Unanswered Questions in Severance Season 1 Explained

[@starrockrockstar143]

I’m sooo happy I just watched the whole first season two days ago and was pissed the second season wasn’t until January, I can’t even imagine having to wait 3 years this show is amazing and addictive

[@escarlata2001]

same

[@sammyyyy24]

Just finished it yesterday! So close to S02 now

[@lmao8656]

i forgot about it lol

[@LumoSkendo595]

Same. Just finished it right now and I am so glad I only have to wait a month and a half.

[@allthedamagedone]

Same lol

[@Sam_T2000]

I love when shows end on a cliffhanger and then wait three years to release the next season.

[@finfog4590]

I’m tired of this nonsense. By the time it comes back I’ve almost lost interest

[@Sam_T2000]

@@finfog4590 - I know we’ve had pandemics and strikes and all that in recent years, but couldn’t the executives at Apple have seen the working prints of this show and realized how good it was, and green lit it for a second season before the first season even aired?

[@juliachatwin3907]

​@Sam_T2000 you'd think, but they're ridiculously financially risk-averse. Even if there is an 80% chance the show will be loved they rarely do that until the show has gained traction.

[@Sam_T2000]

@@juliachatwin3907 - even the announcements of _”Severance_ renewed for second season ahead of Season 1 premiere” would drum up interest 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@juliachatwin3907]

@@Sam_T2000 100%. These people have tunnel vision, that makes it hard for them to see sense.

[@industrialdrummer44]

All I can say is that I am happy that I happened to discover this show two weeks before season 2 drops. I would have been soooooooo pissed waiting years for this! 😂

[@KatieCochran]

Same! My fiancé told me about it and I binged it all in one day. Imagine if we already watched it when it came out! Luckily we don’t have to wait too too long, now. ;)

[@TheShyMiner]

i just finished season 1 in a day, 24 hours till season 2!

[@laurenceprovost4215]

Same!

[@expred]

Me too! Just told this exact thing to my friend a few hours ago, I was lucky enough to watch it less than a month ago :D

[@ThwipThwipBoom]

This is how I felt watching Breaking Bad. By time I got to seeing it all 5 seasons had released lol. I can't imagine waiting a year after S3's cliffhanger. Lol

[@thevoidstaresback4464]

When you think about this. Innies are *them* just without outside influence. Wouldn't this mean that Helly is actually very rebellious and stubborn but has learned to hide that side of her?

[@MedicoreMacaroni]

I'd say outtie Helly taking the initiative to become an innie in the first place and insisting she stay (even though her innie tried to off her) is a sign of her outtie's stubbornness and rebellion (even if towards herself.) No Eagen descendents have severed themselves (we know of) and she wants to use herself as the matyr for this bold PR move.

[@ShouPow]

​@@MedicoreMacaroniwell innie helly doesn't have the same motivations as outie helly, just the same character. So it kinda is cool to see how a person's nature can lead them to do wildly different things with some environmental differences

[@funfunfun3624]

thats my favorite thing about this show. Severing yourself is actually an incredible thing. If put a severed version of yourself in many different situations, you could figure out what your defining traits are and know who you really are

[@gavinstuart6704]

i dont think so, were shaped largely by our experiences, a product of our environment, so innies and outies can be totally different.

[@steelfoot98]

I think it’s less rebelliousness and more about a need for control. She doesn’t do what she does because she disagrees on some moral level, she does it because she’s trying to be the one in charge of whatever situation she’s in. Even when Mark is trying to be on her side she’s constantly berating him so that she can steer things her way.

[@peoplez129]

The work they do is all about bringing Kier back, by essentially reconstructing him. His science theory was basically that 4 tempers are what makes up the essence of a man. Woe, Frolic, Dread, and Malice. To him, these were basically the blueprints of what makes up a soul. So their work has something to do with cloning him, and probably specifically to do with recreating his mind. You can even consider each worker as a representation of each temperance, or all temperance's at one point or another. Now does it mean they're doing some wacky science that relies solely on these 4 tempers? No. But it's likely the basis for actual science being done. The entire Kier family works toward it, because they all expect to also be resurrected beside him. But it might even be different than that. Maybe Kier did find a way to actually transfer his mind into another body, using technology like severance, or at least the family did, and the "revolving" is essentially the guy that is Helly's dad, being transposed onto her, taking control of her body. Remember, the chips aren't just switching brains around, the person that is there when the chip is on, is actually stored in the chip itself. We learn this when they say "That's Petey" after they dig out his chip. So Severance doesn't exactly create 2 people, it instead does some stuff to the brain that switches off some functions to allow the blank slate of a person to arise and develop in concert with the chip, creating an entity that only exists on the chip itself. This is also probably why Helly's father wanted her to get the chip, using promotional stuff as an excuse, because he intends to use her chip to eventually take over her body and continue running the company. But regardless of whatever is true, I think the main goal is to bring Kier back at the very least, using some pairing of the principles of the 4 temperance's, mixed with actual modern science. It might not even be just genetic, it could have other metaphysical elements to the process too, like somehow using a tiny wormhole to go back in time, that a computer controls, that kind of tunnels information from the real Kier's mind, and that might be what their job is actually for. So essentially, they are piece by piece mining data to recreate Kier's mind for a clone of his body, to transfer into the clone body. Ms. Cobel is there for her own reasons. Lumon medical equipment resulted in the death of her mother, so she sought revenge, and she joined them to destroy them from the inside, but when she got high up enough to learn what they were actually doing, she realized she could use the same processes they intend to use to bring Kier back, to bring her mother back, and that's exactly why she's been working for them ever since. That's also why she plays those games with Mark and his wife, trying to get them to remember each other, because I think a lot of it relies on the chip itself. They aren't going to bring Keir back by just uploading him to a normal brain, they can only bring him back by injecting a clone with a severance chip filled with the proper data. So when she tests Mark and his wife, what she's really testing is how that might affect if it would work with her mother or not, not directly, but I think one of the downsides is the chip can't always be on, so it has to be turned off eventually otherwise there's side effects. That's also probably why Petey had side effects, because the doctor that bypassed his severance chip, did so by turning it on 24/7 and doing some stuff to it so that it doesn't shut off parts of his brain, allowing the innie and outtie to be awake at the same time, which also proves that the person when the chip is on, is only on the chip itself. And explains why Ms. Cobel would want to test if memories can bleed through the chip being on/off, because if she did resurrect her mother, she'd have to eventually turn the chip off most of the day in order to keep it from causing side effects from being on too long, like with Petey. I think Cobel was hoping that memories could bleed between innie and outtie, so that her mother could possibly be able to exist without needing the chip, if they used the same process to bring her back that they're trying to with Kier.

