"I've had my speech policed often for being too articulate, and that scene with Drummond felt very, very real. You know, there is this expectation of Blackness and expectation of how we're supposed to speak and communicate.”
If you’ve been watching Severance, then you already know that Seth Milchick is one of the most intense, mysterious, and meme-worthy characters on TV.
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Played by the enigmatic Tramell Tillman, Milchick went from being a slightly terrifying corporate enforcer to a fan favourite, and it turns out, there’s a lot more to him than big words and dance moves.
In the latest episode of Seasoned Sessions, we sat down with Tramell Tillman to talk all things Milchick – from representation and microaggressions to what Seth might be like behind the walls of Lumon.
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Here are some things we learned from speaking to him!
Tramell’s route into acting is far from traditional – he was studying in med school before pursuing his passion.
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Tramell told us that he “fell in love with acting” as a child, but due to not having any mentors within the industry, he settled on becoming a doctor. After a pivot, in 2014, he became the first Black man to graduate with an MFA in acting; “Hopefully I’m paving the way for someone else,” he shared.
The famous Milkshake moves were freestyled.
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Tramell made it clear that while he did freestyle, Milchick’s vibe is very different to his own: “How he moves is a machine, so it really was just tapping into this other energy he has and just let him fly.”
He thinks Milchick may have a different approach to the severed floor than Cobel, and even Lumon as a whole.
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Episode eight – Sweet Vitriol – explored Harmony Cobel’s backstory, and we learned just how deeply her life was intertwined with Lumon, explaining her dedication to Kier. Since we’ve not seen much of Seth outside of Lumon, we wanted to know if Tramell thought he may have a similar background to Cobel. While he doesn’t know his backstory, he pointed out that though things like the ORTBO and kindness reforms, Milchick’s trying to offer the innies something different to what they’ve had before.
Tramell considers the Kier paintings as one of the catalysts in Milchick’s character arc.
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In the Severance podcast, Tramell asked, “Does Milchick know he’s Black?” He explained what he meant by that, saying, “ Does he identify with his Blackness, with the culture? That’s what I meant. Because even in real life, many people assimilate, or suppress parts of themselves to fit in – especially in corporate environments.” And we can all agree that Milchick went on a journey of identity this season. Tramell thinks the stakes were raised once he got promoted, and felt the pressure to deliver; “I think every decision that he makes from episode three to 10 is influenced by that Kier painting and the cost of what it is to be a leader on the Severed floor without having the support.”
The microaggressions and that scene with Drummond were (unfortunately) very relatable to Tramell.
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In Season 2, Milchick gets penalised for using “big words,” and the moment hit hard. “I've had my speech policed often for being too articulate,” Tramell shared. “And that scene with Drummond felt very, very real. You know, there is this expectation of Blackness and expectation of how we're supposed to speak and communicate.”
Who would Seth be friends with outside of Lumon? Tramell reckons it would be Irving.
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Tramell shared that it was painful to watch how things panned out between Irv and Seth, but on a lighter note, “Irving’s got swag. They’d definitely bond over the swag.”
