Severance Episode 4 | EXPLAINED

[@-ATM32]

These videos are ridiculously under appreciated for the quality. Commenting for algorithm.

[@haxDOGMA]

Thank you so much!

[@lirasays928]

Most definitely!! These deep dives are so helpful because there is just so much going on in this show. I think I must have watched the whole season about 5 times already, and each time I see things that I missed before.

[@BeatriceBambino]

As soon as Helly watched Helena telling her "you are not a person" and realizing her outtie would never help her to get out, I knew she would have tried to off herself. From what we had been showed about her charachter so far, it was the only "logical" thing to do for her

[@2tuxcat]

Yup. Much smarter move would be a play like “I need a second job to pay my family bills / cancer treatment of our little daughter” etc. However a hard approach seems to be in line with her outie’s character.

[@bes5507]

Theatrically, Helly would end up “dying” if Helena would’ve actually left the company.. so she’d died either way 😩😩

[@Lucia-iy4nn]

i find it interesting how the daughter told him 'maybe shutting off your brain for 8 hours a day isn't the best way to process bad times' like Petey and Mark chose the severance for the same motive

[@BeatriceBambino]

There is a scene where Milchick reads Ricken's book and laughs in bewilderment. Then Helly tries to escape so he runs to get her. So it's plausible that he just forgot about the book. Also, you mention the very visible cameras when Irving finds the book; however, cameras are very present throughout the episodes, regardless of what's going on - I think it's just a way to show us just how controlled the innies feel, however in the second to last episode they discover that no one's actually watching (except cobel): "maybe it's enough that we THINK they are always watching". Which by the way is similar to how modern surveillance works. So I think rickon's book slipping through is actually just an oversight.

[@nicholasleemarks]

I agree! I think there may be something to HD’s theory of Milchik having his own agenda and viewing Cobel as competition rather than a coworker… but in this scene I think the emergency causes him to forget about the book entirely

[@jackredeye2079]

I rarely comment (sorry KZbin) but you’re joke about humanity 2,000 years from now examining the human condition through KZbin comments made me smile :). Maybe the AI of the future will have hot takes on Severance Season 1 episodes thanks to you and your commenting community! I’m loving the deep analysis and overthink and enjoying watching through all of them!

[@haxDOGMA]

Glad to have your voice in the conversation Jack. When AI has replicated us in the matrix, I would like to have a beer and talk about tv shows together 🍻

[@brynezuege6495]

The Picture of Egan looking over the waters; The shape of the lakes reminds me of the Great Lakes, with his foot sitting right where Chicago is located.

[@juliecarter2439]

I saw that too

[@methebee]

Outie Mark was wearing red. Innie Mark wears blue. The robe he gives to reintegrated Petey is red and blue stripes.

[@2tuxcat]

7:44 fun fact: Adam Scott auditioned for Jim’s role in The Office. You can even find his audition recordings on KZbin

[@hill9948]

The water that Kier was standing over resembled the Great Lakes. Check it out on a map and see if you agree. Also, “Hello future beings! We’re sorry that a few powerful people destroyed our planet and made us pay for it. We never wanted the oil drilling, pollution or mining but we were powerless to stop the rich and powerful.”

[@Aerie925]

I only came across this show about a month ago as I finally decided to take the plunge and download AppleTV+. This show is so Black Mirror-esque. I love sci-fi and when I needed something to watch while I was doing laundry one day. It did take me a few episodes to really greet into the show, but I ended up loving it. I got my sister to watch it and she loved it too. So glad that I don’t have to wait long for S2. Hopefully, if there is a S3, it won’t be two plus years before the release it.

[@haxDOGMA]

@@Aerie925 I love it so much! Also, the writers strike played a big ole in the delay, hopefully that won’t happen again haha

[@markchapman5811]

So happy you are breaking down this show. Not just because of the upcoming season 2 but because of the quality of your breakdowns. I love all the little details you catch that I could never.

[@dfalus]

im sure these videos will pickup thanks for your dedication

[@KB-313]

especially with season 2 coming.

[@brennanbarnes7628]

Hey Hax, been a fan since the Westworld coverage. Two things I wanted to mention to add to your excellent video. First, I'm 100% with you on there being a marked difference between Lumon as they are and OG Kier followers. Cobel certainly comes off as an OG Kier follower to me, specifically her actions in the next episode all but confirm to me that she's VERY pro Kier but VERY anti Lumon. I could also buy Rickon being in essence Kier reborn somehow but then I'm at a loss for Cobel's seeming contempt for Rickon...That also sorta tails into my second point which is that the location of the story seems significant. Mark & co could have been living anywhere, they establish that Severence is nation-wide with varying levels of success/support but the show takes place in Kier, a town named after the founder of the company. I'd be surprised if that's not majorly significant to the story, it IS full of weird people, severed or not... Can't wait for your next video!

