Apple TV+’s dystopian office thriller just delivered a water-cooler headline.
The severance Emmy nominations tally for season 2 landed at 27—the biggest haul of any program this year, nearly doubling its freshman total.
That puts the series in elite company, second only to Game of Thrones’ 2019 record of 32 drama nods.
Inside Severance’s 2025 Awards Haul
Season 2 made the shortlist in virtually every major craft and performance race:
- Best drama series
- Writing (creator Dan Erickson)
- Directing (two slots: Ben Stiller and Jessica Lee Gagné) Gagné is the first woman ever nominated for both cinematography and directing in a drama.
- Lead acting: Adam Scott, Britt Lower
- Supporting acting: Zach Cherry, Tramell Tillman, John Turturro, Patricia Arquette
- Guest acting: Jane Alexander, Gwendoline Christie, Merritt Wever
- Multiple nods for editing, production design, sound, VFX and stunts
The nominations showcase how severance Emmy nominations momentum has ballooned: up from 14 nods and two wins (music composition, supporting actress) in 2022.
Did Severance Win Any Emmys?
Yes. Severance turned two of its 14 season-1 nominations into trophies:
- Outstanding Music Composition (Theodore Shapiro)
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama (Patricia Arquette)
Season 2’s 27-nomination tsunami positions the show for a far richer haul on Sept. 14.
Did Ben Stiller Write Severance?
No. Ben Stiller is the series’ executive producer and lead director, steering the visual tone and pacing, but the scripts come from creator Dan Erickson and his writers’ room. Stiller’s dual directing nods this year underline his creative imprint even without a writing credit.
Is the Show Severance Popular?
Apple TV+ keeps viewership data under wraps, yet third-party analytics rank Severance among the platform’s top-three engagement drivers since 2022. The show consistently trends on X during new-episode drops, and its subreddit surpassed 450,000 members after the season-2 finale. Fan-theory threads routinely top “r/Television”—proof that Lumon’s mysteries have become a cultural obsession.
What Is the Highest Award for a TV Show?
Globally, the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama or Comedy Series is regarded as television’s pinnacle honor—akin to the Oscars’ best-picture statuette. The Television Academy’s peer-voted Emmys have set the standard for small-screen excellence since 1949.
Who Was Nominated for Emmys 2025?
Beyond severance Emmy nominations, the headline leaders include:
- The Penguin – 24
- The Studio – 23
- The White Lotus – 23
- The Last of Us – 16
- Andor, Hacks – 14 each
Acting milestones: Kathy Bates (77) became the oldest lead-drama actress nominee for Matlock, while Owen Cooper (15) is now the youngest supporting-actor nominee in a limited series (Adolescence).
Did Keanu Reeves Voice the Building in Severance?
Rumor debunked. Keanu Reeves is not the voice of Lumon’s eerie building announcements. Apple has never credited an external celebrity cameo for the PA system, and production insiders confirm the voice belongs to an in-house actor under NDA.
Why These 27 Nods Matter
- Historic gender barrier broken by Jessica Lee Gagné’s twin directing/cinematography nods.
- Three supporting-actor slots give Severance a statistical edge in that race, though vote-splitting could open the door for rival contenders.
- After being overshadowed by Succession last cycle, the show now stands as the clear front-runner in multiple categories.
“It’s validation for everyone on the floor at Lumon—and everyone behind the camera,” executive producer Dan Erickson said in a statement. “The whole team’s work culture is, thankfully, nothing like Lumon’s.”
The Television Academy apparently agrees. Come September, expect the reconciliation tour to continue as voters correct what critics saw as 2022’s near-snub. If Severance finally severs its runner-up streak, the break room will erupt—goats notwithstanding.
