Who is Gunnel Eagan?

In the ninth episode of Severance Season 2, Milchick brings up an unfamiliar name – Gunnel Eagan. Here’s a possible connection to the Eagan family lineage that could be explored.

In the world of Severance, places like Cold Harbor, the Exports Hall, and the Damona Birthing Retreat, among others, are all connected to the Eagan family, who hold a cult-like influence over Lumon Industries.

It’s well-known that Lumon was established as a pharmaceutical company during the 19th century. This company played a significant role in pioneering the concept of severance, which has revolutionized work-life balance for many people. Beyond this, there are some details about its history that are not entirely clear; these topics are often discussed in stories and religious texts, such as Dieter Eagan’s fourth appendix.

The ancestry of their family can be traced back to the 1800s, a fact made evident during the MDR team’s tour of the Perpetuity Wing in Season 1. So, what is the connection between this history and Gunnel Eagan?

Gunnel Eagan is presumed to be an early descendant of Kier Eagan who lived in Norway.

In truth, there’s no specific information available about when they were born, their family connection to Kier, or the location of their residence. Yet, their name and the things they inspired serve as hints on their own.

According to The Bump, the name Gunnel is an old Norse origin, derived from Gunhilda, which means ‘warrior maiden’. This name embodies both strength and elegance, setting your child on a path to become a fierce and graceful warrior!

The name isn’t usually common – interestingly, the Eagan family history shows it’s uncommon for the Eagans to name their kids with this name.

In Episode 9, Milchick informs Miss Huang that she will be moving to the Gunnel Eagan Empathy Center in Svalbard. For those who are not familiar, Svalbard is a sparsely populated region situated between Norway and the North Pole. It seems that Miss Huang has some connection to Scandinavia.

Eagan family tree

Excluding Gunnel, there are 10 known members of the Eagan family:

Kier Eagan
Dieter Eagan (brother)
Imogene Eagan (wife)
Ambrose Eagan (son)
Myrtle Eagan (daughter)
Baird Eagan (descendant)
Gerhardt Eagan (descendant)
Phillip Eagan (descendant)
Leonora Eagan (descendant)
Jame Eagan (descendant)
Helena Eagan (descendant)

According to Lumon, the work they do is both enigmatic and significant, which means that sometimes it’s unclear what precise role they played in the Eagan legacy. Nevertheless, we’ve gathered as many details as we could, and you can find them below.

Kier Eagan

Lumon’s founder and CEO

Born: 1841
Died: 1939
Tenure as CEO: 1865-1939

In the annals of the Lumon family, it’s Kier Eagan, as the original founder and inaugural CEO, who holds the greatest significance.

In the world of Severance, he is not just a forebearer; rather, he holds a divine status for those who believe in Lumon and “the Nine.” There are numerous depictions of him through artworks and literature, statues that eternalize his image, and his teachings are regarded as sacred scripture by Lumon. Among these teachings is the concept of the Four Temperaments.

As a gamer, I’ve come up with four key aspects, or “tempers,” that make up the essence of any human spirit: Woe, Joy, Fear, and Malice. Earlier, my wax figure detailed this.

Each person’s personality is unique, shaped by a specific balance within them. I ventured into the depths of my own mind, where I mastered those aspects. If you can control your emotions like I did with mine, then the world will feel like an extension of yourself. It is this powerful and sacred gift that I wish to bestow upon all of you, my dear offspring.

As the CEO, I slipped into an incognito role to listen to my team’s concerns, much like the hero in the Grakappan story who disguised himself to understand his people better.

Imogene Eagan

Kier’s wife

Born: Unknown
Died: Unknown
Tenure as CEO: N/A

Imogene Eagan served as Kier’s spouse, yet much of her life remains shrouded in mystery. Unlike Kier, she did not ascend to the position of CEO at Lumon, and the exact timing of her passing is ambiguous.

They certainly know where their encounter took place: it was at an old grist mill, depicted in The Courtship of Kier and Imogene painting, and they formed a strong bond through shared work ethic, often referred to as “industrious spirit.” While she may not receive the same level of reverence as Kier, she remains a crucial character in the family’s history.

Dieter Eagan

Kier’s secret twin brother

Born: 1841
Died: Unknown
Tenure as CEO: N/A

Dieter’s existence was revealed during the Innie’s ORTBO in Severance Season 2 Episode 4.

According to what’s written in the fourth appendix, Kier wasn’t born all by himself. Instead, he and his mother shared living quarters before he was born – a twin brother named Dieter was also present.

As a baby, he was like a cherished companion to me. But when we grew older and became boys, he asked me to leave with him and live in poverty among the woods. Blinded by my affection for my twin, I agreed, and we embarked on a journey towards Woe’s Hollow. (Helly reads this)

Every evening at this time, my brother would move stealthily, hidden among the plants until he freed himself. The noise of his excitement seemed to blend oddly with the sounds of the forest… each movement of his found a beat with the chirping of crickets, the wind’s mournful howl, and the annual melting of snowfall.

Dieter transformed into a tool of nature, and nature skillfully orchestrated actions through Dieter. I found myself compelled to bear witness as he traced his ancestry into the earth.

Later on, I find myself delving into another captivating chapter. “Dieter, with an air of uncleanliness, was nestled in his makeshift bedroll, musing that the pond in this secluded hollow seemed ripe for a refreshing bath,” I reflect.

