The long-awaited second season of Apple TV+’s Severance has finally arrived, and let me tell you, the first three episodes have delivered a mind-blowing return to Lumon, packed with shocking revelations and unsettling new mysteries! Picking up right where the explosive season one finale left off, we rejoin Mark, Helly, Irving, and Dylan as they grapple with the aftermath of their daring overtime contingency. And just like the enigmatic world of Lumon Industries, this season is already proving to be a labyrinth of intrigue and suspense.
Episode 1: “Hello, Ms. Cobel” – A World Turned Upside Down
The premiere episode, “Hello, Ms. Cobel,” throws us straight back into the deep end. Mark finds himself disoriented and confused, surrounded by unfamiliar faces in the MDR office. Milchick, ever the enigmatic presence, reveals that five months have passed since the innies’ “outie” experiences. It turns out that the MDR team has become the face of Severance reform, their faces plastered across news channels and magazines as symbols of Lumon’s supposed commitment to transparency. While this newfound fame might seem like a positive development, it’s clear that Lumon is still pulling the strings, using the MDR team as pawns in their own twisted game. And to add another layer of weirdness to the already bizarre workplace dynamics, a child, Miss Huang, is introduced as the new deputy department head. Seriously, a child! What is Lumon up to?
Amidst the confusion and corporate manipulation, one of the biggest mysteries from season one is addressed: the fate of Mark’s wife, Gemma. While Milchick doesn’t explicitly confirm she’s alive, he heavily implies it by bringing her up in conversation and reminding Mark that his innie is “happy” because he doesn’t carry the burden of her death. This insinuation sets the stage for a compelling emotional arc as Mark grapples with the possibility of reuniting with his presumed-dead wife.
Episode 2: “Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig” – The Outie’s Perspective
The second episode, “Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig,” shifts the focus to the outies and the repercussions of the innies’ actions. Helena Eagan, now fully aware of her innie’s rebellious exploits, faces the consequences of Helly R’s outburst at the gala. Cobel, demoted and replaced by Milchick, grapples with her resentment and her desire to regain control of the severed floor.
This episode delves deeper into the fallout from the overtime contingency. Milchick, now in charge of damage control, tries to assess the impact of the innies’ interactions with the outside world. He fires Irving and Dylan, while Helena, under pressure from her father and the board, films a fake apology video to downplay the events at the gala.
Meanwhile, Mark struggles to reconcile his innie’s experiences with his own memories, leading to a tense confrontation with Cobel, who seems to know more about Gemma’s whereabouts than she lets on. The episode ends with Cobel speeding away from Mark, leaving us wondering what secrets she’s hiding and what role she’ll play in this season’s unfolding drama.
Mark’s Internal Struggle
Mark’s outie is noticeably less energetic than his innie counterpart, a fact that Milchick attributes to the burden of Gemma’s death. This highlights the profound impact of grief on Mark’s life and underscores the appeal of severance as a means of escape.
Devon’s Suspicions
Mark’s sister, Devon, plays a more prominent role in this episode. She doesn’t buy Mark’s explanation that his outburst about someone being alive was about her baby and continues to press him about the possibility that his innie was referring to Gemma. Devon’s intelligence and perceptiveness make her a key player in unraveling the mysteries surrounding Lumon.
Episode 3: “Who Is Alive?” – Goats, Reintegration, and More Questions
While episode two focused on the outies’ reactions, episode three, “Who Is Alive?,” plunges us back into the unsettling world of Lumon and introduces even more mysteries. Mark, determined to find Ms. Casey (who he now believes is Gemma), embarks on a quest with Helly and Irving to uncover the truth. Their search leads them to a hidden room filled with baby goats. Yes, you read that right, baby goats! This bizarre and unsettling discovery raises more questions than answers. What are these goats doing in Lumon? Are they part of some strange experiment? And what is their connection to the severed workers?