[@MrsS3lfDestruct]

My dude. I am rewatching season 1 in preparation for season 2 and I am so excited to see you covered Severance! You go so much more in depth than others on KZbin, and have been ever since you started your WestWorld coverage. So glad I'll be able to watch your commentary through season 2... The painting that shows Kier overlooking the lakes is suspiciously reminiscent of a painting called "Wanderer above the Sea of Fog" by Caspar David Friedrich and I have to guess there's a connection there.

[@Thisisafineday]

I'm watching this 3 months from when you made this. FANTASTIC WORK!

[@bellesaved]

Truly appreciate these great breakdowns

[@TheHi-NoteFunClub-BeatsByMike]

The poem, at least in part, is defining the "realness" of destiny. It ABSOLUTELY exists, but it is not a function of the FUTURE - it is a perspective of the present observing the past - in that, any action, event, or behavior that occurs HAD to occur... Because it DID happen. Its the ONLY way to not just conceptualize but KNOW what would otherwise be an UN-knowable destiny. NOBODY can predict the future - only do their best to shape what actions, events, and behaviors (that are, hopefully, beneficial) WILL come to pass. This parallels the comment the poem is making toward the question of "why". In our venacular, we say "why is the most important question". Well... Maybe... If its from the perspective of "beginning the process of questioning." Otherwise, "why" is actually, and more simply, a surface level/default question one could start with, but it essentially adds an unecessary step/diminishes efficiency with additional complexity of the overall process of "questioning to ascertain, first, information, then understanding." By that, I mean... "Why" is a question associated with human intent, with a person's motives, beliefs, etc... its a question about someone else's thought processes (though, in everyday conversation you'll more often hear the question of "why" posed when the context of the communication suggests the, uh, question in question is actually HOW). As such (and with someone else DIRECTLY communicating their intent/motives/beliefs/etc... being the standard/best way to know the answer to another person's "why"), if there is an uncertainty as to what a person's motives, beliefs, etc... are, finding the answer to another person's "why" can only really be ascertained by finding answers to all of the OTHER important questions associated with any given action, event, or behavior. Specifically: we come to understand "why" by establishing what the whos, whats, whens, wheres, and hows are. Asking "why" first just becomes a waste of time from that perspective, because you need to first obtain and then process the "real" info of who, what, when, where, and how to yield, as close to a concrete idea as to what some other person's "why" is (again, if the answer to "why" is not available directly from that other person). Does that make sense?

[@KB-313]

I've been waiting! :D Well worth the wait.

[@willchase3450]

I love these breakdown, and really appreciate your insight into the show. Much more in-depth than many others. Hope you finish off the season before S2.

[@mrmadmax420]

what a great way to end a friday with! love these vids, keep up the great work

[@little.miss.flawless.70]

Me over here thinking I have some big brain thoughts... but my little heart is breaking thinking Burt doesn't, on some level, love Irv. I didn't even consider it before your series

[@CSLintheCASINO]

YESSS!!! Keep ‘em coming Hax

[@SilkBuckets]

i love these videos, cant wait for season 2!!

[@Lucia-iy4nn]

i love irving and burt

[@jodynelson2055]

I think we are meant to believe that Michek forgot about Ricken’s book and they’ve kept it hidden well enough that management didn’t notice.

[@mckashee]

Thoroughly enjoying these videos. Thanks!

[@Keyawnce]

15:34 touch TIPS

[@Shakes_The_Clone]

Hax to the Max

[@jodynelson2055]

Love these videos. Thank you so much.

[@itchimo82]

Did anyone else see the Great Lakes in the painting with Kier looking upon the land? This must be what a Catholic feels like when they see the V Mary, LOL. But for real...it's totally there.

[@rabbitfishtv]

Yeah, just noticed it on this watch-through! The Great Lakes are definitely a resource that people are eyeing. It’s also half-owned by another sovereign country (my country), but this raises questions of corporate control taking over for governmental control, corporations who are working to dissolve inconvenient borders. So Keir’s vision transcends individual countries, and seeks control of the world on its own terms.

[@itchimo82]

@rabbitfishtv "world as your appendage"

[@jason_ityk]

So good. You should have so many more subs

[@nightowl8477]

Hi Hax! I think I've commented this before, but your analysis of Westworld is something I think about daily, and has changed me as a person (in terms of moving from intaking and spreading negative data, to positive data). I just rewatched Season 2 with all of your themes of determinism and mental health in mind, and this really is the most important story of the 21st Century. I really really do understand the show now I think. The wolf in the Sublime, the speeches about everything ending, Ford's and Arnold's backstories being the key Insight to it all. I say all this to ask - will you ever make a video about what you imagine Season 5 would have been? Since we've already seen so much of it, and you can piece together the rest? I think I have a good idea, but I know you'd have *the* idea. It would be amazing to have one more Westworld video, but it's your choice.

