Sometime around 2008, I think, Whedon did another show called Dollhouse, which also didn't last long. It got two seasons and at least a chance to wrap the story up. Looking back at it, there's a lot of elements in it that would later show up in Severance. Mind-wiping, creating new personalities, evil corporation doing all the above for obscure, nefarious purposes, etc.
I better get off this before Badger bans me and puts all this on the TV shows thread.
I guess he likes political sniping and Mdot's rage-cursing.