Though Easter eggs and hidden details are scattered almost everywhere inSeverance, mypersonal favorites are those that only a small portion of viewers should be able to find. Considered one of the best new TV shows of 2022, Apple TV+’sSeverancelaunched to become one of the most original and captivating sci-fi dramas in the modern TV landscape. AsSeverance’s eclectic cast of characterstry to uncover the secrets of Lumon Industries and the truths about their “innie” and “outie” lives, the show leaves plenty of Easter eggs to put together the big reveals and mysteries.
However, some of these clever Easter eggs have nothing to do with the plot itself or even the sci-fi genre. Rather,the ones that I most enjoy searching for have a personal connection toSeverance’s creator and writer Dan Erickson, who received an Emmy nomination for his writing in season 1. Erickson happens to hail from a town called Olympia, Washington, where I was also born and my family has lived for decades. Olympia may be the state capital, but it operates like a small town, and Erickson’s Easter eggs related to the area inSeverancehighlight this sentimentality.
I Love Catching Dan Erickson’s Severance Easter Eggs About Olympia, Washington – Where We’re Both From
From Eagan To The Tumwater File, Erickson Ties The Show Back To His Hometown
From the series premiere toSeverance’s season 1 finale, there are several subtle and not-so-subtle references to the town of Olympia that play varying roles in the story. The biggest – and most unmissable to those from the area – is the name of Lumon Industries’ founder, Kier Eagan.To Olympia residents, “Eagan” is a name most commonly associated with Eagan’s Drive In, a local burger joint and fast food business that’s been a staple in town since the late 1940s (if you’ve never been there, the signature “Goop” sauce is a must-have).
Severance Season 1’s Biggest Unanswered Questions & Headscratchers
Severance keeps the mystery alive as its season 1 finale leaves several questions unresolved, leaves new mysteries behind, and sets up season 2.
ConsideringHelly’s “Helena Eagan” reveal inSeveranceis one of the show’s biggest twists, the nod becomes a more meaningful tribute to Erickson’s hometown. Some of Erickson’s other references are more difficult to catch. For instance, Dylan is focused on finishingthe “Tumwater file” in the show’s premiere, which is a reference to the city in Washington that lies directly south of Olympia. Furthermore, Irving’s search into Burt’s “outie” life reveals that he lives on Gull Harbor Road, a real street in Olympia that leads out to Boston Harbor in the north part of the city.
Is Severance Supposed To Be Set In Washington?
The Easter Eggs Don’t Confirm Where Lumon Industries Is In The US
Though there are some key references to the Olympia, Washington area inSeveranceseason 1, that isn’t where Dan Erickson has set his acclaimed sci-fi TV show.Severanceis setseemingly in a fictional town, but was actually filmed around New Jersey and New York.The setting is meant to be somewhere around the New England area, with the state’s abbreviation being the fictional “PE.”
Severanceseason 2 is confirmed to premiere on June 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
Since much of the show only takes place inside the office, there aren’t too many clues about the general location of where Lumon Industries is set. However, asSeveranceseason 2dives deeper into the mysteries, the show’s setting could become more crucial to unraveling the secrets at Lumon. Whether that means revealing what “PE” is an abbreviation for or actually disclosing more details about whereSeverancetakes place, itseems the general New England setting will have to bear some importance in the plot.
Cast
Severance is a psychological thriller series featuring Adam Scott as Mark Scout, an employee at Lumon Industries who undergoes a “severance” procedure to separate his work and personal memories. However, as work and life personas mysteriously begin to collide, it quickly becomes clear that not all is as it seems. Created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle.
