Summary
Severanceseason 2 has brought the internet and pop culture to a standstill,offering riveting and enthralling televisionthat has captured eyeballs by the millions. The sci-fi dramedy examines a group of people working for Lumon Industries in the Severed program, with their personal lives and memories separated from their working life “Innie.”
Leading the MDR team is Mark Scout, a simple and keen worker while an Innie. However, Mark’s “Outie” suffers from the loss of his wife, Gemma, with the mystery of his work at Lumon causing both versions of Mark to question the company’s methods. Played by the everpresentAdam Scott, the actor’s role as Mark has evolved the potential of what a TV protagonist is capable of being. Despite the notoriety gained fromSeverance,Scott has several prominent roles to his name,cementing himself as a varied and talented performer in Hollywood.
In thefamed rom-comLeap Year, Scott’s egotistical and vain portrayal of the protagonist’s boyfriend,Jeremy Sloane, adds an interesting dynamic to the Irish-centered flick. This notable rom-com sees Anna Brady traveling to Ireland to propose to her boyfriend on Leap Day. However, Anna meets the sweet and endearing Declan, who captures Anna’s heart as her journey in Ireland brings many mishaps and issues.
While caring for Anna, Scott’s character refuses to pop the question, only doing so for his own benefit, with Scott excelling in the charming movie as a less-than-charming supporting character.
Severanceis not the first time Ben Stiller and Adam Scott have collaborated, with the former directing Scott for the comedyThe Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Focusing on Stiller’s Walter Mitty, the bland characterembarks on a long-winded adventureto obtain the perfect image for the magazine he is employed by, with their transition to digitalization signifying the end of print issues.
Working alongside Walter at Life Magazine isTed Hendricks, an arrogant manager who happens to be the exact opposite of Walter’s personality. Scott’s distinctive appearance and constant heckling of Walter makes him one of the movie’s antagonists, with his pompous suit persona giving Scott plenty of room to play opposite Stiller, who has continually gotten great performances out of the actor.
Scott dips his toes into a foreign genre inKrampus,the horror-themed Christmas filmthat sees Scott’s character,Tom Engel,suffer at the hands of the folklore legend, Krampus. Due to the chaos and upheaval caused by his family, the young Max’s Christmas fever wanes, causing Krampus, the monster, to haunt and torment the Engels in a terrifying but comedic story.
As the Max’s father, Scott’s portrayal of Tom is compelling as he fights for his life and his son’s as the unusual circumstances continue to unfold. The family dynamics and tension bring intense entertainment, while Krampus and his minions frighten the family.
Among a star-studded cast, Scott excels in a dramatic role, acting as Reese Witherspoon’s husband in the drama-riddled HBO showBig Little Lies. In what started as a miniseries,Big Little Liesexamines an affluent town and the friendship of a group of women who deal with constant drama and a tragic death that rocks their worlds.
As the husband of Madeline Mackenzie, Scott’sEd Mackenzieshows lots of emotional vulnerability as his character suffers in his marriage due to cheating scandals and a lack of affection, with Madeline failing to see the value in Ed.Teeing off with high-caliber actors, Scott holds his own, showcasing his dramatic acting talents in this acclaimed show.
Scott continued his ascent into movie stardom with the challenging and dark role ofCaleb Sinclairein the family dramaThe Vicious Kind. Centered on a family with many skeletons in its closet, the Sinclaire family sees its youngest son, Peter, find a girlfriend, with his toxic brother Caleb soonbeginning to develop feelings for herdespite initially disapproving of his brother’s relationship.
Scott’s anti-hero portrayal sees him deliver a performance unlike any other in his catalog, with his character’s often vile and misogynistic attitude soon caving as he develops feelings for Emma. Caleb’s immoral and destructive personality carries much of the movie, showing Scott’s potential as a leading man.
One of Scott’s most memorable roles to date is his starring role asHenry Pollard inParty Down, the hit sitcomthat even saw Scott return for a recent third season after a decade-long hiatus. Following a group of failed actors who work as caterers in and around Hollywood, Scott’s leading role as Henry sees the actor thriving in a sitcom setting, acting as a solid foundation for his dysfunctional friendship group.
Dabbling in infectious comedic chemistry with friends turned coworkers and an intriguing love affair,Party Downwas a niche show that jump-started several Hollywood careers and remains one of Scott’s most overlooked projects.
One ofthe 21st Century’s greatest comedies,Step Brothersacted as a launching point for Scott’s career, playing a role at the time that was against the norm for the emerging actor. Acting opposite comedy bigwigs in Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, Scott’s despicable and arrogant depiction of snobby brotherDerek Huff,who looks down on the newfound step-brothers Brennan and Dale, is one of the most comical and slapstick pieces of comedy in decades.
When his mother gets remarried, Derek sees the opportunity to bully Brennan and his new brother Dale as enticing, with Derek’s jock persona setting him up as a convincing antagonist in this celebrated 2000s comedy.
In the influential mockumentary that propelled much of its cast to stardom, Scott thrived in a comedic role asBen Wyatt, the love interest toPark and Recreation’seccentric protagonist, Leslie Knope.Taking influence fromThe Office,Parks and Recreationfollows a government official and her team in the Parks Department as comraderie, love, and shenanigans take center stage while they are trying to aid the community.
Despite not appearing in the opening season, Scott’s character had undeniable chemistry with the rest of the cast upon his introduction, with Ben becoming pivotal to the show’s success as the protagonist’s unfiltered love interest.
The crowning achievement of Scott’s storied career thus farhas been Apple TV hitSeverance, with the show seeing Scott in the hybrid protagonist role ofMark Scout. Portraying the Innie and Outie version of Mark, the character, alongside his coworkers in Lumon’s MDR department and his family, begins to question Lumon and their operations, resulting in a whirlwind journey for Mark in and out of work.
Ranging from grumpy to awkward, Scott’s versatile dual performance has brought forward a new dynamic for television protagonists, with Scott perfectly encapsulating the white-collar worker experience down to a tee while handling two differing personalities in opposing environments.
