Severance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP with all the questions here. I forgot one:

How did Helly know the final numbers were happy? Are all the MDRers working on Gemma? And what about all the other refiners in other offices? If all their people died, wouldn't people on the outside have noticed?

My understanding was that only Mark was doing real work. The rest were there to basically create the artifice of a work culture. Remember when they had to bring in new fake coworkers? It was clear that it was all about keeping Mark on track. And my understanding of why all the innies would “die” is that once Mark completes the 25th file, he is done with the experiment. I think the plan was just to fire Mark and the other innies in MDR at least, which means their outies would continue to live but the innies would be effectively dead like Irving.
It’s not really clear to me what the other innies do….the archivists for instance or the big marching band—were they just support for Mark as well?

I think the Helly “I’m her” statement was confusing, but I took it to me that they could never have a real life together because Helena E would never allow it—in the most literal, physical sense, they are the same person and now that the experiment is over, Helena E will not return to the severed floor. So he should go have his life with Gemma—she knows she will be “dead” soon this is the only chance for either Mark to have happiness.

This is a fine theory, but I think the real answer is that it doesn't matter for the story so there is no answer. Does Dylan's story still make sense if his job is a fake job to motivate Mark? Would that change his story? I think digging too much into the weeds of Lumon strains or breaks the story. You can't have hard sci-fi and a thriller and multiple chapter studies and a corporate satire and have it all fit together and make sense. The tree has to bend and twist to fit in all those fruits. It's best to appreciate all the parts without trying to force them into a whole, or enjoy weaving them together with your own creativity

Putting you on the invite list for my season 3, ep 1, watch party.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Haven’t read a lot of the posts, but, agree that I feel puzzled by what decade it is meant to be set in as well as location. All desolate. Constant winter. Weird light at all times. What are we supposed to be taking away from all of that?

I've entertained the idea that the outies are all actually the first layer down in Severance world, a la The Matrix. So the real world is actually a construct, and not physical, which is why everything is slightly off, it's always winter, etc. But there are a lot of things that also contradict that idea.

I just get the impression that Mark is not a hapless victim of Lumon.

One other thing in hung up on—has there been any indication of what knowledge or information the innies vs. outties retain? I couldn’t work out that the innies believed the waterfall they saw during their outdoor adventure thingy was the biggest one in the world. They seem to possess some sort of baseline knowledge of the world-mark knew what sex was, and when we were introduced to Hellie, we didn’t see her go through some of start up programming to inform her baseline intellect. I guess I feel like I can’t reconcile that bit. Did I fall asleep at some point and miss something?

Yeah -- I've been wondering about this too.

I feel like Severance rules are a little like ghost rules - why can ghosts walk through walls but don't fall through the floor? Because otherwise you don't have much of a story, really!

But I think that the severed characters retain sort of the basic knowledge of being an adult human - they know how to go to the bathroom on their own; they know how to use a computer. But they don't have the knowledge specific to their own lives.

Though actually - SPOILERS ****



That's what was being tested at Cold Harbor, right? Whether the severed character retained any knowledge of their previous life, when put into what was essentially the most tragic and emotionally wrecking situation their outie had ever experienced (that we know of). And the answer was no - they don't remember - but also Gemma clearly had something going on that led her to trust Mark and run away with him even when she didn't remember him.

I agree that Lumon gave Gemma’s innie the worst part of her outie’s life to recreate to test the severance procedure. But how did they know her outie had had those miscarriages and had to deconstruct a crib in the first place?

Because Gemma and Mark were going to a Lumon fertility clinic, so they had all the medical records. And also probably Lumon had surveillance inside their house. We have to presume these two were being groomed for this for a long time - since they met while donating blood at that Lumon blood drive.

It's very likely they are in a town where everything is Lumon - the homes, the doctors, the university they were teaching at, etc. We don't know that part though.

I thought they met sitting next to each other at the library, when he was grading papers?

I swear I thought it was the same doctor at the fertility clinic as that weirdo making her write holiday thank you notes and playing dentist on her.

It 100% is.
https://screenrant.com/severance-season-2-doctor-mauer-lumon-explained/

People! “That weirdo” is Robby Benson! Ice Castles? Anyone?!

I don't remember ice castles, but wasn't he also in a '70s teen romance movie set at maybe HS of Music and Art? (Not Fame)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haven’t read a lot of the posts, but, agree that I feel puzzled by what decade it is meant to be set in as well as location. All desolate. Constant winter. Weird light at all times. What are we supposed to be taking away from all of that?