[@paulmetaxas7913]

Amazing take. Well done.

[@db5094]

Wish I could make more of a comment, but yeah I agree nice explanation

[@jetster65]

i’m reading this and going, “so they basically work for satan” 🧐 then i peeped they work at lumon..light. lucifer = luz. revelations also speaks of the key to the bottomless pit being opened.. theories have suggested that’s what CERN has been working on, a questionable, yet highly advanced invention with questionable motives..(see: CERN employees dancing to Shiva) so I’m wondering how allegorical the show is with those possible religious undertones

[@abrogate666]

I think tying the work into possibly an over-arching narcist plan is clever. My theory is the only scientific thing you could glean from their work is if it relates to mapping their brain or emotions. Hence, them claiming they are feeling fear can be helpful then. The tie in to the tempers is keen here and I missed. Them each being a 4 person team that is. The 4 folders of sorting I heard of as 1-1 for the tempers. But not he team itself! What struck me as an idea reading your theory is they are looking for a Reincarnation of the Kier based on their temper balance as gleaned from the refining. Hence also why Helana went into MDR (I was wondering why this dept).

[@artickulate]

This is probably the most accurate theory i’ve seen. I can’t wait for season 2 to answer our questions a bit more than season 1

[@evanward4303]

8:20 I don't think Lumon is a metaphor for the dangers of religion. I think the religious/culty overtones are a metaphor for corporate culture.

[@tyizzle80]

You are aware it can be both of those things at once right?

[@cordalemiddleton9121]

Yeah because culture is what shapes the religion

[@evanward4303]

​@tyizzle80 Of course I'm aware of something so obvious. I don't think it's both. Thanks anyway, though.

[@gforce9596]

I think the metaphor is flexible enough to warn against the dangers of both. And when you think about it, the nature of corporatism and religion are pretty much serving the same impulse anyway - a higher authority that provides for you, as long as you devote your work/time and declare your inferiority on a regular, ritualistic basis.

[@tyizzle80]

@@evanward4303 I didn't say it was both I said it could be both you don't know that's the point.

[@phishstx8328]

Irving is my favorite character, I love John Turturro. But his innie and outtie may be working as double agents because when Petey was hiding in Marks basement, Petey stopped talking about Lumen because “I’m afraid Irving’s gonna walk in” he said.

[@cristianchira3615]

My take is that was Petey's innie memories being afraid of Irving filing a complaint. We see Irving being somewhat of a tattle tale, living and working by Lumon's handbook. We see Petey struggling with discerning outtie and innie memories.

[@juanmon-v2z]

yess

[@isaacgraham5727]

I had a totally different take, from the point when Petey tells Mark “I’m your best friend. You’re my very-good friend.” Given that Outie Irving has tons of data on severed employees and is clearly working against Lumen, I got the sense that he might have been who Petey was referring to. I’m not sure how else Petey might have been hooked up to a “resistance” unless he was contacted out of the blue by someone like Regabhi, which doesn’t make much sense either.

[@sisyphushappyxvx]

I think this is a great summary of the first season. One thing I think you skipped in your analysis of Irving: his outie seems to be trying some sort of hypnotherapy to access his severed consciousness (or something similar to that), which is why he's using the repetition with the painting/Motorhead, the coffee and innie Irving's dozing, etc. The paint dripping hallucination happens early on for innie Irving and it's commented that the dozing is habitual. This lends credence to the idea that Irving is working for the resistance/Regabhi and correlates with the theory of him knowing Mark as a therapist. I freaking love this show!

[@TerriRahner]

covid + writers strike..... just saying

[@budababe17]

dosing on what pls im confused

[@GraceJenkinsonMusic]

@@budababe17 They mean napping :)

[@sisyphushappyxvx]

@@budababe17 dozing, I guess, not dosing - falling asleep. Sorry for the confusion.

[@budababe17]

@@sisyphushappyxvx omg yeah I thought I missed him taking something LOL thank you for clarifying

[@clutch2827]

Severed people on the inside never get to sleep. That alone is messed up.

[@jackysbin3860]

mark says he likes to focus more on the effects of sleep like lighter shoulders or rejuvenated energy though so... thats something

[@taylorrussell3158]

There is something appealing about severing and never having to work again

[@clutch2827]

@@taylorrussell3158 unless you are the one on the inside that has to work 24/7

[@mahigautam5099]

that's what i thought as well!!

