconnect the work and life sides of their memory.
By presenting the idea of Severance across a whole season, and not just an episode like Black Mirror, its characters and vibe get more time to develop.
After your severance, you never think about your personal life when you're at work, something for all of the bosses who agonize over something called time theft (some think it's…