The props that make Severance unforgettable - Cat Miller’s coolest insights from the Severed podcast

Every hallway, desk, and prop in Severance's fluorescent-lit alternate reality hides a secret.

It's no fluke, to say the least! One watermelon carving and blood-scanning tool at a time, Cat Miller (the show's prop master) quietly contributes to the hypnotic look of the Apple TV+ show.

In a recent Severed podcast episode, Miller revealed various behind-the-scenes facts. So, now we know that the show's harsh setting has roots in Lumon Industries' tangible objects and not just in its excellent acting.

And we have the most juicy tidbits because of an educational X (formerly Twitter) thread by user @kestrelofherran. Lumon's lifeless world feels extremely real thanks to Miller's work, from Cobel's finicky rabbits to melons that stand for rebellion.

Let’s dig into the major props of Severance, shall we?

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Four rabbits, one Cobel, and a road trip

As it happens, Harmony Cobel's bunnies are just plain cute!

Miller mentioned that because these cuddly co-stars "tend to break down in the cold," Severance production had at least four stand-in rabbits.

Also, Cobel (Patricia Arquette) frequently performed her own stunts while driving, such as the one with the sudden U-turn in front of the Salt Neck sign. So if you had been thinking she was a backseat villain, you need to think twice!

Even the cars were carefully selected to fit into the show's aesthetic with their muted hues and vintage design elements. Lumon has been planned like a creepy art exhibit instead of being barely designed for the set.

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The rebellious watermelon on Severance

Do you remember the oddly detailed watermelon sculpture from Severance Season 1? It was more than just an odd-shaped snack. The vibrant red fruit stood for "blood and fire and this resistance that was happening," Miller said.

Initially, she thought melons with complex carvings looked "angry" or "vomiting," but that's precisely what Lumon's brewing conflicts were like.

Finding the right fruit for Irving's head centerpiece took much time. To appeal to Lumon's "innies," the team went looking for a rare Black Beauty watermelon, but carving it was almost impossible. So what they did was that, except for the actual watermelon Dylan bites into, it's a foam head!

That's SOME commitment to realism.

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What's behind a keyboard on Severance?

Miss Huang’s keyboard? Made by hand and deliberately impractical. Miller revealed that some keys don’t work, and Lumon’s tech approach to design is firmly rooted in right-handedness. This confirms that the company wouldn’t bother developing devices for left-handed employees.

“[They] wouldn’t accommodate such things,” she chuckled.

Even the well-known blood-drawing hand scanner is a working prop with actual tubing inside. Blood was then added in post-production, so the only thing it doesn't do is prick you.

Fun fact: in case a nurse needed to use her left hand, they briefly looked at a version with two thumbs and six fingers.

Like Lumon --- creepy and productive!

Miller's details explain why Severance feels both conscious and cramped. Props are a part of psychological warfare. Lumon feels more real because of the quiet threat these seemingly meaningless objects give off.

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We're in for a ride if Severance Season 3 has the same level of visuals as its earlier seasons! You can catch the first two seasons on Apple TV+ till then.

NEXT UP: What's the G.O.A.T. of the psychological thriller genre?