[@clutch2827]

You are basically lending your body to slavers and getting paid for it.

[@itsnickylevans]

My unanswered question: what do they do for lunch?

[@ShadowDogProduction]

We have a couple clues. Mark's checklist asks him "check their lunches" and in another scene they open the fridge for some reason and you can see paper lunch bags in there. So it's safe to assume lunch is provided by the company each day.

[@Sam_T2000]

also, they have a snack machine… they require tokens. also, they have waffles and melon platters and egg bars. it’s all in the show, n00b.

[@kmcq692]

It doesn’t matter. Just like fairy tales and other fictional universes, characters don’t poop.

[@Sam_T2000]

@@kmcq692 - they have bathrooms, we see them. they poop 👍

[@Pseudo___]

@@Sam_T2000 or they have, but don’t use

[@gruvdrums58]

I don't think I've ever been as hooked on a series as this. I fear the expectations are so high right now that they may not live up to the hype. I'm cautiously optimistic. Well done on the summary.

[@petergithaiga9495]

You should have touched on the innies being basically kids, getting scolded, sent to detention, bribed with sweets and rewards, nicknames like Helly, also the part about Mark having bruise marks resembling a whooping.

[@soraiadias6425]

actually, now that you said, remember when Mark is sent to the break room, then we skip ahead and see him with red knuckles? what was that?

[@slimmey1313]

​@@soraiadias6425he's punished by getting slapped on his hands when he doesn't read the apology letter perfectvor sum

[@robinmc123]

This show is brilliant. I can’t believe Ben directed it. Actors and directing is unbelievable. I love it. The story and music is great.

[@france529]

And Aofie!

[@wutangclan2051]

This show is highly re-watchable, the beginning credits and music is hypnotic too !!

[@smokeyhan]

I lost it at the Vought/Lumon mix up

[@yea140]

😂

[@foracademicpurposes9]

Vought, Lumon, and Waystar Royco are my favorite fictional companies

[@krisztianunpronounceable]

That was hilarious!

[@seragyasser2005]

And E-corp as well​@@foracademicpurposes9

[@majorkalashinikov1277]

@@foracademicpurposes9 Wayland-Yutani is one of my favorite evil fictional companies. Also Apple

[@mr.goodcat582]

I just hope that creators know how this show ends. That, what was great about Dark, that they didn’t just followed the hype of the show like Lost.

[@kmcq692]

I think the whole show is art.

[@katdroidd]

This video is a good summary of current fan theories. There is something that doesn't get brought up, and I think it's because no one saw this film - there are constant visual references in Season 1 to a film called The Mountain, which is about the early history of the lobotomy. The "wall of smiles" is a very direct reference to this film. Also, there are other lobotomy visual references, such as if you look at the Lumon Logo from a distance, it is actually a diagram of a lobotomy. Ditto for part of Petey's map doodle. In addition, the chip gets planted very near to the spot that a lobotomy would reach.

[@kmcq692]

@@katdroidd brilliant!! Thanks for the keen insight!

[@raining_trees]

This is super interesting!

[@autumnjade906]

I’ve noticed this since it first showed the severance procedure and you’re the first person I’ve seen bring the similarities between being severed and lobotomized to light on the internet!

[@Иеремия-ь4ь]

I always thought the goats were a way of maintaining the innies' sense of reality distorted; Lumen knows there's an inevitable tendency for the innies to find answers, and rekindle their humanity, they've attempted it in the past, which lead me to believe some of those rooms were meant to be found in those instances of latent rebellion by the innies to shield them from reality with nonsense, like a way of mental isolation through uncanniness, and consequently discouraging further truth seeking behavior (i.e. going outside of your own box is shocking and uncannily terrifying and inherently irrational making said box preferable and predictable). It didn't have to have a convoluted explanation behind it.

[@fruehlingsobst8123]

Thats exactly how russian and now MAGA propaganda works, so you are onto something!

[@grigorov1914]

This make sense when you also consider the two different versions of the massacre painting

[@kyliebolding1875]

This makes complete sense, I couldn't find a way to articulate this so thank you for putting into words

[@Assassin_Duck]

This is a great post! I'd add that we can observe something very similar to this in the conversation between Burt, Dylan and Irving, when Burt is in the conference room. O&R is constantly inundated with these weird lies and rumors about MDR, how they have worms in pouches, and are weird. This, as Burt explains, makes them not trust MDR, and has kept them from interacting. The same can be said for the way Dylan talks about O&R. They've been told about this calamity that O&R supposedly did, and that's why they're not supposed to interact with them as they are led to believe they are dangerous. I think the violent painting of the calamity symbolizes the mental anguish, anger, and sadness, that the Innies experience when they get a taste of outside reality, or something. It was clearly called back to, when Dylan freaked out, and bit Milchick, after having seen his son.

[@_ktbelle_draws_3223]

@@Assassin_DuckO&D - great insight into why the calamity may occur

[@evanevans5428]

This show was shot in my town.And about 20 years ago, someone spray painted red goats everywhere. Like with a stencil. I think Ben included this because the goat graffiti is a known thing in my town. They're called "The red goats of Kingston.

[@idsappples]

Fascinating!!!!

[@jetster65]

wow

[@biercenator]

Oh dear, another layer. Help!

[@FEED_ME_A_STRAY_CAT]

That's cute and weird!

