Severance creator Dan Erickson has acknowledged that a specific Black Mirror episode directly inspired his acclaimed Apple TV+ series. Both series have captivated audiences with their dark visions of technological advancement and power exploitation.
The dystopian narratives of the shows also share thematic DNA, exploring workplace alienation and corporate control. Most importantly, the shows stand as some of the crucial, thought-provoking examinations of a tech-driven future.
Is Black Mirror connected to Severance and how?
According to Severance maker Dan Erickson, Black Mirror Season 2 Episode 4 inspired him to make the sci-fi Apple TV series. In “White Christmas,” viewers witness a world where someone’s consciousness can be “used” as per convenience.
From giving someone “remote” dating guidance in real time using their retinas as a camera to digital clones and more, the specific Black Mirror episode urged viewers to look into the expansion of artificial intelligence and how it will affect the subconsciousness of people.
The ultimate message from the episode starring Jon Hamm and Rafe Spall was human emotions are prone to be vulnerable in the face of all-knowing artificial intelligence. Viewers can also draw direct comparisons between cookies (digital clones) and innies of Severance.
Erickson talked about his initial feelings after watching the episode. He told the The New York Times in 2022, “I remember feeling so cold and afraid after seeing that, this devastating idea of having to experience this endless solitude.” He also drew a comparison between cookies and Helly R’s innie, who tried to escape Lumon.
The 41-year-old screenwriter explained, “It’s this nightmare of running out a door and then you’re just running back in. You realize you’re truly stuck in this liminal space with this kind of nightmare logic.”
Apart from Black Mirror, Erickson also listed Kurt Vonnegut’s work as his inspiration. He talked about the plot of his 1963 novel, noting, “I think a lot about the development of ice-nine, this world-destroying technology that everybody agrees shouldn’t exist but is almost birthed into existence by the bureaucracy.”
Just like that, “at Lumon,” there is “extreme corporatization of everything,” Erickson added. The very process-oriented mindset supersedes even “humanity,” the writer said, adding, “I feel like that’s kind of a scary Vonnegutesque idea.”
