Patricia Arquette’s portrayal of Ms. Harmony Cobel in Severance doesn’t just impress fans—the same feeling is shared by her costar Tramell Tillman.
When asked if he ever feels a bit uneasy watching the Academy Award winner bring her character to life on the Apple TV+ series, Tillman confessed to People, “I do. I do. She is terrifying!”
Nevertheless, he was quick to mention, “But it’s also very enjoyable to witness on set and act alongside her. She’s amazing, and some of my favorite moments with her—or really with most of the cast—are when I have no lines. I can simply sit back and watch them do their magic. It’s truly a pleasure.”
Like Arquette, Tillman brings his own layer of intrigue to his character.
Fans were first introduced to Tillman’s Seth Milchick as a supervisor on Lumon Industries’ enigmatic severed floor and Ms. Cobel’s loyal right-hand man. In season 2, however, Milchick steps into a new role as the floor manager, while Ms. Huang (Sarah Bock), a young child, takes over his former position.
“He’s a mystery. I think what makes him work is that his story remains unresolved at this point, and I’m enjoying that aspect,” Tillman says of his character. “We’ll learn a bit more about his backstory in season 2, but it’ll stay true to the show’s style. Everything we uncover will just raise more questions.”
Before stepping back into Milchick’s shoes, Tillman rewatched the first season to reconnect with his character.
“Revisiting the work, rereading the scripts, and having ongoing conversations with [series creator] Dan [Erickson] and [director] Ben [Stiller] about Milchick’s journey in the new season really helped. Developing more depth and meaning for him was also a big focus,” he explains.
Despite the show’s heavy themes, Tillman notes that the cast and crew try to maintain some levity when possible.
“We keep it jovial when we can, but there’s definitely a seriousness and focus on set,” he says. “The content is intense, with all the paranoia and questions of trust, control, and loyalty that our characters grapple with. But you also feel the passion from everyone involved, from our craftspersons to our designers. There’s a strong sense of dedication on set—100%. That said, we still make sure to have a good time when we can.”
New episodes of Severance Season 2 premiere Fridays on Apple TV+.
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