[@tnijoo5109]

Did they ever find out what the red goat graffiti was about?!

[@__________yuyu]

Lumon does biotech stuff and goats are kind of an important animal for biotech IRL, so even if it started out as a silly gag it surprisingly fits for Lumon to be raising goats. They can be used for cloning, making medications, etc.

[@TerriRahner]

Irving's last name is Baliff. That is a guy who keeps order for the Judge in the courtroom. I think Petey and Irving were best pals which is why Pete told Mark I am your best friend, you are my very good friend. Irving is a major player here.... building up to something.

[@Andreeezy]

Great observation man, really looking forward to season 2!!!

[@TwiPrime]

Omg, 'the good doctor therapy man with that weird little moustache'!!

[@brianstanziale3595]

mind officially blown

[@TwiPrime]

@@brianstanziale3595 Mine too!

[@Sarah-tr8wp]

AND MS CASEY SAID HES FRIENDS WITH THE INSANE

[@tazz2137]

I was late to the party on Severence - I just finished it and I am hooked! Loved the video, and would love more videos on this show!

[@TheBig1notTheLil1]

Same. I can’t believe it’ll damn near be three years since season 1 that we are finally getting a season 2. But writers strike . I get it

[@rickmckee8522]

You're wrong about Milchick not being seen outside. He was in Dylan's closet during the overtime contingency.

[@db5094]

Not the same though, it wasn't his outside life, it was him with Dylan for a second, for work, in work clothes

[@okayokay699]

@@db5094how’d he talk to Dylan’s son then

[@db5094]

@@okayokay699 what does that have to do with anything?

[@acidrainisfun]

@@db5094okayokay is talking about how Milchick supposedly made a deal with the kid to count to 1000 which means Milchick didn’t appear in the closet, he had to enter and go through the house to the closet.

[@LacklusterFilms]

@@acidrainisfun No shit he didnt just "appear" in the closet. Exactly what show do you guys think youre watching?

[@dexterdrax]

Fingers crossed. I have previously been burned by Westworld. That's one of the problems with mysteries. The payoff is almost impossible to pull off for these big setups.

[@cordalemiddleton9121]

3 F-ing years!!!!!! Now they got this... 😓

[@fruehlingsobst8123]

I had a good time with first three Westworld seasons... Stop judging everything by its end. If you divorce, does it mean the 20 year long marriage was for nothing? I dont think so...

[@cordalemiddleton9121]

@fruehlingsobst8123 I'm sure the 20 yes cost alot so I guess 🤷 it wasn't

[@fruehlingsobst8123]

@@cordalemiddleton9121 I mean, Breaking Bad was a good show right until the last season. It doesnt matter if the final was good or not, this fact still holds true. What about your life? You dont know the end of it? So is everything bad now, just in case the end could be bad aswell? Do you decide to make everything miserable because of that? Doesnt sound smart to me...

[@cordalemiddleton9121]

@fruehlingsobst8123 but the spin offs made It gold!! Just like with power 🔋 "the end sometimes justify the means" !!!!

[@commandershepard4471]

Thank god I waited for this show. Watched it for the first time recently and I would have been so mad and impatient to wait for 3 YEARS.

[@idilali7398]

The severance handbook which you can read online has a set of emails from a former employee who used a childhood language she made up to communicate with her altered self. They talk about what they think the numbers mean and coinsides it with an explosion that happened at the same time ( down to the min) in the outside world.

[@_ktbelle_draws_3223]

Where can you read this?

[@Wyljesays]

Yes! And you can tell how much power and influence Lumon has over everything…news, media, etc.

[@hypomediocrity]

imo the explosion timing is a coincidence and a red herring, especially considering how the goat scene was originally just a gag, it's everything else. for example, the name at the bottom of the rejection letter. The hand washing 10x a day really stood out to me as well.

[@cretansuperbos2121]

I just finished this show. This has been the only Apple show I've genuinely loved from start to finish. I love forward to your content on season 2, 9 months from now. 😆

[@augustinemartin7410]

Watch silo, loved that one too! The silo books are even better!

[@Adssso101]

For a guy who watched the show 3 times on full focus, it's very wild to say we see Milchick outside ONLY when he is walking Helly for orientation. Dude he went to Dylan's house ...

[@feliciahessler3348]

And why didn’t outtie Dylan ask him who tf are you. He just says are we done. Who’s holding the buttons for overtime?

[@BingBongBam69]

lol its obvious that milchick is a relative or brother of dylan

[@Adssso101]

@ lol it's clearly not.

[@Adssso101]

@ because Milchicik announced himself upon entering Dylan's family house obviously. With some Lumon paperwork no doubt.

[@kandices]

I love this account sm & I’m so stoked they’re talking about severance. It’s such a weird, cool premise. Can’t wait for S2

[@Dreadstate]

Heres my take on Cobel. She’s a conflicted character and here’s why. Harmony hates that Lumon “killed” her mother with the airway tube. Her mother is one of the subjects held at the testing floor. This is why she’s undercover monitoring Mark’s outie and his family and why she asks Miss Casey to perform this weird tasks so she can’t interact with Mark more. Shes hoping that it triggers real memories. She asks Devon if Mark sees her and the expression on her face when Mark molds the tree out of clay at the wellness session. She wants to know if the chip works and she wants to prove re-integration so she can revive /clone her mother.

[@Showtheworld68]

Just rewatched all episodes to be ready for PART 2. Worth it.. had forgotten some stuff.

