Severance's 'Chikhai Bardo' Raises the Bar for Modern Sci‑Fi TV

Apple TV had been making interesting shows since its launch, but Severance established the service as a destination for science fiction. The first season stood out as a masterpiece, and the series reaches an emotional apex in Season 2 with the episode “Chikhai Bardo,” a philosophically arresting installment that expands a second‑tier character in a visceral, heartbreaking way.

One of Severance’s biggest early revelations is that the wellness counselor Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman) is actually Gemma, the wife of Mark (Adam Scott), previously believed dead. “Chikhai Bardo” is the first episode to tell events from Gemma’s perspective, giving Lachman room to shine.

The title’s reference to the Tibetan “moment of death” frames the episode’s exploration of loss through the growth and collapse of their relationship. Jessica Lee Gagné makes her Severance directorial debut here, bringing a different, more tactile non‑linear style than the series’ usual episodes.

severance, chikhai bardo, apple tv, dichen lachman, gemma, adam scott, ms. casey, season 2, gagné, science fiction