Unlocking the Secrets of ‘Severance’ Season 2: Meet the Characters Who Will Change Everything!

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SPOILER ALERT: This guide contains spoilers for Season 1 of “Severance,” streaming on Apple TV+.

Hooray for Kier! At last, “Severance” is back for its second season, introducing fresh characters along with some familiar faces as they navigate the enigmatic and unsettling world of Lumon Industries.

Three years following the suspenseful finale of Season 1, the debut episode of the new season finds Innie Mark back at work, shocked to learn that Lumon’s Wellness Director, Ms. Casey, is none other than his outie’s late wife, Gemma.

Besides Dylan, Irving, and Helly, other characters had peeked at the external world through the Overtime Contingency – a unique system that enables innies to awaken within their outie selves. The Season 1 finale left spectators pondering: Will they face consequences? Could they escape the office once more? Might they bring down Lumon? Only Kier holds the answer.

While we eagerly await the second season of “Severance,” here’s a handy guide to refresh your memory about the key characters, both new and familiar, gracing our screens. I can’t wait to dive back into this captivating series!

Note from the Editor: This list was collaboratively put together by Jennifer Maas, Anna Tingley, Katcy Stephan, Matt Minton, Abigail Lee, and Kate Aurthur.

    Mark Scout (Adam Scott)

    Scott portrays a character named Mark Scout, an employee at Lumon Industries who’s gone through a process called “severance” and doesn’t know about his counterpart, Mark S., and their daily activities at the company in the Macrodata Refinement division. Before this, Mark was a history professor and is now a widower, having lost his wife, Gemma Scout, who was also a professor. Throughout Season 1, we see that Mark’s out-of-severance self uncovers that an old Lumon colleague named Petey went through a process to reverse the severance procedure and is now revealing questionable activities at the company. In the Season 1 finale, it’s discovered that Gemma, who was believed to be dead, is actually alive and works at Lumon as Ms. Casey, the wellness director on the severed floor.

    Helly R. (Britt Lower)

    In the storyline, we meet Helly R., who starts working with the Macrodata Refinement team. Throughout the series, Helly tirelessly challenges the established norms on the upper floor to gain recognition for her efforts. She frequently disregards rules and even considers taking her own life as a desperate measure. During the Overtime Contingency, when Helly awakens in her outie’s world, she uncovers that she is none other than Helena Eagan, the CEO’s daughter of Lumon Industries. When Helena learns that she underwent the severance process to bolster public trust for her family’s corporation, Helly boldly addresses a glamorous Lumon gathering and reveals that everything they’ve been told about severance is false – right before the Overtime Contingency concludes.

    Irving B. (John Turturro)

    John Turturro plays Irving B., who holds the longest service as a macrodata refiner on the Lumon Corporation’s floor, despite occasional lapses into drowsiness and fantasies of liquid black paint. He has deep admiration for Lumon’s regulations but often finds himself dozing off at work. Irving develops feelings for co-worker Burt G., a retired employee from the Optics and Design department (portrayed by Christopher Walken), following which Burt is suddenly and mysteriously let go from Lumon. When Irving peeks into his counterpart’s life through the Overtime Contingency, he uncovers that he owns a pet dog named Radar and has been creating oil paintings of the Testing Floor corridor. His heart is heavy when he learns that Burt’s double is married to another man.

    Dylan G. (Zach Cherry)

    Cherry portrays Dylan George, a Lumon employee working in the isolated upper floor. Following a fleeting peek at the external world and encountering one of his children, he guides the Macrodata Refinement team through the Overtime Contingency Procedure, remaining behind to allow Mark, Helly, and Irving to explore their lives beyond Lumon. As Season 2 unfolds, Dylan’s only knowledge about his exterior self is that he has three kids. Before discovering details about his outie’s life, Dylan was primarily concerned with office benefits and waffle gatherings.

    Harmony Cobel aka Mrs. Selvig (Patricia Arquette)

    In the new season, Arquette reappears as Harmony Cobel, the enigmatic and stern supervisor from Lumon Industries’ severed floor, who is now keeping a watchful eye on Mark from beyond the corporate walls. She assumes multiple roles in his life, including his troublesome neighbor, Mrs. Selvig, his sister Devon’s intrusive doula, and continues to meddle in his affairs. The storyline commences with Cobel being ousted from her position and replaced by Seth Milchik, her former subordinate, following her unsuccessful attempt to stop the employees known as “innies” from breaking free from Lumon’s grasp in the Season 1 finale.