I've entertained the idea that the outies are all actually the first layer down in Severance world, a la The Matrix. So the real world is actually a construct, and not physical, which is why everything is slightly off, it's always winter, etc. But there are a lot of things that also contradict that idea.

I just get the impression that Mark is not a hapless victim of Lumon.

One other thing in hung up on—has there been any indication of what knowledge or information the innies vs. outties retain? I couldn’t work out that the innies believed the waterfall they saw during their outdoor adventure thingy was the biggest one in the world. They seem to possess some sort of baseline knowledge of the world-mark knew what sex was, and when we were introduced to Hellie, we didn’t see her go through some of start up programming to inform her baseline intellect. I guess I feel like I can’t reconcile that bit. Did I fall asleep at some point and miss something?

Yeah -- I've been wondering about this too.

I feel like Severance rules are a little like ghost rules - why can ghosts walk through walls but don't fall through the floor? Because otherwise you don't have much of a story, really!

But I think that the severed characters retain sort of the basic knowledge of being an adult human - they know how to go to the bathroom on their own; they know how to use a computer. But they don't have the knowledge specific to their own lives.

Though actually - SPOILERS ****



That's what was being tested at Cold Harbor, right? Whether the severed character retained any knowledge of their previous life, when put into what was essentially the most tragic and emotionally wrecking situation their outie had ever experienced (that we know of). And the answer was no - they don't remember - but also Gemma clearly had something going on that led her to trust Mark and run away with him even when she didn't remember him.

I agree that Lumon gave Gemma’s innie the worst part of her outie’s life to recreate to test the severance procedure. But how did they know her outie had had those miscarriages and had to deconstruct a crib in the first place?

Because Gemma and Mark were going to a Lumon fertility clinic, so they had all the medical records. And also probably Lumon had surveillance inside their house. We have to presume these two were being groomed for this for a long time - since they met while donating blood at that Lumon blood drive.

It's very likely they are in a town where everything is Lumon - the homes, the doctors, the university they were teaching at, etc. We don't know that part though.

I thought they met sitting next to each other at the library, when he was grading papers?

I swear I thought it was the same doctor at the fertility clinic as that weirdo making her write holiday thank you notes and playing dentist on her.

It 100% is.
https://screenrant.com/severance-season-2-doctor-mauer-lumon-explained/

People! “That weirdo” is Robby Benson! Ice Castles? Anyone?!

I don't remember ice castles, but wasn't he also in a '70s teen romance movie set at maybe HS of Music and Art? (Not Fame)

Jeremy?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070238/

[Anonymous]

Ok now that Severance is over, can someone recommend a new show for me to watch? Not necessarily *like* Severance, just something you found as enjoyable/well-written/bingeable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok now that Severance is over, can someone recommend a new show for me to watch? Not necessarily *like* Severance, just something you found as enjoyable/well-written/bingeable.

What else did you like?

[Anonymous]

Excited for season 3!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok now that Severance is over, can someone recommend a new show for me to watch? Not necessarily *like* Severance, just something you found as enjoyable/well-written/bingeable.

Killing Eve on Netflix
Middle Class Bogan on Netflix

[Anonymous]

Give Mr. Milchick an Emmy, already. Wow wow wow!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Give Mr. Milchick an Emmy, already. Wow wow wow!!

+1. And he's a local kid!

https://mocoshow.com/2025/03/15/maryland-native-tramell-tillman-stars-in-apple-tvs-severance/

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Gemma will have access to Outie Mark in the real world , right?

Unless Innie Mark doesn't leave.

Oh, I forgot they share the same body!

So how were they talking by video? The brain kept switching back and forth but not the body?

I am still confused about how the numbers erased her memories (“passions”) while creating new innies??

What? Are you stupid?

You must make a great colleague in brainstorming sessions.

Such respectful, constructive input.

I mean, PP literally said she didn't understand how the Marks were talking to each other and it was very, very clear that they were sharing the video camera. You'd have to be a complete idiot to not understand that. So yeah, PP is stupid.

DP. The PP asked "So how were they talking by video?" But Mark switching between innie and outie wasn't really about the video camera, it was about his innie being inside the cabin and his outie being outside on the deck. The camera just allowed them to have the conversation asynchronously.

