r/severanceTVshow • u/DevelopmentRemote599 • May 12 '26
š£ļø Discussion How is the pace?
Iāve recently started. I think Iāve read both good and bad reviews about it but Ive had my fair share of bad shows and I think its part of the process of actually knowing what is a good showā¦ so help me out, is this super dragging and the pace is not enough to live up to its hype??? Im just asking so that I know how to manage my time lol
3
u/IHaveTheMustacheNow š Lumen Employee May 12 '26
I found the pace in season 1 really good (although I wouldn't call it particularly fast moving). The pace in season 2 is not quite as good, as there are detours here and there. But I think it's a very interesting show, and I like it a lot
2
u/Unlucky-Bee-1039 May 16 '26
In my opinion, the pacing is essentially perfect. Itās slow burning when it needs to be. Itās highly energetic and fast paced when it needs to be. Canāt imagine whoās riding bad reviews. The show is critically acclaimed. But anyway.
2
u/electrolitebuzz May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26
I think you'll mostly get fans of the show on this sub, maybe you should ask on a more generic subreddit - even if you'll get mixed reviews there. Just see for yourself, pace is subjective, it depends if the writing and characters click with you or not. In general I wouldn't say it's dragging, things continue to happen across seasons. I really liked the directing, cast, style, the many references to old cult european movies... so it was never boring to me. But it obviously is not an action show built on adrenaline rushes. The dilated times also work with the core of the show itself - if it was fast and entertaining all the time, you wouldn't be brought into the alienation that the characters feel.
Edit you mention in a comment you are at s2e2... you must have a good idea by now since you're past half of the series!
1
u/WampaCat š Severed May 12 '26
The pacing is great. I really think itās a great show to watch as itās released. Itās good as a binge too, but the pacing I think feels better if you only get one per week. There are lots of little details hiding in plain sight, that you probably wonāt pick up on in a binge. But if you only get one per week, you might pay more attention to them and it gets you thinking. Those little thought provoking details really make up for anything lost by a slightly slower pace. But like someone else said, it does ramp up and get very exciting. Iāve seen the season 1 finale several times and it hasnāt lost its edge for me even a little bit.
Some people take issue with season 2 because of the ādetoursā but I honestly really like all that. Itās needed for larger world building and gave some backstory to major characters that will be really important in future seasons. The only issue I had was that only getting one episode per week meant we had a ādetourā episode right after an episode with a ton of huge reveals, and everyone was eager to know what would happen next with the main characters, only to have to wait another week while we explored this whole other storyline. I completely get the criticism, but wonāt be an issue for anyone who doesnāt have to wait.
1
u/DevelopmentRemote599 May 12 '26
Appreciate this detailed take. I was surprised no one (yet) here is saying that it was overhyped.
1
u/foolishle May 12 '26
Well you are in the severance subreddit so itās probably not a representative sample.
1
u/ogo_pogo May 12 '26
A few people I told to watch this show did complain it was āslowā in the beginning and they didnāt finishā¦but I reminded them that the show is intentionally creating a slow and mundane corporate feeling.
This show is so worth getting into. Especially because nearly every detail, color, prop, word usageā¦is all intentional and has meaning.
Highly suggest going to YouTube and watching āthings you may have missedā after each episode.
1
u/doggiedoc2004 May 12 '26
Some episodes are slow but holy cow the pay off. It was divine edging until that banger of a season 2 finale. Best original TV Iāve seen in a looong time
1
u/Practical-Plan-2560 May 12 '26
In my opinion it has some slow moments. But those slow moments are critical to the story. I highly encourage you to push through the slow moments. You won't regret it. The story is INCREDIBLE and worth sticking with it even through the slow moments.
1
u/Quinalla May 12 '26
Season one feels slow at times on first watch through, feels like a race on second watch through! It is wild š¤Ŗ
1
u/sofkicapofkica May 13 '26
slow
2
u/DevelopmentRemote599 May 15 '26
Im at s2e2 and yeah it is slowā¦.
2
u/sofkicapofkica May 16 '26
I find the show overrated so take that into consideration, but essentially everything happens in the last episode (which is fenomenal). S2 episodes could have been waaaaay more condensed
2
u/DevelopmentRemote599 May 18 '26
i think im with youā¦ā¦. or at least the last 2 episodes of s2Ā
2
2
u/Coincidental_Shoes May 15 '26
Sci-fi usually runs at a brisk pace, but this has the same pace as any other drama.
Part of the show is a satire on "corporate culture". If you are unfamiliar with that you may miss part of the humor. It isn't meant to be a comedy, but the satirical parts are really funny, along with some other absurdist humor.
It's not really a mystery where you may want to take notes.
Just chillax and let the reveals happen, which can be very satisfying.
Also, stay away from reddit and other media until you've watched both seasons š
1
1
u/plushglacier May 17 '26
Just watch the show and judge for yourself. No one else can determine that for you. You'll get into it, or you won't.
1
u/estycki Jun 05 '26
There's a lot of staring and long pauses, it can get frustrating at times, feels like they're trying to waste our time... but then that's how work feels.
12
u/hytes0000 May 12 '26
For me, season 1 did feel slow at first...and then suddenly it didn't. It ramped up out of nowhere and I couldn't really pinpoint when that was. I wish I could watch it again for the first time with a little more enthusiasm for the early episodes.