Severance is returning for season 2. Here's everything you need to know before watching

The highly anticipated Apple TV+ series "Severance" is finally returning to screens nearly three years after its premiere. This 2022 series, directed by Ben Stiller and starring an all-star cast including Adam Scott ("Parks and Recreation") and Patricia Arquette ("Medium"), has received multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations.

"Severance" has also become a cultural phenomenon: its fan page is in the top 1% of Reddit communities; it has its own Wikipedia page; and the trailer for the second season has garnered nearly 10 million views. The dark comedy thriller was one of the series most affected by the Hollywood strikes, with its production halted for months due to industrial action by the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild.

However, fans have used the show's long hiatus to meticulously examine Easter eggs and hidden clues from the first season. For those who haven't spent years discussing various fan theories, there is a lot to catch up on before the new season airs on Friday. Here's everything you need to know.

Warning: The following contains spoilers for season one.

Season One Recap: What is the show about?

In the first season, we are introduced to Mark, the protagonist who is an office worker at the mysterious Lumon Industries. Mark has undergone a procedure called "severance," which separates his memories of his work and home life. At the office, he doesn't know who he is outside; and at home, he doesn't remember his day at the office. Basically, Mark's "outie" goes to work at 9 am and then instantly it's 5 pm when he goes home. Meanwhile, his "innie" is forever stuck in the depressing office with fluorescent lights and the same hallways.

Mark is the head of the Microdata Refinement department, whose task is to seemingly randomly group numbers based on employees' emotional feelings. His team members include the joking Dylan (Zach Cherry) and the sensitive and sweet Irving (John Turturro). When new hire Helly arrives, the team is thrown into chaos as she launches an all-out rebellion against her new reality. Their bosses Milchick (Tramell Tillman) and Ms. Cobel (Arquette) try to control the situation, while the mysterious wellness counselor Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman) is responsible for keeping the peace.

Why was season one so popular?

"Severance" not only struck a chord with its compelling characters and unresolved mysteries, but also resonated with its "Black Mirror"-esque style that is similar to the real world. Critics praised "Severance" season one for being "visually gorgeous... a sci-fi for the soul," and lauded it as "a smart comedic drama" that "might just blow your mind." But its creator, Dan Erickson, had never stepped foot in a television studio before the show's success.

However, he had experienced many soul-crushing office jobs where he wished he could simply fast forward to the end of the day. Perhaps it is this setting based on real situations that makes the show so special.

How did "Severance" season one end?

The end of "Severance" season one is the Microdata Refinement team's act of rebellion. The plan? To activate their "innies" in the outside world and tell the public what it is really like to be an "innie." Irving wakes up to find that his "outie" room is full of creepy paintings of a dark hallway with an elevator that only goes down. He sets out to find his love interest Burt (Christopher Walken), who recently retired, effectively ending his life as an "innie." Irving is heartbroken when he sees Burt's "outie" happily with another man through the window.

Helly discovers that she is actually Helena Eagan, the daughter of current Lumon CEO James Eagan (Michael Siberry) and a descendant of the legendary Lumon founder Kier Eagan. Helena is the next heir to Lumon leadership, and she basically underwent the "severance" procedure for publicity purposes. When Mark wakes up, he manages to tell his sister Devon (Jen Tullock) some things about what goes on inside Lumon. But he is about to face some shocking truths. First, his "outie" knows Ms. Cobel. Although she was recently fired from Lumon, she is still in Mark's life, posing as his quirky neighbor Mrs. Selvig.

Second, he discovers the truth about his "outie" wife Gemma. She was supposed to be dead, but he now recognizes her as wellness counselor Ms. Casey. "She's alive!" he screams, before everyone is pulled back into their usual "outie" consciousness and the season ends.

What can we expect from season two?

So! A lot happened last season! And we haven't even delved into all of it. Someone discovered that a woman seems to have undergone the "severance" procedure to avoid the pain of childbirth—are there other "severed" people outside of Lumon? And then there's Ryaheb (Karen Aldridge), a former Lumon surgeon who disappeared after killing the company's head of security. This season will also have some new faces, with the expanded cast including Gwendoline Christie from "Game of Thrones," Bob Balaban from "Gosford Park," and Alia Shawkat from "Arrested Development."

Now that Mark knows Ms. Casey/Gemma's true identity, he seems determined to find her.

How are critics rating season two?

"Severance" season two currently has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics largely giving it rave reviews. The BBC called the new season "magical" and "more mind-bending than the first." The Hollywood Reporter called it "frustrating but fascinating," with a critique of corporate capitalism that is "chilling." Indie Wire said the new season is "deeper" and "darker," but added that it never feels "overcrowded [or] bogged down."

Empire Magazine simply summed it up: "The wait was worth it."

"Severance" season two premieres on Apple TV+ on Friday, January 17th.