Ms. Casey asked to enjoy things equally, but Severance is a brilliant show, but like any other piece in television, some episodes are highlighted and enjoyed more than the others. Whether it's because of a plot twist or a captivating performance, viewers have their reasons and favorites. Sorry, Ms. Casey.
With the AppleTV+ series remaining one of the most popular titles in the platform's catalog, the episode ratings on IMDb are significant, showing the chapters that were the most successful. From jazz moves to melon parties, which is the best Severance episode of all?
"In Perpetuity" - 7.8
Irving's abilities as a tour guide have nothing to do with this episode having the lowest rating on the IMDb list. The third episode of season 1, "In Perpetuity", is a deep dive into the show's world-building, as the refiners decide to take Helly to the Perpetuity Wing.
All the excellence standards of the series are met: MDR crosses paths with O&D in the hallway, and they act like children, Helly tries to escape one more time, being taken to the Break Room, and viewers rejoice in learning more about the Eagan family. The lowest rating probably comes from this episode being well-balanced instead of agitating, which doesn't make it a bad story, just a more comfortable watch.
"The Grim Barbarity Of Optics And Design" - 7.8
This episode's title is enticing on its own, and it shares many similarities with "In Perpetuity", including the same rating. The 5th episode focuses on the role of O&D, but rather than giving answers, only points out more questions about Lumon and its need to reinforce conspiracies among different departments.
As Irving and Burt form the best couple in the show, they confront the myth behind "The Grim Barbarity of Optics and Design", a bloody painting that seems to have the purpose of pitting Irving against Burt. Like episode 3, this one is a marvelous piece of writing that explores the Lumon universe without shocking revelations. That might explain its rating, but it doesn't mean it's a boring watching experience, especially for fans of the sweet pairing.
"Hide And Seek" - 8.0
This episode is a perfect "turning the tide" point in season 1's arc. With basic world-building elements already established, "Hide and Seek" is the moment where the show starts to challenge the viewer more incisively. The stakes begin to feel higher, and so does the rating.
Refiners visit the O&D department as Ms. Cobel creepily becomes closer to Mark's niece. On top of that, Mark decides to meet Reghabi, setting the scene for what's next and showing viewers that they are in for a ride.
"Half Loop" - 8.0
Following AppleTV+'s pattern of releasing more than one episode in the show's premiere, "Half Loop" is an excellent part-two episode that helps the viewer understand more of the story's tone.
As the Severance episode that ignites narrative arcs such as Irving's and Petey's, this episode is a window at what Macrodata Refinement does, and of course, it raises more questions than answers. That makes the viewer want to stick to this story, which explains its great rating.
"Good News About Hell" - 8.1
With the shot of Helly on top of a table, Severance took off boldly, and boldness is all this episode is about. It's not usual for a debut to have such a high rating since the first episodes are shots in the dark, but "Good News About Hell" showed what the anticipated AppleTV+ series was here for.
The introduction to the world of Lumon is honest, taking the audience directly to the point where the story begins. From the start, the viewer can sense the eerie atmosphere that accompanies the whole season, which shows why this episode has an excellent rating.
"The You You Are" - 8.3
This episode is named after the highlight of this chapter: Irving coming across Ricken's book, "The You You Are", in the conference room. The book, a comedy hit in the show's fandom community, triggers the main events that are developed until the finale.
Because of that, the fourth episode is crucial for Severance's story arc, which likely demonstrates why it has such a high rating. Even though some fans dislike Petey's funeral scene, this is when the series started preparing the stage for massive revelations.
"Defiant Jazz" - 8.9
"Defiant Jazz" was indeed defiant. It's no surprise that this is the first episode out of three to have the highest IMDb ratings of season 1. The MDE experience being canceled by a freshly-bitten Mr. Milchick only contributed to this excellent rating and showed how innovative this episode was.
Sharing the same rating as the subsequent chapter, the seventh episode offers jazz, heartbreak, and the outstanding revelation about Mark's "dead" wife, Gemma/Ms. Casey to the sound of the magnificent Billie Holiday. With that combination, it's easy to see why viewers enjoyed this one.
"What's For Dinner?" - 8.9
Is the superb rating of "What's For Dinner?" due to how wholesome Irving B. looked walking with Radar? Probably, yes, but not only that. The highly-anticipated episode was a game-changer, giving viewers the first look at Irving's outie and bringing new questions that were turned into fan theories in Severance's fan community.
These elements make this episode a brilliant bridge between the equally-rated "Defiant Jazz" and the captivating finale. It's at this point audiences start to realize season 1 is ending, though they have no clue how. With outies and innies mingling, this rating is nothing but a consequence of how well-written the eighth episode is.
"The We We Are" - 9.8
Unsurprisingly, the season finale has a nearly-perfect rating on IMDb. And how could it not? Mark's innie meets Ricken, Helly discovers she's an Eagan, Irving sees Burt once again, and Dylan is crowned "The Goat".
"The We We Are" combines the best elements of the series, but not without offering a new perspective to audiences. The purposefully ever-flowing episode encapsulates Severance's brilliance, making this rating an accurate reflex of what season 1 brought to television. Ms. Casey can remove points in the wellness session for this preference, but on IMDb, the finale remains the series' best episode.