This season (2024), with a two-year delay, I watched two of the standout shows from 2022, and they are definitely The Devil’s Hour and Severance. Both series captivate the audience with their unique storytelling styles, each allowing us to explore a distinctive world of its own. Let’s dive into each of these shows individually and then decide which one offers a deeper and more impactful experience.

The Devil’s Hour: Dark Mind-Future Games

The dark atmosphere of The Devil’s Hour immediately draws the audience in. The show centers around Lucy (Jessica Raine), a woman who wakes up every night at exactly 3:33 a.m., as strange events unfold around her. Lucy is a detective who intersects paths with a psychiatrist, but what makes this show unique is how time begins to feel like an ongoing mystery. This hour becomes not just a timeframe, but the symbolic center of the entire series.

Peter Capaldi’s performance is another factor that amps up the show’s tension. His character, with its calm demeanor and mystery, keeps the audience constantly on edge. The show’s greatest strength lies in its ability to push the boundaries of time and reality, forcing the audience to question more with each episode. With the past, present, and future intertwining in a complex narrative, diving into the characters’ subconscious becomes increasingly engaging with every new twist.

The show is not just a thriller, but also a psychological drama. The layered structure of the story becomes more profound with every new piece of information. It offers an experience that directs the viewer toward an unsolved puzzle.

Severance: A Deep Examination of Humanity and Identity

Severance is set in a dystopian world, revolving around a strange experiment in the workplace: Employees undergo a procedure called “severance” to separate their work and personal lives. This is where Severance stands out impressively in both the sci-fi and psychological drama genres.

Mark (Adam Scott) and the other employees perform their duties without remembering who they are at work. Living as two completely separate people each day raises harsh questions about identity and selfhood. Severance interrogates how human nature is trapped by the identities imposed by capitalism and the psychological effects of this structure. This not only makes the show highly watchable, but it also encourages deep reflection.

The show’s aesthetic, with its sterile office setting and minimalist design, gives the viewer a sense of stagnation. This cold and calculated atmosphere creates tension while also making the audience feel as though they are part of a dark dystopia. Furthermore, Ben Stiller’s direction strikes a balance between comedic elements and dramatic moments, making the show even more compelling.

Comparison: Mental Depth and Themes

Both shows are filled with mind games, constantly leaving the viewer with new questions. However, The Devil’s Hour delves more into time, fate, and the subconscious, while Severance focuses on themes of identity, memory, and the effects of capitalism on the individual.

The Devil’s Hour primarily presents itself as a thriller and psychological drama. Its questioning of time, murders, and mind manipulation creates a dark atmosphere. Watching it forces us to question what time is and how we perceive it. Additionally, the show’s acting and immersive atmosphere are quite strong.

On the other hand,

Severance is more of a social critique and a dystopian narrative. It delves deeply into the identity crisis, how work life contradicts personal life, and reflects on passive resistance within the workplace. Its storytelling is both terrifying and thought-provoking.

Conclusion: Which Show Is Better?

The Devil’s Hour and Severance belong to vastly different worlds, but both take the viewer on a profound intellectual journey. If you’re seeking a thrilling experience that confronts big concepts like time and fate, The Devil’s Hour is definitely your show. However, if you want to delve into the themes of work life, identity, and personal freedom, you might prefer Severance. Both shows succeed in being masterpieces in their own right, but which one you prefer depends on the type of story you’re seeking.

Both shows are among the best of this season, constantly presenting new questions that force you to challenge your own thoughts. Ultimately, deciding which one is more impactful is a deeply personal experience. If you’re looking for something to watch this season, I highly recommend adding both to your list.