[@19slshaw63]

I don't know why I love Christopher Walken - I just do. And Severance had me ensnared from the beginning. Now it's the wee hours of January 17 2025 and I see that the download of the freshly released S02E01 is complete and ready to watch. My hesitation is over waiting a whole week for S02E02 and each new episode thereafter and wondering if I should save them up and binge them together..... ......No way! I'm going to start my new Friday morning habit right now - and away I go!

[@molsondutch93]

Just binged this show, IT WAS AMAZING

[@shonsamuel28]

Just watched S1 and did not expect a cliffhanger, glad s2 isn't too far away

[@SarcasticPlotRecaps]

It was when it came out 3 ywars ago lol

[@iliasarroyo]

I feel so blessed I barely watched season 1 with season 2 dropping in a few months

[@ProdLucio]

@@iliasarroyofr I just finished it right now😂

[@danielchapter70128]

Yeah I’ve been waiting almost three years!!! No series has come close to filling the hole Severance has left. Very shocked Ben Stiller had this in him.

[@MrBuketman]

Lucky. I’ve been hanging since it aired.

[@lucypenuel3628]

17:18 during Ms. Casey’s last guidance with Mark, Milchick says “it’s a good thing they don’t recognize each other”, which came off to me as Ms. Casey being the original, just without memories, as opposed to a clone, which would be a blank slate from the start.

[@eliascandelaria4976]

Milcheck is also on the outside when he needs to get the card from Dylan. But that also opens the question what is Milcheck’s relationship to Dylan’s outtie

[@BeccaE]

One thing which is super simple but no one ever brings it up is they look like mice in a maze and they are being experimented on so it was symbolic and obvious which is why no one brings it up I’m guessing

[@paularized1]

I think the severance procedure does more to people than the company is letting on. Like with the numbers inducing different emotions. I think either the implant is causing certain groups of numbers to trigger these emotions or it’s making them think they’re looking at numbers when there’s really something else on their screens. And the Lexington letter that the show released online gives some great clues about a bomb going off 2 minutes after someone in MDR binned a group of numbers. It killed 6 people and destroyed a bunch of stuff that belonged to one of Lumon’s competitors. I think the MDR group is actually looking at satellite or drone images of different cities and doing Lumon’s dirty work. That would make sense why the work is time sensitive too. As for what the 4 different things that happen with the 4 emotions and bins, beyond bombings I have no clue what the others are.

[@BobMcBurger1]

There's also a few details in the series that another content creator mentioned. For example: the table Helly wakes up on is kinda shaped like a coffin or during the overtime contingency, her head obscures her name and it said "Hell" instead of Helly.

[@leticiaarja1379]

It's the second time I watched it, now to show my husband the show, and he had a theory on Irving, which made more sense to me as to why does he know about the testing floor and has so many information about the other employees, their name, where do they live, etc (but yes, maybe Regabhi gave to him that info)... So the theory is that he could've worked there previously in another role, one that's higher ranked, and where he had access to the testing floor. His outie seems traumatized by it (and innie with the black painting visions), so maybe he did something while working there and they moved him to another sector (and probably resevered him)

[@78deathface]

I’ve never noticed that the R in Severance is split like that. How have I never seen that before??

[@brianstanziale3595]

same! lol

[@amirhosseinnayebzadeh59]

Wild idea, what if Irvin's outie knows about the testing floor and the elevator and he's trying to communicate with his innie by repeatedly drawing it, hoping his innie would somehow remember it when he's inside Lumon, that would explain why he keeps painting the same thing, and it also aligns with his rebellious endeavors.

[@MisterPoopyButthole]

I think Irv works for Lumos on the outside. They clue several times that he is a psychiatrist. I think he convinces his patirnts to get severed. It's why he had a list of all the severed employees. He helped put them there.

[@RyanMathews-ld7hi]

Only this show can make 4 average joes walking down a fluorescent hallway badass.

[@whyitmatterstome]

Most interesting and original show I have seen since Mr. Robot. It's a serious look at the human condition. It's at once a compelling drama but has dark situational humor ripe with claustrophobic suspense - a 'cracked' mirror version of the Office if it had a baby with Twin Peaks.

[@ToucanDoThatVR]

Obviously while severance is the main plot of the show, you need to remember how they explicitly say; The Severed Floor, hinting that not everyone at lumon is severed.

[@Mhaigalodon]

My most recent theories that could be interesting are that 1) severance isn’t actually location based, and 2) there’s additional severed parts we haven’t met yet. 1) With the OTC, we know the Innies can be let out outside of the severed floor. This makes me wonder if the location based thing is a lie to help convince people of a level of safety to the procedure. What Outtie would agree to be severed if they thought the roles could be switched at any time? This also helps with any theories about Cobel being severed herself, which could be really interesting if she’s severed but can’t reach the other person in her own mind. 2) I realized time could move any way at all on the severed floor, and they’d never know. Who’s to say that the Innies actually experience a true 9-5? The blocks could easily be made to run fast, and they’d never know as, as Petey pointed out, their relativity is all messed up. Which means there’s no certainty there isn’t a third (or fourth, or fifth) personality in each person’s mind getting off at different floors, working a couple hours thinking it’s been 9-5, then sent to another floor for another version of themselves to work a couple more hours.

