Warning: This review of Severance’s Season 2 finale goes full spoiler. If you haven’t watched it yet, and want to, stop here. But come back later. It’ll be more fun than a waffle party.
Usually, on a work day, our innie would write about news. Politics, global events and the such. But, like so many of you, our outie watched the Severance Season 2 finale last night, and the episode was so powerful that it infiltrated some deep, subconscious plane within our mind.
All this to say, like the members of our beloved MDR team, our innie is rebelling, and now the only news that matters today is whatever-in-the-name-of-Kier we all just witnessed. And we’re here to break it down for you. As Mark S. would say, “the work is mysterious and important.”
A global phenomenon, the dark and dystopian Severance has broken records as the most-watched series on Apple TV+. Last night, the highly anticipated finale to the second season, called “Cold Harbor,” dropped at 9 p.m. ET.
The Emmy-winning series follows Mark Scout (known as Mark S. on the severed floor, and played by Adam Scott) as he leads a team at Lumon Industries, where the employees have undergone what they call a severance procedure. The severing surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives, or their innies and outies.
Their inherently innocent innies work on seemingly mundane projects kept secret even from them at the cult-like Lumon, which was founded by the god-like Kier Eagen. Meanwhile, their flawed outies remain unaware of what goes on during their nine-to-fives.
The show has touched a nerve with viewers who appreciate its take on compartmentalization, work-life balance, ethics, bodily autonomy and identity.
For many, part of the show’s irresistible draw is trying to piece together its meaning and mysteries (and there are many). Theories and conspiracies abound on TikTok and in online reviews, ranging from multiple timelines to innie/outie pregnancies to the real meaning of the goats.
And last night, we finally got (some) answers.
Here’s what we now know about the inner workings of Lumon Industries.
Warning: Seriously, folks. Spoilers. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
What’s the meaning of the data?
The biggest reveal came from Harmony Cobel, played by Patricia Arquette, when she finally tells innie Mark S. the meaning of the data he’s been refining for two years. The numbers were pieces of consciousness for his outie’s wife, Gemma (Dichen Lachman).
“The building blocks of her mind,” Cobel explains.
Essentially, Mark S. has been creating multiple innies for his outie’s dead wife on the testing floor. Yep. Twisted.
This, of course, raises the question: What were the other MDR employees refining? Are they all creating innies, too? For who? Sweet merciful Kier.
WATCH | Bonavista makes an appearance in Severance: 
Bonavista, N.L., mayor John Norman recounts the moment his bright, remote community was transformed into an eerie, run-down Lumon factory town for the hit Apple TV+ series Severance.
What is Cold Harbor?
We also learn the meaning of Cold Harbor, the name of Mark S.’s final file, as well as the name of the final room Gemma enters on the testing floor.
It’s the final test for Gemma after her other innies were tested in an endless loop of dentist appointments and turbulent plane rides. But this test is personal, by triggering her outie’s most traumatic memory: losing her pregnancy, and her subsequent struggles with infertility.
In having her disassemble a crib, in the outfit she last wore in the outside world, while one of her and Mark’s favourite songs plays in the background, Lumon tests the emotional limits of her severance barriers. Which were holding, by the way, until Mark busted in and convinced her to leave with him.
The theory, then, is that Lumon has been testing severing for the mass market. Ah, capitalism.
Dichen Lachman, who plays Gemma, is seen in an episode from Season 2 of Severance. (Apple TV+)
Why… the goats?
I mean, why not the goats? But yes, many fans have been bewildered by the appearance of goats on the severed floor. Even more so this season, after stumbling into Lumon’s creepy Mammalians Nurturable Department. Which is, essentially, an indoor field of goats and their oddball goat caregivers.
In Cold Harbor, Lorne (Gwendoline Christie) wheels a particularly cute baby goat to a room near the exports hall to be sacrificed. And thus, their biblically dark meaning is revealed.
The mystery of the Lumon goats is finally revealed in Cold Harbor. Here, we see the Mammalians Nurturable Department. (Apple TV+)
“This beast will be entombed with a cherished woman whose spirit it must guide to Kier’s door. Is it up to the task?” asks Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson) as he loads a gun.
Luckily, before the little baby goat can be committed to Kier, they’re interrupted by Mark S. awkwardly trying to bust in a door across the hall. An epic fight scene ensues, hearkening to Christie’s Game of Thrones she-warrior brute strength as Brienne of Tarth. Get him, Brienne! Save Mark S. and Emile!
Gwendoline Christie, who plays department head Lorne, goes full Brienne of Tarth to save Mark S. (and Emile) in Severance’s Season 2 finale. (Apple TV+)
Our favourite moment
We have three words, and three words only: Choreography and Merriment.
OK, we lied, we have many more words. Turns out, there is an entire severed department whose sole purpose is to entertain. And they formed a marching band. Then, performed in a scene so masterfully filmed (cameras on the drums! That timing with Gemma on the testing floor! Helly darting around them! Dylan G.! An innie rebellion!) that we laughed out loud multiple times while also nervously clenching our chest from the tension.
WATCH | Introducing Choreography and Merriment:
In some ways, the scene seemed designed specifically for the diehard fans who have been sharing memes and gifs of Milchick’s (Tramell Tillman) unhinged dance moves from Season 1’s “music dance experience” for years. A little “we see you and we thank you” moment. And we appreciate it.
This scene was perfect in every way. No notes.
As a runner-up moment, we must acknowledge Dylan G. (Zack Cherry) for his one-liner when Milchick finally escapes from the bathroom: “F— you…. Mr. Milchick.”
A gentleman, always.
Zach Cherry and Tramell Tillman are seen in the Severance Season 2 finale. Cherry delivers one of the best lines in the episode, when Tillman’s character finally escapes the bathroom. (Apple TV+)
Now what?
First, we may never recover from the absolute heartache and dissonance of watching outie Mark find innie Gemma, outie Mark and outie Gemma reunite, innie Mark help innie Gemma escape, and outie Gemma plead with innie Mark to join her. In quick succession. Please, just give this duo an Emmy.
But as innie Mark chooses Helly R., and the episode ends with them running back into Lumon together as Gemma wails on the other side of the door, we have to wonder: where…. are they even going? Are they just going to hide out in the labyrinth of the halls and hope no one finds them? Have they thought this through?
Lower, who plays Helly R., appears just as Mark S. seems about to escape with his outie’s wife, Gemma. No one knows who to cheer for in this love hexagon. (Apple TV+)
And what happens to Gemma now? Can’t Lumon just find her and bring her back? Is Milchick on Team Lumon or Team Innie?
Will we ever see Irving again?
In some ways, we have more questions now than answers. But luckily….
Season 3 is confirmed
Cue the choreography and merriment!
Apple TV+ confirmed today that they have renewed the show for a third season.
“Making Severance has been one of the most creatively exciting experiences I’ve ever been a part of,” said executive producer and director Ben Stiller in a news release. “While I have no memory of this, I’m told making season three will be equally enjoyable, though any recollection of these future events will be forever and irrevocably wiped from my memory as well.”
Season 3 of Severance is available upon request. <br>- Tim C. <a href=”https://t.co/bNig41qs9t”>https://t.co/bNig41qs9t</a> <a href=”https://t.co/cnctZIRDNF”>pic.twitter.com/cnctZIRDNF</a>
—@tim_cook
And it looks like fans won’t have to wait three years this time.
“No, no, the plan is not [to take that long],” Stiller said in the latest episode of the New Heights podcast, after Travis Kelce asked the question.
Praise Kier.
