Is That What You Expected? And Other Severance Questions

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Titled “Seven Puzzling Inquiries,” this weekly analysis aims to break down the bewildering events from one of television’s most intricate series by focusing on the strangest, most perplexing, and crucial unanswered questions following the season-two finale, “Cold Harbor.” Expect a plethora of outlandish theories.

The show “Severance” often provides answers that only generate more questions. This was evident in the season-two finale where various aspects of the Lumon building were clarified. For example, if you’re curious about how Mark’s inner and outer selves navigate the Helly-Gemma predicament, the show will certainly fill you in. Similarly, it offers insights into Cold Harbor and the goats. However, these explanations won’t provide a clear resolution. Instead, they may lead you further down the mystery than any questions ever did.

1. Option A: They can even prompt some minor outbursts from you. Did you find yourself shouting at the end? Specifically in the hallway? Yes, I did. To be honest, I wasn’t entirely clear on what I wanted Mark to do or whom to pick. I just kept yelling “No!”, “Yes!”, and “What are you doing?!” It seems as challenging for me as it was for him. Granted, the reasons aren’t particularly convincing, but they were arguments nonetheless. This program can leave you in a twist, and occasionally a marching band might show up. You simply have to go along with it all.

2. Option B: They may cause you to let out a small yell. Were you shouting at the end, particularly in the hallway? Yes, I was. Frankly, I wasn’t sure what I wanted Mark to do or whom he should choose. I just kept exclaiming “No!”, “Yes!”, and “What are you doing?” It appears it was as difficult for me as it was for him. Although the explanations aren’t strong, they were disagreements nonetheless. This show can leave you in a knot, and sometimes a marching band might appear. You just have to accept everything that comes along with it.

3. Option C: They might make you let out a small yell or exclamation. Did you find yourself shouting at the end, especially in the hallway? Yes, I did. Honestly, I wasn’t clear on what I wanted Mark to do or whom he should pick. I just kept saying “No!”, “Yes!”, and “What are you doing?” It appears it was as difficult for me as it was for him. Even though the reasons aren’t compelling, they were arguments nonetheless. This program can confuse you, and sometimes a marching band might join in. You just have to accept all that comes with it.

4. Option D: They could lead to a small outburst from you. Did you find yourself shouting at the end, specifically in the hallway? Yes, I did. Frankly, I wasn’t clear on what I wanted Mark to do or whom he should pick. I just kept arguing “No!”, “Yes!”, and “What are you doing?” It seems as challenging for me as it was for him. Granted, the explanations aren’t strong, but they were disagreements nonetheless. This show can leave you puzzled, and occasionally a marching band might join in. You just have to deal with everything that comes along with it.

5. Option E: They may prompt a bit of shouting from you. Did you shout at the end, specifically in the hallway? Yes, I did. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what I wanted Mark to do or whom he should pick. I just kept arguing “No!”, “Yes!”, and “What are you doing?” It appears it was as difficult for me as it was for him. Although the reasons aren’t convincing, they were arguments nonetheless. This program can confuse you, and sometimes a marching band might join in. You just have to accept all that comes along with it.

Choose the one that best fits your writing style or tone.

Here are our concluding questions regarding this current season. I’ve got plenty more if needed, but these seem like a solid starting point for now…

Was that the love story you were expecting?

The interpretation of this show seems to vary based on one’s perspective. Are you more inclined towards the outsiders, who are yearning for the elusive joy they sought through a life-altering brain surgery that isolates parts of their existence? Or perhaps you sympathize with the inners, longing for a fulfilling life rather than being mere creations born out of despair? Maybe you’re invested in the rekindling of lost love or the growth of new relationships. These were the emotions swirling around as Mark’s inner self stood in the hallway between Gemma and Helly. It seems like he was grappling with these feelings too.

It’s understandable why he chose as he did, considering factors beyond just personal gain and his preference for the redhead over the other woman. Trust matters in this situation, which was strained from the start when Mark’s inner and outer selves had that awkward conversation via camcorder. Mark’s inner self felt disrespected by his outer self’s casual dismissal of the life they built within Lumon. He became defensive when his outer self mispronounced Helly’s name in a seemingly patronizing tone. He wasn’t comfortable with his outer self assuming he would easily accept a plan that could endanger his friends and potentially erase his own existence, relying on the word of the man who placed him there initially. Mark’s inner self has had a tough past, giving him reasons to be cautious. Cobel’s presence didn’t seem to ease the tension much.

There’s also the matter of… To put it another way, why should his inner self believe his outer self deserves any of this? His outer self is a depressed individual with no friends who has undergone two experimental brain surgeries in an attempt to escape their misery. Yes, getting Gemma back could alleviate some of that, but Mark’s inner self doesn’t have a clear understanding of what life was like before. All he knows is that he has companions, a sense of purpose, and is in love, while this person who has lived without any of that for years is asking him to relinquish it all for something unpredictable at best. Therefore, yes, he released Gemma, and yes, he followed through with most of the plan, but when faced with two possible futures in that decisive moment, he chose the one he was willing to struggle for. It’s difficult not to sympathize with his decision.

But, like … where does any of this … go … from here?

Indeed, there’s a bit of a sticky situation here. Mark’s and Helly’s inner selves had their Bonnie and Clyde moment, dashing through corridors as the alarm blared, culminating in a freeze-frame that, to an uninformed observer, might appear as an ending, but it was merely the conclusion of this season. However, matters remain intricate. If Mark’s inner self steps off the main floor for even a moment, his outer self will never return. Drummond is now a substantial mass outside the elevator, frozen in Iceland. (If you happen to know someone who attended law school, please refrain from inquiring about whether Mark’s inner or outer self is accountable for the murder. They might become excessively talkative.) The Cold Harbor project was functioning smoothly until it ceased to do so. The goat lady has turned against us. The vending machine is out of order. Things are chaotic on the main floor in numerous ways.

