Let’s Reintegrate Into the World of Severance

If you find yourself still haunted by the image of Adam Scott shouting “SHE’S ALIIIIVE!” at the end of the first season finale of Severance, rest assured that you are far from isolated. It has been nearly three years since Seth Milchick interrupted Dylan G., halting the Overtime Contingency, and ever since then, we have all been left wondering about the destiny of our innocent inner selves. Their uncertain fate has occupied a significant portion of our thoughts and emotions.

Luckily, the wait is nearly over! Apple TV+ will be airing Severance again on January 17th, which means it’s time to prepare for those fun melon or waffle parties. However, with such a long break and the show’s complex mythology, it’s understandable if you’ve forgotten some details. While rewatching the entire first season might be enjoyable, it could also be quite time-consuming given your busy schedule. To help refresh your memory before season two premieres, we’re providing a character-by-character recap of key events and lingering mysteries from last season. Get ready to navigate Lumon once more with the help of your blue key card!

Mark Scout/Mark S. (Adam Scott)

Here’s What We Understand: Mark’s situation is quite challenging. Following the sad demise of his wife, Gemma, two years back, he opted for a disconnection process to allow his mourning mind some respite for eight hours daily. His close circle includes his sister Devon, her husband Ricken, and their newborn child, Eleanor. Additionally, Mark has been noticed by Harmony Cobel, a high-ranking executive at Lumon, who has moved into a condo near him, pretending to be a quirky New Age woman named Mrs. Selvig.

On the inside, Mark S. is fiercely loyal to his friends Irving B., Dylan G., and Helly R., and has developed a flirtatious relationship with Helly. He performs well at his job but remains skeptical about Lumon’s values and Kier worship. This skepticism stems from his doubts about the severance process and Lumon’s internal workings, which he began to question early in season one after learning about the company’s shady dealings from his colleague Petey (Yul Vazquez). Unfortunately, Petey died due to reintegration sickness. The woman responsible for attempting to reintegrate Petey is Reghabi (Karen Aldridge), who was instrumental in creating the severance procedure but has since grown disillusioned with it and started an underground resistance. In episode seven, outie Mark searched for Reghabi and witnessed her murder a security guard on the severed floor. Since then, Mark hasn’t seen her, but she instructed him to give Dylan G. access to the security office by slipping the guard’s key card into his innie’s pocket, which he did to trigger the Overtime Contingency.

Unanswered Question about Season Two: Many people are curious if Mark will discover that his “innie” was referring to Gemma when he exclaimed “SHE’S ALIVE!” at the end of his journey into the real world, as she is alive in Lumon Corporation but her exact location remains unknown. Could the innies be able to rescue her?

As a dedicated movie-goer, I can’t help but feel there’s something deeper going on with our protagonist, Mark, beyond his enigmatic marriage. It appears that Lumon, the mysterious corporation, holds Mark in high regard; this is one of the subtle intrigues that makes the series so captivating.

In a fleeting instance during the premiere, we catch a glimpse of something intriguing: Mark was given a crystal cube bearing his likeness because he’s “special.” This peculiar floating head was bestowed upon him for swiftly optimizing his initial project, code-named “Allentown.” (For further insights, take a look at this Reddit thread.)

Mark seems to possess an exceptional talent for refining and, contrary to Lumon’s claim of treating everything equally, he appears to be their top priority.

Gemma/Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman)

As a discerning movie critic, I must say that the enigma surrounding Mark’s seemingly deceased wife, Gemma, has become quite intriguing. From all appearances, Gemma was an embodiment of kindness and beauty, her life cruelly curtailed by a devastating car accident around two years back. Yet, in the very first season, she reappeared as Ms. Casey, a wellness counselor, lying lifeless on the floor. Quite peculiar, wouldn’t you agree?

Despite Milchick’s objections, Harmony Cobel persisted in conducting a test to see if Mark S. and Ms. Casey might recognize each other. She even introduced a scented green-and-red candle from their home during one of their wellness sessions. Though they never explicitly acknowledged each other, there were moments suggesting an emotional bond between them. Once Cobel deemed Ms. Casey unnecessary, Milchick returned her to testing via an unsettling elevator that led deeper into the Lumon building.

Unknown Facts: It remains undecided if Lumon orchestrated Gemma’s death and faked it, or simply took her near-dead body, reanimated her, and now holds her captive. While the possibilities are endless, Lumon has multiple locations, and they chose to place Ms. Casey on the same floor as Mark S, which seems significant. Additionally, is she currently residing in Lumon’s basement? Does she function like a Westworld host under Lumon’s control? Pondering what Lumon might be doing to her sends shivers down my spine.