[@rosegoldberg2469]

Sure but their outies can keep track of the dates and times. Like they and their friends know what day it is and they know they've been gone for 8 hours and come back the same day, so I'm not sure what your point is. Are you saying that the innies only work a couple hours and are then sent to a different floor to work for a couple more hours and then it all adds up to a full work day? If so, why would that be? Why not just have the innies do more work? Not sure what the point would be

[@JohnVigil97]

I think Ricken Hale is part of the Board (or is the board) and is easily overlooked. Let me explain this theory: 1) He has a Ph.D. Obviously he's educated and I think he writes these silly books and acts this way as just a cover up. Also, the poetic book writing is very similar to the book writings used for Lumon. We also know that Lumon updates the writings. Perhaps he helped write, suggest, or implement new ideas for Lumon? If you've ever watched Naruto, he's basically the dumb Tobi before revealing he's the mastermind of the Akatsuki group. 2) He's wealthy. He lives in a moderately large size home and was able to afford a birthing cabin. (The same place a top senator chose). It seems like he has a lot stability in his life with only 5 self-help books. Can anybody clarify if he states what he does beyond writing books? 3) In the last episode, we see him struggle with his speech with stage fright or saying the wrong word during his book gathering (which is very cult like btw). Strangely enough, the "board" never presents themselves in person. When the Board IS on, it's a machine that is used to communicate through. Perhaps Ricken uses this machine to avoid that stage fright. 4) Ricken "Hale". The word "Hell" is a literal callout used in several shots of the show. There's also a lot of metaphors representing hell as well. It's an interesting coincidence. 5) It's worth noting that Harmony Cobel got fired only after visiting the sister about private nursing lessons with Ricken Hale's wife. The "Board" somehow knew she was there and fired her for overstepping boundaries. Out of all the bad things she's done that the board knew about, this is what got her fired. 6) It's strange that Ricken is able to grab quite a bit of "followers". This aligns well with the overall Lumon's mission and the ability to brainwash individuals through it's cult-like scriptures and ideologies. I think that last episode sealed the deal for me especially if you pay closer attention to what some of the book gathering people say. Let me know what you think.

[@munchiekins]

I love this theory. It may also explain how his book resonates with the innies, if he is also writing or part of the writing of the materials sanctioned by Lumon. 😮

[@donnar4261]

Interesting

[@danielchapter70128]

I liked this theory just as much when I first heard it almost verbatim on Nautilus 🙄 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGPFaqBsbdubgJosi=z0Fh2buTnmBfJqUK

[@aboyhasnoname5356]

His last name being Hale just makes me think of Charlotte Hale and how this is exactly how season 4 westworld pictured the world to be

[@alfredmohammed9197]

So wait I have a question if he is a member of the board why wasn't he at the gala during the final episode.

[@somesheqx8073]

Great job on guessing some things right xD ("she's alive" applied to the baby, helly r. being remplaced by her outie (maybe?)

[@DanteYewToob]

The goats are more simple than people think… They were manufacturing hatchets and watering cans too… They’re building a huge cult commune. A place where they will grow food, raise animals and live as a big creepy cult.

[@jessiecuntface7135]

seeing as they only came up with a backstory for the goats after airing, it's entirely up to the show's creators what the goats mean

[@bookishindian]

Great thoughts! Looking forward to your perspectives on season 2!!

[@BaldingSasquatch]

Severance is a perfect example of a well deserved cliffhanger done right.

[@maragarcia6045]

Something my husband caught is if Mark lives in Lumon housing, why didn’t he/his sister assume Cobel worked at Lumon sooner? I know it’s a huge building and not everyone works together or in the same department but I thought either that was a decent catch or I missed something 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@charleygordonFFA]

Why would they assume Cobel works at Lumon when she already has a story about working at a store in town?

[@maragarcia6045]

Why does she live in Lumon housing if she works at a store in town? 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@charleygordonFFA]

@@maragarcia6045 Anyone can live in those houses, it's just subsidized for Lumon employees who choose to do so.

[@kirstenberg6960]

I wonder if every time someone acts up, they just sever them again, making multiple severed employees within one person. This would make sense with the opening credits where there are multiple innie Marks drowning outie Mark. Perhaps Lumen doesn’t know yet the full impact of multiple severances, but they’re doing it for control. And the more someone is severed, the more the controls that keep the parts separate break down and memories break through in dreams, etc. Also, is the politician even aware of what he’s doing? Was he severed and his innie was groomed to advance Lumon’s plans and then was released via the overtime protocol? Also, if Lumon has been pushing for the chip to be implanted in children via that politician, it would create a world of children that could be raised as soldiers or spies, trained secretly in their innie, but the outie is oblivious. Then on the flip of the switch, that person’s innie could be flipped to the outside in any situation. Perfect societal control. That would explain the strange cards that MDR found in optics that looked like martial arts training cards. Why were those important? Secret army? Secret spies? Lots of fun plot theories to explore!

[@bingbonghafu]

One development that I predict will happen in the show is how Mark and Helly’s severance will be foils to one another. Outie Mark and Innie Mark will become more and more like each other and he’ll eventually get reintegrated by Reghabi, but Outie Helena and Innie Helly will (at least) start out as diametrically opposed characters, and Helena will become a major antagonist. They might have to fight for control over their own body, leading to a climax where either Helena or Helly will die/have their consciousness wiped. Alternatively, Helena might be redeemed and work against her family (somehow?), but I think this is less likely.

