The ‘Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’ and its Severance Season 2 connection

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In the fifth episode of Severance Season 2 titled ‘Trojan’s Horse’, the character from Exports Hall hums a foreboding melody. Interestingly enough, this tune is recognized as the ‘Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald’. There are, of course, various speculations surrounding it.

Despite the fact that each fresh episode of the Apple TV+ series Severance doesn’t delay unveiling its content, it still leaves numerous mysteries unanswered. (Admittedly, dissecting hidden details and hints makes up a big part of the enjoyment.)

In Season 2, we discover the fates of both the Inner and Outer groups following the activation of the Overtime Contingency Plan, leading up to the unfortunate outdoor retreat and team building event from last week.

After nearly drowning Helena Eagan, Irving’s Innie has sadly passed away. However, before his untimely exit, he discovered the location known as the Exports Hall. Felicia disclosed that previously, the O&D department would receive deliveries there, but now, they simply send an individual instead.

What is the ‘Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’?

The “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” is a 1976 ballad composed by Gordon Lightfoot, commemorating the tragic loss of 29 crew members when the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior on November 10, 1975.

In Severance Season 2 Episode 5, the individual Felicia mentioned is observed carrying a tray that seems to hold dental tools, which he takes to the Exports Hall. As he goes, he hums ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’.

In this captivating TV series, nothing seems incidental, fueling intense debate among viewers about whether there’s a hidden symbolism behind the choice of certain songs. On Reddit, for instance, a fan has brought up a persistent theory suggesting that the company Lumon might be attempting to revive its late founder, Kier Eagan.

I’ve learned that it’s impossible to revive Kier via cryonic preservation, given the fact that the procedure wasn’t even attempted until 1967 – a full 28 years after his passing in 1939.

As a devoted admirer, I underscored the profound verses in that melody: “The lore persists from the Chippewa downwards, about the vast lake they named Gitche Gumee. They say, the lake itself refuses to relinquish its lost souls, as the skies of November grow overcast.

The speaker mentioned that Lake Superior, being the deepest and situated in the north among the Great Lakes, lies nestled between Ontario, a Canadian province, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

It’s been pointed out that the painting “Kier Invites You to Drink of His Water” seems to depict the Great Lakes from an unusual angle, suggesting that perhaps the city of Kier, PE could be located within that geographical area.

It’s commonly known that ‘the lake refuses to surrender the deceased.’ Lake Superior, with its deep waters and harsh temperatures, has earned a chilling reputation as a ‘watery cemetery.’ Could it be possible that Lumon developed rudimentary cryonic preservation techniques as early as 1939 by embracing this concept?

A colleague drew attention to the similarities in the symbolism found in the images of the submerged vessel and Cold Harbor, a title which Lumon urgently wants Mark to complete work on.

It might imply that, by following in Severance’s footsteps, they are determined to keep fighting even after death.

As Ms. Cobel ominously declared, “Your pals are going to endure, Mark included. You’ll vanish, but we’ll ensure they stay alive, writhing in agony.” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but think that perhaps Innies could exist in torment for an eternity, a concept I later understood as perpetuity – the unending quality of existence.

It appears that Ms. Casey has passed away and now seems to be connected or integrated with Lumon in some way. Additionally, the manner in which Milchick and Harmony spoke about Petey’s Severance device struck me as peculiar.

When Harmony displays something to Milchick, he questions, “Is that Petey?” To which Harmony replies affirmatively, “Yes, that’s Petey.” This leads me to think that the chips might be able to store our consciousness, implying that if Petey were transferred into another body, he could potentially live indefinitely.

Whistle while you work.#Severance — New episode Friday

— Apple TV (@AppleTV) February 11, 2025

In the episode, it appears that the reason for including ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’ might have been due to director Ben Stiller being a fan of Gordon Lightfoot. However, his prior statements seem to hint at something more significant.

During a chat with The New York Times, they probed me about the tune and if it serves as a hint regarding what Severance and Lumon are planning. “I’ll keep mum on that,” I responded.

In response, the interviewer stated, “Ah, so I had it right,” and Stiller playfully replied, “I like to keep my chances varied, but no, I’m merely a devoted fan of Gordon Lightfoot. I incorporated ‘Carefree Highway’ into ‘Escape at Dannemora’.

I’m confident that I’ll continue to enjoy his music, as I believe he is among the greatest artists of this era.

The case may or may not be resolved; it’s complex in Severance, as anything can be uncertain. For the time being, multiple possibilities remain on the table, as per Stiller’s words.

You can learn when the next episode will be available by checking out our guide to the release timeline for Severance Season 2. Additionally, you’ll find information about the Glasgow Block and the Grakappan in this article. We also provide recaps of Episodes 1, 2, 3, and 4 if you want to catch up on what happened so far.

Oh, and make sure you check out what’s dropping during TopMob’s We LOVE TV & Movies week too.

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2025-02-14 15:54