Severance star didn’t want to do marching band scene because of one “iconic” Season 1 moment

Mr Milchick dancing his heart out in the Severance Season 2 finale is becoming one of the most talked-about moments of the show, but star Tramell Tillman initially didn’t want to do it. (Warning: spoilers ahead!)

The Season 2 finale was a whirlwind. The Apple TV+ show finally gave us some answers into Lumon’s intentions, and it all has to do with removing the negative emotions in people – staring, specifically, with Gemma’s.

Innie Mark and Outie Mark reluctantly work together to break her out of Lumon, leading to a bittersweet ending in which he leaves her, running off with Helly R into the unknown.

But before that, there’s a dance extravaganza (complete with a marching band) as Mr Milchick celebrates Mark completing Cold Harbor. Though, according to Tillman, he didn’t want to ruin one of Season 1’s most legendary moments.

Tramell Tillman didn’t want to perform S2 finale dance scene

Speaking to Variety, Tillman revealed that he wasn’t up for doing the big finale dance sequence when the idea first came around.

But his reason is simple: he didn’t want to overshadow Milchick’s incredible “defiant jazz” dance sequence from the first season, which he now calls “iconic.”

“I did not want to do it,” he said. “And when I saw that it was a possibility, I said to a couple of the creators, ‘I just don’t want Milchick dancing in every single season.’ Because I was concerned that we were going to try to replicate the Music Dance Experience. You can’t do that. It’s iconic, and it was special for what it was.”

Apple TV+

However, the one thing that changed his mind was the addition of the Lumon marching band. This detail reminded him of his days at university.

“Ben told me he was bringing in a marching band,” he continued. “I went to two HBCUs, and one of them was Jackson State University, and they housed the Sonic Boom of the South, one of the best marching bands in the country, and I would watch them during my undergrad years with such awe and amazement in the athleticism, the creativity and the passion that these musicians and dancers served with.

“So when Ben told me there was a marching band coming in, I said, ‘OK, hold on. What kind of marching band? Military style, or is it HBCU style?’ He said he wasn’t sure at the moment. I asked him, ‘How did you want me to participate? Did you want me to be the band director, or did you want me to be the drum major?’

“And I said to myself, if this is going to be HBCU style, like Jackson State University, I’m gonna be the drum major.”

Thankfully it all came together, and the resulting sequence has since made the rounds on social media. Tillman now calls the Season 2 scene “epic,” and “so much fun.”

Severance Season 2 Episode 10 is available to stream on Apple TV+ now.

For more, check out our guide to Severance Season 3. You can also check out the 8 best shows like Severance, and find out why the Severance Season 2 finale leaves a big unanswered question about the goats.