    Seth Milchick (Tramell Tillman)

    Tillman serves as the enigmatic character, Seth Milchick, who ascends to the position of head of the disconnected floor in Season 2. Throughout his role overseeing Mark, Helly, Dylan, and Irving, Mr. Milchick frequently finds himself teetering on the edge of losing control. In the final episode of Season 1, he physically confronts Dylan while executing the Overtime Contingency Protocol, thereby abruptly ending the innies’ exposure to the outside world.

    Burt G. (Christopher Walken)

    Burt carries an air of enigma about him. As a part of the Optics and Design team, he develops a forbidden relationship with Irving, disregarding Lumon’s stringent departmental boundaries. Soon after their clandestine romance blossoms, Burt departs from Lumon under questionable reasons. Outside Lumon’s walls, Regular Burt is married to someone else.

    Gemma Scout aka Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman)

    Miss Casey serves as the aloof, occasionally present wellness supervisor for a specific floor. She leads therapy sessions with the team responsible for refining data, disclosing personal details about their lives outside work while insisting they appreciate every aspect equally. Eventually, due to undisclosed reasons, Miss Casey is let go and transferred to the Evaluation Level.

    Towards the end of the first season, when Mark repairs (and reattaches) a photo of his deceased wife Gemma – the primary cause of Mark’s severance as he sought to flee from his grief – the viewers learn that Miss Casey is none other than Gemma herself. In an unexpected revelation during the Extra Time Scenario, in the final moments of Season 1, Mark’s counterpart discovers this earth-shattering truth and exclaims, “She’s still alive!

    Devon Scout-Hale (Jen Tullock)

    In Season 1, Devon – who is younger than Mark and his sister, as well as Ricken Hale’s wife – becomes pregnant with their first child, a girl named Eleanor. At the same time, Harmony Cobel, Devon’s employer at Lumon and Mark’s boss, is secretly playing the role of Mrs. Selvig, an eccentric neighbor to Mark. During Season 1, it is revealed that Ms. Cobel/Mrs. Selvig has been deceptively hired as Devon’s doula. In the season finale, when Mark’s inner consciousness temporarily takes control of his body at Devon’s house, he discusses work-related concerns with her. During this conversation, Devon learns about Ms. Cobel/Mrs. Selvig’s true identity and is alarmed to discover that she had been left alone with baby Eleanor. The baby is later found, but Mrs. Selvig has vanished without a trace.

    Ricken Hale (Michael Chernus)

    Ricken Hale is married to Devon, Mark’s sister. In his role as Mark’s brother-in-law, Ricken takes an interest in Mark’s welfare and feels cautious about the separation process. Regularly, he recommends his own self-help book, titled “The You You Are,” which Mark tends to dismiss casually. Interestingly, Mark had unwittingly brought this book into Lumon, where it became a sort of guidebook for the employees, offering them motivation on their journey towards freedom.

    Natalie (Sydney Cole Alexander)

    Natalie serves as the intermediary between the board and Ms. Cobel and Mr. Milchick at Lumon, often delivering messages that aren’t always well-received. Despite her forced smile, she comes across as aloof, prioritizing the board’s needs above all else. In addition to this role, she also serves as a public representative for Lumon, defending the company on news programs when faced with criticism.

    Miss Huang (Sarah Bock)

    18-year-old novice, Bock, portrays the unexpectedly youthful manager on the floor that’s been divided, Miss Huang. She’s part of an internship scheme and answers to Mr. Milchick. During a get-together in the kitchenette, she shares a peculiar fact about herself – prior to this, she was a school crossing guard. When Mark W. inquires, “Why do you look so young?”, she replies casually, “It’s due to when I was born.” The series “Severance” marks Bock’s debut in a significant role.

    Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson)

    In Season 2 of “Severance,” we’ll encounter a fresh character named Drummond, portrayed by the Icelandic-American actor Ólafsson. According to promotional materials, Drummond holds the position of “security chief” at Lumon. However, he does not make his debut in the first episode of the season. Apart from his role in “Severance,” Ólafsson is recognized for his performances in shows like “Trapped,” “The Tourist,” “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” and “Somebody Somewhere.

