Severance takes place in an intentionally ambiguous, alternate timeline that is “vaguely now-ish.” Creator Dan Erickson has not confirmed a specific year, so the clearest answer to “What year is Severance set in?” is: no exact year is established.
When does Severance take place?
Erickson described the setting as “around now” and “sort of an alternate, vaguely now-ish timeline.” He also said the show is not meant to be set ten years in the future, after severance technology has been invented and normalized. His comments point to a near-contemporary setting, but not to a particular calendar year. TheWrap’s interview with Erickson is the clearest on-record explanation.
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| 1 |
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Severance: Season 1 | $18.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Severance [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41YMZCOgtsL._SL160_.jpg)
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Severance [Blu-ray] | $19.52 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Severance - Series 1 [Blu-ray] [Region A & B & C]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41H7RjkDq4L._SL160_.jpg)
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Severance - Series 1 [Blu-ray] [Region A & B & C] | $41.07 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Severance | Buy on Amazon | |
| 5 |
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Severance: Season 1 Blu-ray | Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette | Region B (Australia) | $31.11 | Buy on Amazon |
Why can the setting feel like another era?
The office’s retro details are not proof that the story takes place in a specific past decade. In his creator AMA, Erickson explained that “Lumon wants to disorient the worker in time and space, further separating them from their Outie life.” The show’s period-blending look serves that disorientation rather than establishing a historical date. Erickson’s AMA gives that context.
Apple describes the premise as Lumon employees undergoing a procedure that “surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives.” That split between work and personal identity is central to the series, while its exact in-story year remains unspecified. Apple’s series page summarizes the premise.
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Are the release dates the same as the story’s dates?
No. Apple announced that season one premiered globally on February 18, 2022, and its series page lists January 17, 2025, as season two’s release date. Those are dates when viewers could watch the show, not confirmed dates for Mark Scout’s story. Apple’s season-one announcement and its series page identify the release chronology.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette
Rank #4
Rank #3
- Drama, Blu-Ray
Rank #2
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