[@haxDOGMA]

@@nightowl8477 what an incredible comment to get first thing in the morning, thank you night owl! Without any doubt, this will happen! I have shared my thoughts on what I imagined Season Five would look like in one of the last WW videos I made, if I recall correctly, but I don’t think I have a video dedicated to imagining Season Five in detail. Only a matter of time :D

[@nightowl8477]

@@haxDOGMA - thank *you* for your empathy in being able to understand the show's message! (a message it's been shouting the exact opposite of every season, because that's how the show writes its reveals, and this was surely going to be the One Last Mindfuck around the bend. But to see the show's true meaning in spite of all that reverse psychology, is very special).

[@rabbitfishtv]

In the painting, “Kier invites you to drink of his water,” the water is in the shape of the Great Lakes! Just noticed!

[@KennyVert]

Really great analysis! Looking forward to season 2 in January.

[@regularartist699]

31:50 idk if this means anything but the lake in the middle kinda looks lime the great lakes

[@papabear5506]

Everything digital is ephemeral. When civilization falls again, future humanity will redevelop digital technology and marvel at how backwards we were for never having figured it out, just as we do with past advanced cultures. If you look carefully you'll find that the peoples of the past clearly had far better, more comprehensive technology than we do now, and that it was ubiquitous. This is certainly not our first go-around. There is nothing new under the sun.

[@EvilKrista.]

Is it my own pareidolia that's seeing something framed behind the headboard in the darkness of the painting of Kier as a boy, or is that just me?...Also, the sheer disparity about who they are on the outside verses who they are on the inside, the inside people essentially being blank slates reduced down to WHAT they are, rather than the WHO they are with all of their life experiences is so spooky. Cobel being framed with the finger trap while asked about the board, and then having it framed while pulled to its furthest extent when looking at Mr. Grainer is wild...why is all of this beginning to feel like one big eugenics project and the code they are trashing is genetic.

[@Murdoink]

40:01 almost spat out my drink

[@anneh4940]

In the painting of young Keir on his sickbed, looking close, I think his neck is wrapped in a dark shawl or scarf, rather than his shirt being two-colored.

[@Tiamoya23]

Just started this show and i watch ur show right after🎉🎉🎉

[@BeatriceBambino]

You seem opposed to the idea that kier was a very weird individual who started to consider himself as a god. Sure, lumon could have purposefully modified his Word to fit their needs, but you said "if kier existed and was a smart prolific dude, he woulnd't tell people to not explore other literature or knowlege". But why?? His life story could have led him to think of himself as a superior being, as a God, and see his own philosophical writing the same as the Bible. Being smart and prolific has nothing to do with hybris.

[@munchiekins]

Intelligence does not mean Wisdom 😅

[@BeatriceBambino]

@@munchiekins exactly!

[@Keyawnce]

Not exactly 4 months later

[@punctualwizard]

11:54 Irving is nakama

[@CSLintheCASINO]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@cattiedoggie8]

It’s all about time: it doesn’t exist in the show: Birth and death circuitous…several women pregnant/having babies and being severed to endure the births; reincarnation (in whatever form - just the mind into new body?); the entire set and accouterments are anachronistic - mid-century - 1980s - in the future? - the painting ‘The Youthful Convalesence…’ “rise up from your deathbed and sally forth” - collecting data from severed-parties’ brains; Jame to Helly (maybe later in show): I will see you at my revolution (rebirth into new body kind of like half-alive Ms. Casey/Gemma)??? Kier through the “words and actions” of his employees lives on 😮

[@Ayelord_khory]

Again we out here

[@KennyVert]

Also, I think what you say at 5:55 is really profound.

[@Tao_Tology]

10:19 'wisened hands', pronounced "wizzened hands" Unless you meant their hands really had become wiser? 😏

[@2tuxcat]

40:23 Or maybe Ricken is painted as detached snob because that’s how many “good citizens” (wake up early, work hard etc.) perceive leftists’ ideas and theorists. Btw author of The Communist Manifesto Karl Marx also had a financial safety net (mostly from his friend, Engels). Which in hindsight I do not perceive as being hypocritical. If you work all day for survival you do not have capacity to take a step back and describe system (class struggle etc.) from the outside (writing alone just take time and requires fresh mind etc.).

[@CSLintheCASINO]

….one more comment for the algorithm 😉

[@QuizKidPatrick]

😀