The wait is almost over for fans of the Apple TV Plus series Severance, as season 2 is set to premiere on January 17th. Entertainment editor Andrew Webster got an early look at the new season and reports that it's just as intense and unsettling as the first, with the show's creators pushing the boundaries of the sci-fi thriller's universe in fascinating new ways.

For those who need a refresher, Severance is centered on Lumon Industries, a tech giant that has developed a mind-splitting procedure to ensure employees working on sensitive projects can't leak company secrets. The "severance" procedure creates a separate persona, known as an "innie," which exists solely in the company's basement, with no knowledge of the outside world. The first season ended on a cliffhanger, with innie Mark (Adam Scott) discovering his wife was alive, just before switching back to his "outie" persona.

Season 2 picks up where the first left off, with Mark returning to the Macrodata Refinement wing, where he's greeted by a new crew of innies. As the story unfolds, Mark and his colleagues Helly (Britt Lower), Irving (John Turturro), and Dylan (Zach Cherry) work to uncover the truth about their existence and the mysterious projects they're working on. The new season expands the show's universe, introducing new characters, including a child supervisor named Miss Huang (Sarah Bock), and exploring the blurring lines between innies and outies.

The show's creators have done an impressive job of building on the first season's success, with the new season's first six episodes (out of 10) offering a gripping and unsettling ride. The series continues to explore the darker side of corporate power and control, with Lumon Industries exerting an extraordinary amount of influence over its employees' lives. The show's themes are particularly relevant in today's tech-driven world, where companies like Apple, the platform streaming Severance, wield significant power over our daily lives.

One of the standout aspects of Severance is its ability to balance its weird and unsettling atmosphere with a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition. The show's use of sci-fi elements serves as a commentary on the dangers of unchecked corporate power and the consequences of playing with the fundamental nature of human identity.

In conclusion, season 2 of Severance is shaping up to be just as intense and thought-provoking as the first. With its unique blend of sci-fi thrills and corporate horror, the show is a must-watch for fans of the genre. Mark your calendars for January 17th, when Severance season 2 premieres on Apple TV Plus.