Dan Erickson: The Mind Behind the ‘Severance’ Phenomenon
Before becoming the creator of the hit series “Severance,” Dan Erickson was just another aspiring writer trying to find his footing. After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, he moved to Los Angeles and took on temp jobs in small offices. It was during those long, repetitive workdays that the first spark of “Severance” emerged. Erickson began wondering: What if you could skip the entire workday and only “wake up” when it was time to go home? That simple yet unsettling idea became the foundation of his show.
“Severance” tells the story of employees whose memories have been surgically divided between their personal and professional lives. Inside the office, they have no recollection of their outside world, and vice versa. The series explores deep questions about identity, autonomy, and the ways corporations can control not just time but the self. For Erickson, the concept was personal, shaped by his own experience in uninspiring jobs that blurred the line between routine and detachment.
Erickson has always been drawn to stories that blend humor with mystery. His work is influenced by the dark, speculative tone of “Black Mirror” and the satirical, human-centered writing of Kurt Vonnegut. Today, he’s widely recognized for creating one of the most original and thought-provoking shows on television.
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1. What is the main concept behind the series Severance?
2. How does the memory system work for the employees in the show?
3. Which two major influences shaped Erickson’s storytelling style?
4. Where did Erickson study before moving to Los Angeles?
1. Would you want your work and personal memories separated like in Severance? Why or why not?
2. How do you think memory affects our sense of identity?
3. What makes Severance stand out from other workplace dramas or sci-fi series?
4. Can speculative fiction help us better understand real-life societal issues? How?
Before becoming the creator of the hit series “Severance,” Dan Erickson was just another aspiring writer trying to find his footing. After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, he moved to Los Angeles and took on temp jobs in small offices. It was during those long, repetitive workdays that the first spark of “Severance” emerged. Erickson began wondering: What if you could skip the entire workday and only “wake up” when it was time to go home? That simple yet unsettling idea became the foundation of his show.