Here’s an intriguing twist: James openly confessed that he has stronger feelings for Helly R. than for his own daughter, Helena. He admires her passion and spirit, and seems to recognize traits of Kier in her, though the meaning behind this is unclear. This could lead to a situation where James tries to keep Helly permanently with him, potentially preserving the damaged floor, along with the corpses, and even keeping Mark’s inner entity below. The only certainty is that things will get complex. Gemma will have much to process. Devon will likely react strongly. Lumon will need to find a way to hide most of this information. It promises to be chaotic. I’m prepared whenever they decide to move forward.

Do we have a clearer picture of what Lumon is up to now?

It’s plausible that what we’re witnessing could stem from an immortality technique, one that allows memories to be transferred from one body to another indefinitely. This was my hypothesis earlier in the season, and it’s based on several observations:

1. The character of Miss Huang (Could she possibly be clones?).
2. The recurring presence of goats (Again, could they represent clones or some sort of genetic manipulation?).
3. The tendency of affluent eccentrics to pursue immortality, a trait exhibited by the character of James Eagan.

However, we subsequently discovered that Miss Huang was simply a typical child who had been part of Lumon’s longstanding practice of child labor. Similarly, we learned that the goats were being raised for burial with deceased test subjects to guide their souls to the afterlife. We also came across Kier’s “eternal war against pain” and observed that Gemma’s final test in Cold Harbor was dismantling the same baby crib from when she and Mark were trying to conceive. This prompted me to recall that the one thing affluent eccentrics cherish almost as much as immortality is the notion of a utopia achieved through technology.

Currently, this is my current state. I believe that Mark and Gemma played crucial roles in the project because they represented a couple going through pain. The idea was that if Lumon could separate them and disconnect specific brain areas responsible for remembering that pain, they might be on the path to eliminating suffering. Mark was able to encounter Ms. Casey without triggering his Gemma-related traumas. On the other hand, Gemma underwent a series of stressful scenarios, culminating in one particularly harsh situation to determine if memories could be eliminated separately. All these elements seem to suggest a potential future where every newborn receives an implant in their brain, and whenever someone experiences something unpleasant, they visit the doctor who presses some buttons and erases any negative emotions forever – essentially creating a society of emotionless beings who feel nothing and never learn from their experiences.

Despite Cold Harbor failing the critical examination, an unexpected event occurred – “a man drenched in blood, your husband, bursts into the room and demands you follow him.” This incident requires additional analysis of data points to be fully understood. It doesn’t mean we’re starting completely over with our plan, but it may lead us back to a simpler stage in the process.

Are Dylan and his marching-band army now the most formidable force inside Lumon?

Some preliminary notes:

It wasn’t expected that Dylan wouldn’t accept the resignation request, as I believed he would be delighted. Yet, in a peculiar way, it’s heartening to see his underachiever self using this situation as a wake-up call and striving to improve himself. I’m cheering him on.

As a cinema enthusiast, I often find myself pondering about the daily lives of movie band members, especially those in marching bands depicted on screen. For instance, when they’re not strutting their stuff during performances, what activities keep them busy? Do the outer layers play musical instruments, or is it the inner parts that do so? Were the inner beings trained from scratch since they had no prior knowledge of music? And here’s an interesting thought: could it be possible that one of these musicians switches roles – say, a drummer on the outside who was required to play the trumpet when circumstances demanded? It’s a fascinating web of questions, and I’ll spare you from more before they become too numerous!

Indeed, I’m eagerly anticipating the new season to find Dylan adorned in warrior makeup, leading the band, their musical instruments transformed into menacing points. For now, let’s hold onto that vision.

What’s going on with Milchick, man?

To be straightforward, I must admit I was a bit let down by how Milchick’s storyline concluded this season. I had anticipated that he would make a significant move against Lumon, given all the disrespect and excessive work hours. I truly believed we were on the brink of witnessing him standing up to the company after his clever remark about Kier’s height. (I also can’t help but wonder if I was the only ’90s basketball fan who heard the beginning of “Sirius” by Alan Parsons Project and envisioned the Kier statue exclaiming, “And now, your Chicago Bulls!”) However, it seemed that none of these expectations were met, as Milchick played along until the final moments when he was cornered by the marching band troops.

He managed to dance once more, which could be a way for him to release tension. His contract might require this: “Dance with Seth at least once per month.” It certainly brings joy to him.

Aren’t you kind of glad they got Miss Huang out of there before all this went down?

I felt disappointed when Miss Huang left us recently. She had only just become more relatable, and I was beginning to appreciate her, hoping she’d get to play her theremin a bit longer. Perhaps even a rendition of an ’80s pop tune. Something upbeat would be perfect. Hall & Oates could have been a great choice.

Despite everything that transpired, the murder, the loud alarms, and the abrupt disruption of her projects, it’s relieving that she managed to leave when she did. Miss Huang had no business being involved in this situation. Moreover, I wouldn’t have wanted to spend the entire episode fretting over the safety of a child I had grown fond of. It would have been quite distressing for both of us.

Should you ever hand a bolt gun to a traumatized goat herder with instructions to sacrifice yet another of her beloved baby goats and then walk away to investigate a mysterious noise in the hallway as her eyes fill with a combination of tears, doubt, and rage?

You really should not.

2025-03-21 10:57