Mind-Blown Alert: Fans Are Just Now Discovering That Dylan from ‘Severance’ Starred in Netflix’s ‘YOU’ – And We’re Totally Shook!

In a revelation that’s sending shockwaves through TV fandoms, viewers are only just realizing that Zach Cherry, the actor who plays the unforgettable Dylan George in Apple TV+’s Severance, also popped up in Netflix’s hit thriller YOU. Yes, you read that right—the quirky, perk-obsessed “innie” from Lumon Industries once rubbed shoulders with Joe Goldberg in a New York bookstore, and the internet is losing its collective mind over this unexpected crossover. “I’m shook,” one fan posted online, echoing the sentiment of thousands who’ve been blindsided by this discovery. How did we miss this? And what does it say about Cherry’s sneaky versatility as an actor? Buckle up, because we’re diving deep into this mind-blowing connection, his roles in both shows, and why it’s got everyone buzzing in 2025.

The Big Reveal: From Lumon to Mooney’s

Zach Cherry has been a standout in Severance, where he plays Dylan, a Macrodata Refiner whose love for company incentives—like finger traps and waffle parties—makes him a fan favorite. Fast-forward to April 2025, and social media platforms like X are erupting with posts like, “Wait, Dylan from Severance was in YOU? I need to lie down.” Turns out, Cherry appeared in all 10 episodes of YOU’s first season back in 2018, playing Ethan Russell, the affable bookstore clerk at Mooney’s. Working alongside Penn Badgley’s creepy-yet-charming Joe, Ethan was the kind of guy who kept the shop running while Joe was, well, busy stalking Beck and hiding bodies.

For those who’ve binged YOU but forgot Ethan’s face, here’s a refresher: he’s the coworker who befriends Beck (Elizabeth Lail) and bonds with young Paco (Luca Padovan) over comics and snacks. Unlike Joe, Ethan’s a genuinely good dude—unaware of the dark secrets lurking in the basement. Meanwhile, in Severance, Cherry’s Dylan is a severed worker at Lumon Industries, blissfully ignorant of his “outie” life until Season 1’s finale cracks that world open. The contrast is striking: one character’s a grounded everyman, the other’s a pawn in a dystopian puzzle. Yet Cherry’s knack for dry humor and relatable charm ties them together, making this belated realization all the more thrilling.

Why It Took So Long to Connect the Dots

So, how did this slip under the radar for so long? For starters, YOU Season 1 aired seven years ago, and while it’s since become a Netflix juggernaut, Ethan wasn’t a central figure in Joe’s twisted saga. “He’s the kind of supporting character you love but don’t obsess over,” one fan theorized online. Then there’s the gap between the shows’ vibes—YOU is a stalker thriller with a pulpy edge, while Severance is a slow-burn sci-fi mystery. Add in Cherry’s physical transformation (he’s noticeably leaner in Severance) and the fact that YOU’s Ethan sports a laid-back bookstore aesthetic versus Dylan’s sterile Lumon uniform, and it’s no wonder fans didn’t clock it sooner.

Timing plays a role too. Severance premiered in 2022, years after YOU’s debut, and its second season—airing now in 2025—has catapulted Cherry into the spotlight. As Dylan’s storyline deepens (hello, Outie Family Visitation Suite drama!), viewers are rewatching Season 1 and digging into Cherry’s IMDb page, only to stumble across this gem. “I feel betrayed by my own brain,” one X user joked. “How did I not see this?” The shock is amplified by the sheer volume of TV we consume—Cherry’s popped up in Succession, Fallout, and Most Dangerous Game too, but it’s the YOU–Severance link that’s hitting hardest.

Zach Cherry: The Underrated Chameleon

This discovery shines a spotlight on Cherry’s quietly impressive career. Before Severance made him a sci-fi darling, the 37-year-old actor cut his teeth in comedy, with roots in New York’s improv scene at Upright Citizens Brigade. His big break came with YOU, where he brought warmth to Ethan despite limited screen time. “He’s the guy you want to root for,” a reviewer noted back in 2018, praising his chemistry with Badgley. Fast-forward to Severance, and Cherry’s stealing scenes with Dylan’s deadpan quips—“My delts are embarrassingly good today”—and his Season 2 arc, where he grapples with love, loss, and Lumon’s mind games.

Cherry’s versatility is key. In YOU, he’s a beacon of normalcy amid Joe’s chaos; in Severance, he’s a cog in a surreal machine, balancing humor with heartbreak. “Zach’s got this everyman quality that makes you trust him,” a casting director told a trade mag recently. “But he layers it with something unpredictable.” That unpredictability shines when Dylan bites Milchick (Tramell Tillman) in Severance Season 1 or when Ethan casually shrugs off Joe’s weirdness in YOU. It’s no surprise he’s racked up credits in shows as diverse as Spider-Man: Homecoming (as a street vendor) and Crashing. The man’s a chameleon—and we’ve been sleeping on it.

Fandom Frenzy: “Give This Guy a Break!”

The internet’s reaction? Pure chaos. “Dylan’s been through Lumon’s hell, and now I find out he worked with Joe Goldberg? Give this guy a break!” one X post exclaimed, racking up thousands of likes. Fans are meme-ing hard—think Dylan in his Lumon jumpsuit captioned, “When you escape Joe just to end up at Lumon.” Others are rewatching YOU Season 1, spotting Cherry’s Ethan with fresh eyes. “He’s so chill there, and now he’s biting people in Severance? Iconic glow-up,” a TikTok user gushed in a viral clip.

Some are even theorizing crossovers. “Imagine Joe meeting Dylan’s innie,” one fan speculated. “Joe would lose it trying to figure out the severance thing.” While that’s pure fantasy—YOU is grounded in reality, Severance in dystopia—the idea’s got legs online. It’s a testament to how Cherry’s roles resonate across genres, uniting fans who might never overlap otherwise. “I’m a YOU stan who binged Severance last week,” one newbie wrote. “This is my multiverse of madness.”

What’s Next for Zach Cherry?

With Severance Season 2 unfolding—Episode 9 just dropped, leaving Dylan’s fate hanging after his resignation request—Cherry’s star is rising fast. Critics are calling his performance “the emotional core” of the season, especially as Dylan navigates his doomed romance with Gretchen (Merritt Wever). Meanwhile, YOU Season 5 looms on Netflix’s horizon, set for late 2025. Could Ethan return? Unlikely—Joe’s long since left Mooney’s—but fans are clamoring for Cherry to cameo, maybe as a nod to this wild connection.

Cherry’s keeping mum, but he’s no stranger to fan buzz. In a recent interview, he laughed off his growing cult status: “I just try to show up and not mess it up.” Next up, he’s rumored for a role in a Marvel project (because who isn’t?), and his comedy chops suggest more surprises ahead. For now, though, the YOU–Severance link has cemented him as 2025’s sleeper hit—a guy who’s been in our faves all along, hiding in plain sight.

Why It Matters in 2025

This revelation isn’t just trivia; it’s a snapshot of how we watch TV now. In an era of endless streaming options, Easter eggs like this keep us hooked, turning casual viewers into detectives. It’s also a win for supporting actors like Cherry, who often toil in the shadows of A-listers like Badgley or Adam Scott. As Severance and YOU dominate watercooler chats—both topping streaming charts this year—Cherry’s dual legacy reminds us to look closer at the faces we love. So, next time you rewatch YOU or cheer Dylan through Lumon’s maze, tip your hat to Zach Cherry. He’s been shaking us up all along—we just didn’t know it.