[@gregariuss]

18:00 lmaooooo the vought slip

[@Jamaha5]

My theory was that Lumon is trying to bring back Kier. That it’s essentially a massive human computer making inputs into what will ultimately be the return of Kier’s consciousness. Not a clone but his consciousness. The main characters are putting computated stimuli into the appropriate emotional category, the products made in fabrication are repetitive in order to make a strong connection over each individual item Kier knew of in his life or that was most important to him. The goats idk

[@amic403]

I just read an article today about the Tesla Nauralink being able to upload your consciousness in the future

[@cordalemiddleton9121]

I think that's on the right track because when I started to think about Ai the munger stared to make more she I firmly thought maybe the severance process altered there perception but now I think they maybe organizing some tor of Ai programming to build different types of androids westworld style... but I don't think it's just for one guy not enough personal benefit for his kids... who wants to build something to be in charge of them

[@iisotter8944]

I was going to say something similar, not sure they are working on Kiers' consciousness, but pretty sure they are working on some bodies consciousness? With an aim of offering eternal life, that is maybe if you wear the chip all your life than your consciousness can be uploaded (maybe in real time), and can be put in another's body. Or a clone of your body (the goats been tests for this). Maybe the workers are actually sorting through their own consciousness, as it uploads, they feel where the right neural pathway should go? I originally thought they were working on all the dead members of the family, but now think they are the test subjects, with an aim for the rest of the family.

[@CaptMattSparrow]

My favorite show of recent years. It’s fantastic and is pretty unique compared to most other shows today. After 1 season it’s become a top 10 show for me.

[@froggynzack]

SEASON 2 EPISODE 1 was just released and boy its awesome. I love this show so much even if it might get cancelled because it blew its budget.

[@waynereid9471]

Glad it’s not just me who’s obsessed with this show Just rewatched s1 - can’t wait till Jan 👌🏿

[@cargo4067]

This series is so good I am watching the whole first season again to watch the second

[@feliciahessler3348]

Season 1 episode 3. Petey says to outtie mark “ I don’t know if the monitors are bugged. Or if Irving’s going to walk in” Irving? What does that mean? Is outtie Irving some sort of spy. Why and how does outtie Irving know how to paint a black hallway? Maybe Irving and Burt are married like ms Casey and mark. Letting them interact to see if they recognize each other.

[@jeffersonogden6857]

I disagree with the idea of Milchick being fully severed based on overtime contingency interaction with Dylan. He obviously left to go to Dylan’s house so that means that he’s likely not severed at all

[@larswyness1901]

The ending with the LOST sound effect was *chef's kiss* beautiful

[@danawynkoop9511]

I have my own theory on the theme of Severance, which centers on commentary on the Protestant Ethic. I believe the foodless dinner party in the first episode, the mystical worship of founder Kier Eagan, and the Luman Bible are clues to this theory. The Protestant Ethic values hard work and profit-seeking and strictly avoids worldly pleasure, idleness, and waste of time, which is what Luman employees are expected to do during working hours.

[@doloresabernathy9809]

agree the show is a masterpiece of sci-fi and TV in general. second only to the first season of Westworld.

[@Sam_T2000]

_Westworld_ took itself so seriously, while _Severance_ has a sense of humor 👍

[@SallyBerry9]

@@Sam_T2000I love that Severance has some humour to it, mainly because it feels so natural. Humans in strange situations make jokes about it. Any show where everyone is so serious all the time feels…. Uncanny.

[@cheshirecandy]

The Helena we see in videos/interacting with Helly R definitely comes across callous and arrogant - sure there's similarities to her innie (which I think is natural. Helly's rebelliousness kind of translates to a strong sense of self and entitlement - not unlike her outie)... but I do think that they'll keep the tension in the second season - which is really compelling. The show basically making us root for the servered personality over the "real" person.

[@VicenteCarretero]

true, also the first episode where we see outie mark driving in the parking lot by outie helena, she seemed very angry

[@ChuckECheeez]

My original theory was that the Severance procedure was a military application to remove trauma from soldiers so that they can kill without conscience. And that the removing of the numbers was removing trauma and that those traumas were then replanted into the minds of the goats and the goats were then sacrificed in a similar manner that biblical scapegoats were sacrificed, but I’m not so sure now.

[@cbierman17]

Personally I think the “weird little moustache” therapy man could actually be Millchik. Allows Lumon even more control on Mark’s life.

[@MisterPoopyButthole]

They know Millichik on the outside. He is the one Mark calls when he calls in sick.

[@AC-hj9tv]

Cool to think about 🤔

[@mclovinlife4018]

ITS FINALLY TIME. So hyped.

[@MissHussey84]

I really enjoyed your video. I am obsessed with Severance.

[@joeygarza7413]

The board members remind me of the council on the Loki series where they turn out to be robots that were there to enforce rules and to instill fear and obedience.

[@smokebleach]

I love Milchicks dancing! That man had got some crazy energy ❤

[@FonceFalooda2]

17:06 Milchick was also in Dylan's Outie's House. His Outhouse, if you will. ;) So he's definitely of the Ms. Cobel, Graner class of employee, meaning he can leave the grounds if necessary. Don't know if he's got some weird Severed life deep in the bowels of the HQ, but the version we know can go places.

[@danielkrob2590]

Sweet, just watched the first season last sunday (yeah, binged it), So this video and the season 2 announcement are right on time for me 😁 lucky me I guess

[@AutumnOddity]

When you said Vought instead of Lumon I died

[@lilystella7584]

watching this as i cannot wait for season 2 after watching the teaser !!!!! this is so well put and i love that we are all so passionate about figuring out what the hell is going on in this amazing show. so so excited but ultimately terrified for season 2

[@iambored68]

My theory is that the people doing MDR are handpicked. I think only certain people can sense the “negative numbers”. Lumen probably “killed” Marks wife on purpose to try and get Mark to sign up for the job. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was similar for other characters as well.

