JuicyTalk
Apple TV is the streaming home of a modern sci-fi masterpiece that has managed to be almost perfect throughout its two-season run. However, a closer look at its sci-fi rules makes it hard not to question if it will eventually crumble under its own ambitious ideas. While only time will tell how the show in question will turn out, one of its biggest conceptual rules seems to be its biggest risk right now.
With both book adaptations and original shows under its sci-fi banner, Apple TV has been dominating the genre for quite some time. Even some of the new additions to its sci-fi catalog, like Pluribus, seem to have a promising future. However, even among its long list of small-screen sci-fi hits, there is one show that seems far more exceptional than others.
Driven by a genius yet simple concept, Severance is arguably the best sci-fi series on Apple TV right now. Its release schedule has been a little inconsistent, but the show has delivered two near-perfect seasons. Despite having a lot going in its favor, though, Severance seems to be walking down a risky narrative path with some of the established rules surrounding its main sci-fi concept.
Severance’s Reintegration Rules Have Been Its Biggest Storytelling Constraint
On paper, “reintegration” in Severance means merging an “innie” and an “outie” back into one consciousness. As simple as it may sound, though, the concept’s execution in the show, so far, makes it incredibly complex. Petey was the first character to get reintegrated in Severance before the process seemingly killed him.
In Severance season 2, the protagonist, Mark, too, agrees to be reintegrated through Reghabi’s refined process. This should have been turning point in the series, allowing Mark to retain his innie identity even inside Lumon. However, the show struggled to move this story in a meaningful direction, often sidelining the psychological and narrative implications of reintegration.
Reintegration is also framed as a process that allows a character with the “innie” and “outie” split to get their innie memories back. However, considering how the show portrays the innies and outies as distinct individuals, it is hard not to see reintegration as a complete identity homicide. If a character manages to retain both their innie and outie memories at once, they will become a different person altogether.
Even the whole idea of Lumon denying the possibility of reintegration seems like a convenient plot device. When they already have established protocols to clean up innie memories and even ensure that the chips of dead individuals are recovered, why would they not believe that reintegration is a possibility? Not to mention, since Cobel herself invented the Severance procedure, why would they dismiss her for claiming reintegration can be done?
Reghabi, too, remains one of the underdeveloped and forcefully mysterious characters in the series. She keeps showing up and disappearing throughout the series without truly revealing her motives. With so many inconsistencies surrounding the reintegration storyline, it is hard not to see it as the biggest shortcoming in the show right now.
The Reintegration Story Can Make Or Break Severance In Season 3
Since the reintegration plot remained unexplored almost throughout season 2’s runtime, the Apple TV sci-fi show’s season 3 will likely explore it further. To ensure that it becomes one of the stronger story threads and concepts in the series, Severance must reveal more about Reghabi and the truth behind her intentions.
At the same time, it must also stop using Lumon’s blind eye towards reintegration as a convenient plot device. If Mark ends up completely reintegrating himself in Severance season 3, it would not make sense for the series to portray it as a cure for the split in his identity. Owing to this, the show must treat reintegration as a deeply destabilizing process.
Reintegration still feels like one of the trickiest plot lines the Apple TV show has to handle. However, considering how brilliantly seasons 1 and 2 were executed, one must be hopeful about Severance‘s future. Hopefully, the reintegration story will be handled well in season 3, and the brilliant Apple TV series will not disappoint with its future developments.