    Reghabi (Karen Aldridge)

    Previously employed at Lumon, Reghabi now secretly works against the company. She asserts responsibility for handling the termination process for employees like Mark, as well as the rehiring of his colleague Petey. Following Petey’s demise, Mark discovered the phone Petey used to contact Reghabi and decided to meet her. During their encounter, they were suddenly disrupted by a Lumon enforcer named Doug Graner. In this confrontation, Reghabi assaulted and murdered Doug. She then dismissed Mark, telling him she would get in touch later.

    Felicia (Claudia Robinson)

    In Season 1, Felicia works alongside Burt in the Optics and Design department. She’s among a small group of characters who observe the blossoming romance between Burt and Irving, choosing to ignore their growing intimacy as they become more involved in their close-knit work environment. Robinson, known for roles in films like the comedy “Smile Orange” with Carl Bradshaw, the musical “Countryman,” and “Harry & Son,” plays Felicia.

    Gwendolyn Y. (Alia Shawkat)

    In Season 2, upon Mark’s initial return to work after his worldview shifted significantly, he encounters three unfamiliar colleagues in the Macrodata Refinement department. We don’t have much information about Shawkat’s character, Gwendolyn Y., but in the first episode she persistently questions Mark about his experiences on the other side: “We compiled a list of our top expectations for the outside world, and a sky was an obvious number one. Brothers-in-law weren’t even mentioned!” Shawkat is predominantly recognized for her roles as Dory Sief in “Search Party” and Maeby Fünke in “Arrested Development.” More recently, she has acted in Zoë Kravitz’s production titled “Blink Twice.

    Unnamed Italian Macrodata Refiner (Stefano Carannante)

    In another turn of events, Carannante takes on a fresh data refiner in the macro field. Switching between English and Italian, his abrupt manner irritates Mark. The series “Severance” marks Carannante’s most significant role to date. With limited acting experience under his belt, he has only a few previous credits: an episode of “Blue Bloods” from 2023 and a movie titled “Hey Joe,” directed by James Franco in 2024.

    Mark W. (Bob Babalan)

    With the addition of Mark W., Babalan, to the Macrodata Refinement team, the similarity in names with Mark S. creates a potential source of initial workplace friction. During an ice-breaker activity, it was disclosed that Mark S. hails from the MDR department of Branch 5X, which ceased operation. Instead of retiring as planned, he was given another chance. As his colleagues mysteriously vanish, Mark W. focuses on the new office, while Mark S. grapples with their disappearance. Notably, Babalan is a renowned actor, director, and producer, having worked on films such as “Midnight Cowboy,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.

    Unidentified Cowbell Woman (Gwendoline Christie)

    As a seasoned movie critic, I’ve been intrigued by the enigma surrounding Gwendoline Christie’s character in the upcoming season. A glimpse of her in the trailer finds her ringing a cowbell in an uncharted corner of the set, hinting at the presence of those elusive goats. While she has captivated audiences as Brienne of Tarth in “Game of Thrones,” her versatility is evident through her roles in two “Star Wars” films, Netflix’s “The Sandman” and “Wednesday.

    Unknown Role (Merrit Wever)

    She became a part of the Season 2 cast last year, but details about her character are being kept secret. This two-time Emmy Award-winning actor is primarily recognized for her outstanding television performances in critically acclaimed shows like “Nurse Jackie,” “Godless,” and “Unbelievable.” In cinema, she has featured in movies such as “Birdman,” “Marriage Story,” and “Michael Clayton.

    Unknown Role (John Noble)

    In 2022, John Noble joined the cast of “Severance,” although his character doesn’t debut until Season 2. This talented Australian actor is most recognized for playing Denethor in “The Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy and Dr. Walter Bishop on the Fox sci-fi series “Fringe.”

    Unknown Role (Robby Benson)

    In October 2022, it was revealed that Benson, a famous actor from the 1970s who starred in shows like “One on One” and “Ice Castles,” and lent his voice to the Beast in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” (1991), joined the cast of the second season of a show called “Severance.” At this time, it is unclear what character he will portray. Given Benson’s extensive TV directing career and past roles, we can expect to see him on the show later in the season.

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2025-01-17 05:18