After consuming the rabbit we’d caught and sharing rhyming jokes until our bellies ached, a notion began to surface in my mind. ‘It’s time we head back to our Father,’ I declared. ‘I vow to care for you in the realm beyond.’

As I finally heard a sound emerge from him, it was a mournful whimper, as if he had resigned himself to a life of destitution in the woods forever. In that moment, I watched as his eye sprung out, pushed by a sudden gush of pus from his skull. He seemed to try and grab at his hair, but instead, it came away effortlessly – turning into mossy strands from his bleeding scalp.

And as the puss in his wound hardened like syrup, I moved away from my sibling who was gargling, and made my way towards the pool in the Hollow. There, I knew the sound of the waterfall would muffle my brother’s cries.

Helena playfully teases that Dieter was transformed into a tree because he misused a sacred forest, and there’s a hint that Kier could have tragically killed his own brother. (or)

Helena humorously implies that Dieter was changed into a tree due to disrespecting a holy woodland, and it seems plausible that Kier might have taken his brother’s life.

Ambrose Eagan

Kier’s first son and Lumon’s second CEO

Born: 1885
Died: 1941
Tenure as CEO: 1939-1941

In 1939, Ambrose Eagan took over as CEO from his parents Kier and Imogene, at the company Lumon. Unfortunately, he passed away just two years later in 1941.

1. It’s worth mentioning that although he was groomed to take over from Kier, Myrtle felt she would be a better fit as his successor;
2. Unfortunately, Dylan was unjustly criticized by his family (when Dylan enters the Perpetuity Wing, one of his bingo squares reads, “Covert Negativity Towards Ambrose”).

Myrtle Eagan

Kier’s first daughter and Ambrose’s successor as CEO

Born: 1886
Died: 1960
Tenure as CEO: 1941-1959

Myrtle Eagan served as the CEO of Lumon from the year following her brother’s demise, which was in 1959, until her own passing in the subsequent year.

I had the honor of being the pioneering female CEO at Lumon, and it’s widely speculated that I was the one who established the prestigious Myrtle Eagan School for Girls, where Harmony Cobel was a student.

The statue in the Perpetuity Wing depicts the idea that being part of the Eagan family, whether a true Eagan or an employee at Lumon, means upholding a set of values we deeply value and believe will ultimately change the world for the better.

The essence of who we are traces back to our origins with Kier. As a young girl, my father would have me repeat these words… Insight, vitality, intelligence, joy, modesty, kindness, agility, integrity, cunningness.

Baird Eagan

The fourth CEO of Lumon

Born: 1902
Died: 1976
Tenure as CEO: 1959-1976

Baird Eegan succeeded Myrtle as Lumon’s fourth CEO… and that’s pretty much all we know.

He is a descendant of Kier, although their relationship isn’t explicitly defined. An interesting tidbit: the neighborhood where Mark resides, known as Baird Creek Manor, was actually named in honor of him.

Gerhardt Eagan

The fifth CEO of Lumon

Born: 1920
Died: 1991
Tenure as CEO: 1976-1987

In a fascinating turn of events, I’ve stepped into Baird’s shoes as the fifth CEO at Lumon. Although details about me are scant, rest assured, my tenure is not forgettable. Intriguingly, Season 1 hints at my presence through a restaurant named after me, Gerhardt’s, where Mark went on a memorable date.

Phillip Eagan

The sixth CEO of Lumon

Born: 1937
Died: 1999
Tenure as CEO: 1987-1999

Philip Eagan took over from Gerhardt as the sixth CEO at Lumon. Often called Pip, this nickname was the basis for Pip’s Bar and Grille, a popular eatery in Severance. For instance, when Innies experience work-related injuries, Lumon provides them with gift cards to Pip’s.

Leonora Eagan

The seventh CEO of Lumon

Born: 1955
Died: 2003
Tenure as CEO: 1999-2003

As I step into the role of CEO at Lumon in 1999, I follow in the footsteps of Pip, making me the second female leader in this esteemed company. My four-year reign might be shrouded in mystery, but my legacy lives on in Leonora Lake – the Lumon housing complex where my presence is still felt by its residents, including Irving.

Jame Eagan

The eighth and current CEO of Lumon

Born: 1960
Died: Still alive
Tenure as CEO: 2003-present

James Eagan serves as the eighth CEO of Lumon Corporation. Notably, he’s the one who implemented the severance policy worldwide, although it was originally created by Cobel and he claimed credit for it. Unlike previous Eagans, James isn’t simply a family member; we know his father was Pip Eagan.

He’s both stern and somewhat peculiar. For instance, listen to the slight whimper he made when Helena sliced into her boiled egg. Regardless, he deeply cares for his daughter, and he anticipates that she will be seated with him at his side during his retirement from his role.

Helena Eagan

The daughter of Jame Eagan and his future successor

Born: Unknown
Died: Still alive
Tenure as CEO: N/A

Helena Egan is James’ biological child, who had been disconnected from her family until the fourth episode of the second season. Prior to this point, only Irving might have been aware that Helena held the surname Egan in the broader society.

She’s quite distinct from her Inner Self, displaying a chilly, detached demeanor, craving warmth and affection. However, there are some resemblances to Helly, intriguingly enough, but her Inner Self appears to be a more well-rounded and endearing character.

Helena might not be Lumon’s current CEO, but she wields significant influence within the company, often referred to as a potential future leader. In the first season, she told Helly that she wasn’t a real person, yet hints suggest she could change her ways and potentially find redemption before the series concludes.

2025-03-14 06:51