[@SentenceSparks]

now i cant wait for the 2nd episode

[@creatinecreature920]

some outies are innies. rickens friend group in particular. they act very strange. I believe rickens name may even be Rick N. save this tweet

[@MiaRudin]

Nobody ever talks about how strange the friend group is! It’s unnerving

[@loriwilson2569]

Or why Devon is so normal. She’s the absolute last person you would picture marrying Rickon.

[@mirellavasileva2038]

We see Milchek out when he is in Dylan's house, think that he was one of the employees who is not severed and that was mentioned somewhere.

[@jeremyphillips3087]

Torturo says that.

[@BeedrillYanyan]

He was saying he might be severed on the testing floor, not the one where MDR works.

[@AC-hj9tv]

​@@BeedrillYanyanwhoa

[@yi-lienyang]

I am enjoying every theory equally.

[@saraecheverry7632]

I heard somewhere else the theory that Cobel has actually infiltrated Lumon to take revenge for the death of her mother so in that case she would be somewhat on Mark's side and trying to take down the whole company

[@mikehawk4778]

She clutched a feeding tube during breaking the shrine. I read somewhere that Lumon had a feed tube recall. Possible that the tube killed her mother. But if she wants to take revenge, why does she worship it prior to being fired?

[@DandamanGAMEZ]

17:15 Small correction there, Milchek also showed up in Dylans outie house "outside".

[@rg3825]

Great choice of background music around 5 min. Excellent analysis as well!

[@MS-ep2cq]

Can’t wait for season 2. I loved everything about this and I hope Ben Stiller keeps the weirdness coming.

[@cheesypizzajokes]

27:10 I defo got some DARK season 1 vibes watching Severance, and I get this isnt gonna be a time-travelly kinda show (probably??) but it feels like we're being given setups and loose ends thatre gonna be called back to in rlly cool ways in season 2, 3, etc.

[@Panacamanana]

Yo that LOST sound effect at the end was perfection.

[@annieslocumoneill2413]

What do you mean, “Westworld… we never got an ending?” We absolutely did.

[@Samilicous15]

I absolutely loved this show, hope season 2 comes soon

[@kmcq692]

I recommend reading George Saunders. It might loosen the grip. Cause and effect is not the point. Logic and intellectual explanation is secondary, just as it is in good comedy, or dreams. The real juice of this show is the mystery of how it makes you FEEL.

[@mandolyn]

I just watched it . I like to watch something at night while cleaning when my kids are asleep. I honestly rewatch shows I love so I wont get caught up but I thought I wouldnt like Severance. I was wrong. This show is so good. I love that Ricken is such a boob yet their reading his book hanging on every word😂 Id like more videos talking about Severance.

[@rhapsodicchimera3861]

Just stumbled on this show and im hooked.

[@AeonWest]

im so excited for season 2, its almost here and i will be re-watching season 1!

[@gemgarrett01]

I wonder if Helly would have been sent to a different department if Petey had stayed, and which department.

[@Sam_T2000]

I would like to see what a job at Lumon is like for a regular, non-severed employee, like someone who works above ground, and has nothing to do with the severed floor… do they still have all the cult-y stuff up there, or what? I’d say probably not, at least not to the same degree… but I’d like to see 🤷🏻‍♂️ also… I kinda hope they don’t actually explain too much, like ever. if Lumon is just a weird, mysterious entity throughout the show’s run and the plot is just about the characters and their various lives, I don’t think I’d mind.

[@jeremyphillips3087]

Pretty culty, as they have a giant bust of the founder carved into a wall and employees know what he had for breakfast. Also they live in a state or country named after him.

[@Sam_T2000]

@@jeremyphillips3087 - yea, the head carving thing looks pretty Sovi-et, and I think it’s just the town that’s named after the founder… but that could just be something like “Hersey, PA…” either way, I’d just like to see some “regular” Lumon employees 👍

[@jeremyphillips3087]

@@Sam_T2000 They have their own license plates is why I think it's a state.

[@Sam_T2000]

@@jeremyphillips3087 - I forget where exactly, but at some point in the show there’s an address listed in “Kier, PE.” so, it takes place in a fictional state, for sure… but “PE” doesn’t seem to line up with the names Kier, or Eagan, or Lumon… sooo, maybe, maybe not. hopefully we’ll learn more in Season 2 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@fredvasquez4201]

Milcich ( forgot his name) love the sun on Kier's face so yeah they are all nuts

[@violetr7296]

came for the severance, stayed and subscribed for the LOST references 😂❤

[@worldadventuretravel]

Just binge-watched the first season and I remain convinced that they are not employees, but subjects of a mind control experiment. One indicator among many is the way the "company" infantilizes them all the way down to their job descriptions and incentives you'd use to motivate a third-grade classroom, not a team of grown adults doing something important. AI could easily do the "job" they're doing at much lower cost and without having to maintain a Byzantine labyrinth of deception if the "company" were really trying to accomplish some sort of production objective through MDR. They're also obviously in some kind of a cult where the lead figure and his progeny have been mythologized into some type of gods. I don't believe they're putting out a product or service at all. I think they are simply working toward the goal of an entirely compliant, mind-controlled body politic. Regardless of the goal, they're being studied for something.

[@valeriecarpentier6384]

I need season 2 I’m tired of waiting and rewatching 😭