The primary episode of “Severance” season 2 had the unenviable process of following the present’s spectacular season 1 finale, and as a substitute of immediately offering solutions, it immerses viewers again into among the key mysteries established in season 1. The entire episode takes place inside the Lumon workplace, with no glimpses on the outdoors world or what the characters there could also be getting as much as. The one clues we get are by means of exposition given to Mark S. (Adam Scott) and the remainder of the gang, who’re instructed that their momentary escape on the finish of season 1 made them well-known and has led to main reforms in working situations for severed staff.
The occasions of the season 1 finale are recapped in an animated company tutorial video, which is proven to the Macrodata Refinement (or MDR) crew after all of them return to the workplace. Anybody who’s seen “The Matrix” or “John Wick” doubtless perked up initially of this scene, because the narrator for the video — an anthropomorphized model of the Lumon constructing — is voiced by Keanu Reeves.
You would not know that by trying on the credit, as Reeves goes uncredited. However if you happen to’ve seen any of his motion pictures, it is unattainable to not acknowledge that iconic voice, which not too long ago introduced Shadow the Hedgehog to life in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.” And if you happen to nonetheless doubt that the constructing is voiced by Neo himself, sequence creator Dan Erickson could have given the sport away throughout a latest interview with /Movie.
Keanu Reeves’ Severance cameo comes with some large questions
Whereas talking not too long ago with /Movie about “Severance” season 2, sequence creator Dan Erickson was coy about Keanu Reeves’ uncredited look. When requested in regards to the cameo, Erickson replied slyly, “I definitely don’t know what you possibly can be speaking about. I am not really accustomed to that actor.” He went on to ask cheekily, “Is that the man from ‘The Lake Home?'”
The probability of Reeves popping again up in some bigger function appears extremely unlikely, nevertheless it provides to the present’s absurdity to have such a recognizable voice backing the weird coaching video proven to MDR. The video itself raises plenty of questions, because it depicts the innies’ season 1 escape as each a violent revolt (known as the “Macrodat Rebellion”) and a vastly influential act for which the corporate is grateful. The “reforms” instituted because of this are definitely a type of marginal progress for innie rights, however they do not appear to essentially change issues all that a lot. In a method, the corporate appears to be utilizing the dangerous publicity of their escape to foster a brand new public picture of sort and courteous company overlords.
Keanu Reeves is not the one cameo within the unusual Lumon video
Whereas Keanu Reeves is the star of the claymation-style company coaching video in “Severance” season 2, episode 1, he is not the one notable title to voice a constructing with googly eyes in it. Comic Sarah Sherman, finest identified as of late as a forged member on “Saturday Evening Dwell,” additionally pops in ever so briefly as a water tower on the finish of the educational video. However in contrast to Reeves, Sherman is definitely credited for her one line.
Maybe due to how acclaimed and widespread “Severance” season 1 was, it appears to have turn out to be a scorching ticket for established names in Hollywood. Two of the momentary MDR replacements who seem in season 2 are performed by character actors Bob Balaban and Alia Shawkat, and casting information previous to the season 2 premiere confirmed that “Sport of Thrones” alum Gwendoline Christie shall be becoming a member of the present as properly.
With Reeves’ function being uncredited, it leaves open the potential of further cameos hidden in plain sight in later episodes. That is only one extra thriller for eagle-eyed “Severance” followers to be careful for as season 2 continues.