Fans of Apple TV+’s hit series Severance can now own a piece of its eerie world. Atomic Keyboard has announced the MDR Dasher, a mechanical keyboard inspired by the show’s haunting office setting. Unlike typical keyboards, this model boldly omits the Escape, Control, and Option keys — a design choice deeply tied to the show’s theme.
The keyboard’s deep blue casing, rounded keycaps, and built-in trackball mirror the unsettling aesthetic of the Macrodata Refinement department featured in Severance. It uses a 70% layout, meaning it is compact while still functional for daily use.
Symbolism Behind the Design
The missing keys aren’t just a quirky design. In Severance, employees undergo a procedure that splits their consciousness between work and personal life, trapping them in endless loops of labor. Removing the Escape key symbolizes their inability to leave or remember their other life.
Additionally, the keyboard offers a quiet critique of modern work culture, where many workers often feel stuck in roles they cannot easily leave behind. The MDR Dasher turns this idea into a physical, everyday object.
More Than a Collectible
Despite its dark inspiration, the MDR Dasher is a fully operational keyboard. It connects through USB-C and works with macOS, Windows, and Linux. Atomic Keyboard emphasizes that both your “Innie” and “Outie” selves can enjoy using it, whether formatting spreadsheets or simply browsing online.
Currently, the keyboard is in a limited pre-launch phase. Fans can sign up for early access and updates through Atomic’s website. Pricing details have not yet been released, but interest is already high among Severance fans and mechanical keyboard enthusiasts alike.
While Apple created a fictional Lumon Terminal Pro for marketing, the MDR Dasher remains an independent creation. Nevertheless, it perfectly captures the unsettling atmosphere that made Severance such a standout success.
