The premiere introduces the concept of "severance," a medical procedure that surgically divides a person's memories between their work life and their personal life.
: Mark Scout, a grieving widower who works for Lumen Industries . [S1E1] What Have We Done?
: The department is located in a basement with seemingly infinite, sterile white hallways, emphasizing a sense of entrapment. The premiere introduces the concept of "severance," a