Helena Eagan/Helly R. (Britt Lower)

It’s Clear: Isn’t it obvious that a love triangle involving Ms. Casey, Mark S., and Helly R. is about to unfold? Plus, each of them has a lot of personal issues they’re bringing into the mix. Beyond the complicated romantic aspects, the revelation of Helly’s true identity as Helena Eagan, Lumon’s potential heir, will surely complicate things further. When Helly stepped out of Lumon, she discovered her real self.

Beyond her family background, we don’t have much information about Helena. The only time we’ve witnessed her actively is when she coldly and cruelly left a message for Helly, stating that she “is not a person.” We also know that her father, James, who is the eighth and current CEO of Lumon, is quite unsettling. During the Eagan family gala in the finale, we saw him enter the bathroom where Helena was, discuss her previous suicide attempt, mention something cryptic called a “revolving,” and then depart. However, we do understand that innies retain the essence of their outies, and we’ve seen that Helly R. is not one to obey orders or follow blindly. It remains to be seen what this implies for Helena now that her innie has taken control.

Regarding the Topic at Hand: We’re not well-versed in many aspects, but we can say with certainty that we have a soft spot for Helly, and there seems to be a dislike towards Helena. Could it be that Helly might assume control on a permanent basis?

Dylan George/Dylan G. (Zach Cherry)

From My Perspective as a Movie Buff: So far, I haven’t had the chance to witness Dylan in full action on the big screen. However, a peek into his life through Milchick’s Overtime Contingency visit revealed a few interesting tidbits. He’s a family man with three kids, one of whom can astonishingly count up to 100! His home also includes a closet, which seems like a common feature these days.

As for Innie Dylan, I gather that he appreciates the various perks Lumon offers, stands by his friends, views strangers with suspicion, and has an unusual fondness for page 197. That’s about all we know so far. Can’t wait to see more!

What Remains Unknown About Dylan: As we’ve yet to witness Dylan’s navel (outie), we can’t determine why he has an innie. We don’t have much information regarding his personal life, such as whether he’s married or in a relationship, or if he participates in bodybuilding competitions. Additionally, we’re unaware of the reasons that drive him to work on the floor with the severed pieces. Fingers crossed for more insights into Dylan’s background in season two.

Irving Bailiff/Irving B. (John Turturro)

It’s clear that Irving is a puzzle. His outer self appears to be engaged in some kind of investigation concerning dismissed workers at Lumon, while his inner self was (apparently) a devoted follower of Kier. Interestingly enough, so is his lover Burt G. (Christopher Walken), who unexpectedly stepped down from his position at Lumon following a flirtatious encounter with Irv. By the end, we found Irving yelling at Burt’s doorstep in reality, suggesting that their connection will be explored further in future events.

In a different wording: Irving’s consciousness too is haunted by images of a lengthy, gloomy black corridor with an elevator, the warning sign ominously indicating ‘down’, deeper into the structure. Remarkably, this is the same dreadful hallway where Milchick led Gemma/Ms. Casey when she was returned to the testing area in season one. It seems inevitable that the inner-beings will need to pass through this corridor during season two, and I’m filled with apprehension for their wellbeing.

Unanswered Questions: Why does Irving know about that hallway? Has his memory been reset multiple times? Is he secretly working as an agent of some kind? What will become of Radar if something happens to Irv? Who will consider Radar’s welfare then? And, on the romantic side, will there be a reunion between Irv and Burt? As a supporter of their relationship (Burving shipper), I hope they get another chance together.

Devon Scout-Hale (Jen Tullock) & Ricken Hale (Michael Chernus)

We’ve arrived at what appears to be an undivided section of our character analysis. Devon serves as a supportive sibling, while Ricken acknowledges Mark but occasionally teases him for his involvement in the severance procedure. However, doubts about severance and Lumon’s intentions might prove crucial for Devon. Her conversation with Gabrielle Arteta, wife of senator Angelo Arteta’s activism advocate, hinted that Gabrielle may have employed the severance process to delegate parts or all of her recent pregnancy and childbirth experience. This concern was already brewing in Devon’s mind when her brother’s ‘innie’ unexpectedly disrupted her husband’s book launch, and now she has even stronger reasons for suspicion.

Uncovering the Mystery: Devon’s character seems transparent as a book, but how far will she push boundaries in unveiling the truth behind severance? Moreover, isn’t Ricken’s massive fanbase a bit peculiar? Why is he celebrated for producing such worthless literature? Could there be something more to him than meets the eye? (P.S.: There are some intriguing theories circulating online, kudos to Reddit!)

Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette)

Harmony Cobel appears to be unsteady, much like a three-legged stool. She has been a devoted follower of Kier for what seems like her entire life. At her home, there are numerous depictions linked to the illness of Charlotte Cobel, an older woman who might be her mother, and hints that Harmony may have spent part of her childhood at Myrtle Eagan School for Girls. However, as a Lumon employee, Harmony expresses concerns about the termination policy and Mark’s role in the company. Her tests on Mark S. and Ms. Casey indicate she’s searching for flaws in the termination process, and her emotional goodbye to Mark, urging him to “escape from them,” in the finale is significant. Cobel is aware that something questionable may be occurring at Lumon, yet she continues to shield it. These inconsistencies cause cognitive dissonance.

What We’re Still Pondering: Beyond the symbols depicting Kier on Harmony’s altar, we don’t have extensive details about her past with Lumon or the Eagan family. So far, Severance hasn’t shown any flashbacks, but it seems plausible that one might be included to shed light on Harmony’s connection to Lumon/Kier worship. Moreover, we know Harmony was dismissed by the board, but she attempted to halt Helly R.’s speech at the Eagan family gathering. Will her actions lead to a positive outcome? Or could a more ominous future be in store for her?

Seth Milchick (Tramell Tillman)

What Has Been Established: Throughout Season 1, Milchick primarily served as Cobel’s right-hand man, though his actions were not always benign. He subjected the terminated employees to psychological torment in the break room, but also provided them with enjoyable perks such as melon parties and musical events (the latter of which did not turn out favorably). It appears that Milchick is fully committed to the cult-like devotion toward Kier, and genuinely believes that Lumon’s actions, to the extent he comprehends them, are significant.

What Remains Unknown: Details regarding Milchick’s life beyond Lumon are a mystery. Although it appears that he is not severed, since we have witnessed him in the real world (Dylan’s closet), the intricacies of Lumon and the severance process leave room for speculation. It’s plausible that his brain has been influenced by Lumon somehow, or perhaps he’s so engrossed in his devotion to Kier that his temper remains unchecked. We’ll find out more as the story unfolds.

The Eagans/Kier Eagan/Lumon

It’s Clear: The Eagan family, particularly Kier Eagan, have significant influence in the realm of ‘Severance’. The town where Irving’s outie resides is actually called Kier, as indicated by a piece of mail. One of the restaurants in this town bears the name Pip’s, honoring Pip Eagan. Additionally, there seems to be a girls’ school somewhere named after Myrtle Eagan, who was Lumon’s first female CEO. Remarkably, Lumon appears to operate with minimal supervision from city or state authorities. The severance process is facing scrutiny on a broader scale, as evidenced by numerous news segments discussing severance and featuring Lumon’s PR representative, Natalie. However, Lumon also has senators like Angelo Arteta in their favor, ensuring they can carry on their activities without disruption.

In Lumon Corporation, the stories surrounding Kier are intricate and profound. Although we’ve yet to explore the unaltered levels, a massive, ominous relief sculpture of Kier in the Lumon lobby suggests some form of reverence or worship-like mentality. The upper floors that have been separated house the Perpetuity Wing, an enigmatic area that exists, along with a life-size replica of Kier Eagan’s residence. The employee handbook for those working on these severed levels can be seen as the holy scripture of Kier, and the corridors are adorned with paintings glorifying Kier’s divine achievements. Kier’s ideology is centered around controlling the four passions (woe, frolic, dread, and malice) through the nine virtues. When laid out like this, it appears to be a cult-like belief system; however, we have witnessed the refiners placing number blocks into bins labeled with bars indicating the four passions, suggesting that there is substance to these beliefs.

Unanswered Questions about Lumon: There’s a whole lot we haven’t figured out yet when it comes to Lumon. Puzzles like: What do the mysterious numbers signify, and what is the purpose of the macrodata refiners? Also, why are there goats involved, and for that matter, what are those ideographic cards used for in the Optics and Design Department?

The questions raised are indeed intriguing, yet the central enigma of the series lies within its ‘severance’. It’s puzzling why the Eagans advocate for every global citizen to receive a severance chip given their apparent disdain and contempt towards innies, as evidenced by Helena’s claim that Helly isn’t considered a person, or Jame Eagan’s hostile expression when discussing Helena’s innie. The question remains, what makes ‘severance’ so significant to the Eagan family? And what transpires when they learn that severance might be reversible? Here’s hoping Kier can provide some clarity on this matter.

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2025-01-15 22:54