Severance’s "The After Hours": A Deep Dive into Twilight Zone Echoes

The latest episode of Severance, titled "The After Hours," sent waves through the fanbase, sparking a flurry of theories and analyses. For those familiar with the annals of classic television, the episode title itself might have triggered a distinct memory: the iconic Twilight Zone episode of the same name. Before the Severance episode even aired, some keen-eyed viewers on X (formerly Twitter) had already flagged the potential connection, suggesting a Twilight Zone viewing as preparation.

And indeed, the parallels are undeniable. The creators of Severance, who have undoubtedly drawn inspiration from The Twilight Zone’s brand of eerie social commentary throughout the series, appear to have intentionally incorporated elements of Rod Serling’s masterpiece into their narrative. This connection, coupled with the recent revelation that another Twilight Zone episode influenced Ryan Coogler’s upcoming horror film, "Sinners," underscores the enduring power and relevance of The Twilight Zone in our increasingly bizarre world. It serves as a potent reminder that it’s never a bad time to revisit (or discover) this timeless series.

Spoilers for both 2025’s Severance episode and 1960’s Twilight Zone episode "The After Hours" follow.

In the Severance episode, Cobel finds herself navigating a bizarre exchange with a security guard to grant Devon (and the clandestinely hidden Mark) access to a secluded cabin. This cabin, they believe, will serve as a conduit, allowing Mark’s innie consciousness to surface outside the confines of Lumon’s headquarters. The exchange itself is laden with cryptic language and veiled references:

Cobel: "We’re going to cottage five."
Guard: "I don’t have anyone scheduled."
Cobel: "She’s one of Jame’s. No one’s to know… Miss Marsha White, ninth floor."
Guard: "Specialties Department."
Cobel: "I’m looking for a gold thimble."

This peculiar dialogue ultimately grants them passage. While many viewers initially focused on the implications of "she’s one of Jame’s," the latter part of the conversation holds a significant key for those familiar with The Twilight Zone. The lines are strikingly similar to dialogue from "The After Hours."

The Twilight Zone episode, which aired in June 1960, stars Anne Francis as Marsha White, a woman in search of a gold thimble for her mother. The episode opens with Marsha entering a bustling department store, a seemingly ordinary errand about to take a turn into the extraordinary.

The narrator’s voice guides us: "Express elevator to the ninth floor of a department store, carrying Miss Marsha White on a most prosaic, ordinary, run-of-the-mill errand."

Adding to the surreal atmosphere, the elevator only displays floors up to the eighth, followed by the roof. Yet, the elevator operator whisks Marsha, the sole passenger despite the crowded store, to the ninth floor. This floor stands eerily deserted, save for a peculiar saleswoman and her unusual wares: gold thimbles.

The narration continues, deepening the Severance connection: "Miss Marsha White on the ninth floor, specialties department, looking for a gold thimble. The odds are that she’ll find it—but there are even better odds that she’ll find something else, because this isn’t just a department store. This happens to be The Twilight Zone."

After purchasing the thimble, Marsha discovers it’s damaged. Upon returning to complain, she’s met with incredulity. The store, it turns out, has no ninth floor. The situation escalates when she spots the saleswoman… who is, in fact, a mannequin.

The shock causes Marsha to faint. When she awakens, it’s "The After Hours" in the truest sense. The store is deserted, save for the mannequins, who are now moving and talking, calling out to Marsha. This scene remains one of the most unsettling sequences in Twilight Zone history, a testament to the series’ ability to tap into primal fears.

The twist arrives, as it must: Marsha herself is a mannequin. During a fleeting period of freedom, she forgot her true nature. By the episode’s end, she’s returned to her static state, a mannequin eerily resembling Anne Francis.

Serling’s closing narration encapsulates the chilling message: "Marsha White, in her normal and natural state, a wooden lady with a painted face who, one month out of the year, takes on the characteristics of someone as normal and as flesh and blood as you and I. But it makes you wonder, doesn’t it, just how normal are we? Just who are the people we nod our hellos to as we pass on the street? A rather good question to ask—particularly in The Twilight Zone."

While it’s tempting to delve deeper, searching for further plot parallels between the two "After Hours" episodes, it seems more likely that Severance is primarily echoing thematic elements rather than replicating specific plot points.

The Severance dialogue between Cobel and the security guard is deliberately bizarre, almost like a coded exchange. It’s less an in-universe Twilight Zone reference and more a wink to the audience, acknowledging the connection. In the Twilight Zone episode, after Marsha’s revelation, a fellow mannequin chides her for forgetting her true identity during her time with "the outsiders," who are deemed "the real people." In essence, the outies.

Similarly, Lumon’s severed employees are akin to these mannequins. They are granted periods of controlled animation, only to be reminded of their manufactured reality. While the two episodes exist in different contexts, they resonate with a shared sense of existential unease.

Perhaps there are even mannequins brought to life within the halls of Lumon. Given the strangeness that permeates that office, nothing is truly off the table.

The discovery of this connection opens the door to a deeper exploration of Severance, prompting viewers to re-examine the series for overlooked Easter eggs and subtle references. It highlights the show’s ambition to not only entertain but also to provoke thought about identity, control, and the very nature of reality. This particular exploration into Severance undoubtedly begs the question of which exciting Easter eggs and references one has been overlooking during the entire series.

The Twilight Zone is currently streaming on Paramount+, while Severance can be found on Apple TV+. Both offer a unique brand of thought-provoking entertainment, perfect for those who enjoy a dose of existential dread with their storytelling.