A New Department and a Familiar Face
As if the goats weren’t strange enough, Mark and Helly stumble upon an entire floor dedicated to these furry creatures, a department known as “Mammalians Nurturable”. Here they encounter a new character, played by the ever-imposing Gwendoline Christie, who oversees this mysterious department. Her presence adds another layer of intrigue to the already complex world of Lumon, and I can’t wait to see how her character develops in the coming episodes.
A Risky Procedure
In a desperate attempt to access his innie’s memories and find out more about Gemma, Mark undergoes a risky reintegration procedure. This procedure, which we saw have devastating consequences for Petey in season one, involves synchronizing his brainwaves to merge his innie and outie consciousnesses. It’s a dangerous gamble, and the episode ends with Dr. Reghabi struggling to control the process, leaving us in suspense about Mark’s fate.
Dylan’s “Perk”
Meanwhile, Dylan receives a rather unsettling “perk” from Milchick: a visit with his outie’s wife. This seemingly innocent gesture raises some serious ethical questions. Is Lumon manipulating Dylan by granting him this access to his outie’s life? And what are the potential long-term consequences of this interaction for both Dylan and his outie’s family?
Cobel’s Uncertain Future
And let’s not forget about Cobel. Her motivations remain shrouded in secrecy as she continues to clash with Helena and the board. Her erratic behavior, driving away from Lumon multiple times in episode three, only adds to the mystery surrounding her character. Is she plotting revenge? Or is she trying to protect Mark and the MDR team from something even more sinister within Lumon?
Lingering Mysteries and New Questions
| Mystery | Status | Notes | Snippet IDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the nature of Cobel’s job offer? | Unsolved | Cobel is clearly up to something, but her true intentions remain unclear. She seems determined to regain control of the severed floor and keep a close eye on Mark. | |
| What is the purpose of the “Mammalians Nurturable” department? | Unsolved | The goats are clearly important to Lumon, but their exact role is still a mystery. Are they part of some experiment? Or do they serve a more symbolic purpose? | |
| What is the significance of Milchick’s gift from The Board? | Unsolved | Milchick receives a box of “re-canonicalized” paintings of Kier Eagan, but with a disturbing alteration: Kier is now depicted as a Black man. This seemingly innocuous gift raises questions about Lumon’s motives and their attitude towards race and history. | |
| Who is alive? | Partially solved | Mark learns that Gemma may still be alive, but her current status and whereabouts are unknown. The search for Gemma is a driving force in this season, and the mystery surrounding her identity and connection to Lumon deepens with each episode. |
These unanswered questions, combined with the show’s signature atmosphere of paranoia and suspense, keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The performances remain top-notch, with Adam Scott masterfully portraying Mark’s confusion and desperation, Britt Lower capturing Helly’s growing unease, and John Turturro and Zach Cherry providing moments of both humor and pathos.
Milchick: The Master Manipulator
Speaking of performances, I have to give a special shout-out to Tramell Tillman as Milchick. His portrayal of the ever-smiling, yet subtly menacing Lumon enforcer is truly captivating. He walks that fine line between helpful colleague and manipulative overlord with chilling precision.
Expanding the Lumon Universe
The show’s creators have also done an excellent job of building on the world established in season one. The sterile, almost clinical aesthetic of Lumon is still present, but we’re also getting glimpses of new and unsettling environments, like the goat-filled pasture and the mysterious “Exports Hall” in the O&D department. This expansion of the Lumon universe adds to the sense of unease and makes us question just how deep this rabbit hole goes.
Blending the Bizarre with the Relatable
One of the things I appreciate about Severance is its ability to blend the bizarre with the relatable. While the concept of severing one’s memories is clearly science fiction, the show also explores themes of corporate control, identity, and the search for meaning in a world that often feels meaningless. This resonates with viewers on a deeper level, making the show more than just a mind-bending thriller.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the first three episodes of Severance season two have delivered a captivating blend of mystery, intrigue, and dark humor. The show continues to push the boundaries of science fiction storytelling, exploring the ethical and philosophical implications of severance technology while keeping us guessing at every turn. With more twists and turns sure to come, this season promises to be even more mind-bending than the first.