Thank you for being much more precise than the knee jerk critic.

If the switch is all mental (not physical), why was it even necessary for each Mark to be in a different place ? (Perhaps just a device to help the audience recognize who was talking at that moment?)

no, no, no

The birthing center is a special place set up by Lumon for the wealthy ladies who have a chip inside them so they won't experience/remember childbirth. So when someone with a chip goes INSIDE A CABIN, their innie takes over. Then when you go OUTSIDE the cabin, you're the outie again. So Mark would film himself as the outie outside the cabin, and then go inside, his innie would watch the video, respond, step outside....and then the outie would watch and respond. Hope that is clear.

NP but I am amazed someone could watch the show and not understand that everyone with an innie has a chip in their brain that is activated in certain locations (the elevator, the doorway to the cabin). Not a criticism, just actually wondering what the experience of the show is if you don't know the switch between innie and outie is controlled by the chip and some kind of signal in specific places. What did you think was happening at Lumon when they got on the elevator? How did you think the process of severance functioned?

NP. +1
How on earth could a viewer not understand that?? And the person who said Mark and Gemma met while grading papers in the library - are they even watching the same show?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will say that the folks over on Reddit have a much better understanding of this show than the stay at home moms of the DMV, LOL!

Seems there are only one or two people here who need everything spelled out for them. I’m a SAHM who loves this show and understands all the nuances and details. But thanks for your condescension.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gemma will have access to Outie Mark in the real world , right?

Unless Innie Mark doesn't leave.

Oh, I forgot they share the same body!

So how were they talking by video? The brain kept switching back and forth but not the body?

I am still confused about how the numbers erased her memories (“passions”) while creating new innies??

What? Are you stupid?

You must make a great colleague in brainstorming sessions.

Such respectful, constructive input.

I mean, PP literally said she didn't understand how the Marks were talking to each other and it was very, very clear that they were sharing the video camera. You'd have to be a complete idiot to not understand that. So yeah, PP is stupid.

DP. The PP asked "So how were they talking by video?" But Mark switching between innie and outie wasn't really about the video camera, it was about his innie being inside the cabin and his outie being outside on the deck. The camera just allowed them to have the conversation asynchronously.

Thank you for being much more precise than the knee jerk critic.

If the switch is all mental (not physical), why was it even necessary for each Mark to be in a different place ? (Perhaps just a device to help the audience recognize who was talking at that moment?)

no, no, no

The birthing center is a special place set up by Lumon for the wealthy ladies who have a chip inside them so they won't experience/remember childbirth. So when someone with a chip goes INSIDE A CABIN, their innie takes over. Then when you go OUTSIDE the cabin, you're the outie again. So Mark would film himself as the outie outside the cabin, and then go inside, his innie would watch the video, respond, step outside....and then the outie would watch and respond. Hope that is clear.

NP but I am amazed someone could watch the show and not understand that everyone with an innie has a chip in their brain that is activated in certain locations (the elevator, the doorway to the cabin). Not a criticism, just actually wondering what the experience of the show is if you don't know the switch between innie and outie is controlled by the chip and some kind of signal in specific places. What did you think was happening at Lumon when they got on the elevator? How did you think the process of severance functioned?

NP. +1
How on earth could a viewer not understand that?? And the person who said Mark and Gemma met while grading papers in the library - are they even watching the same show?

Wait. I get the innie/outie switch chip, but I thought real outie Mark and real outie Gemma did meet at the library years ago, before they got married and tried to have a baby etc -- that was a flashback, no? If not, what did I miss?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok now that Severance is over, can someone recommend a new show for me to watch? Not necessarily *like* Severance, just something you found as enjoyable/well-written/bingeable.

The Leftovers. One of the best, most original shows I’ve ever seen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gemma will have access to Outie Mark in the real world , right?

Unless Innie Mark doesn't leave.

Oh, I forgot they share the same body!

So how were they talking by video? The brain kept switching back and forth but not the body?

I am still confused about how the numbers erased her memories (“passions”) while creating new innies??

What? Are you stupid?

You must make a great colleague in brainstorming sessions.

Such respectful, constructive input.

I mean, PP literally said she didn't understand how the Marks were talking to each other and it was very, very clear that they were sharing the video camera. You'd have to be a complete idiot to not understand that. So yeah, PP is stupid.

DP. The PP asked "So how were they talking by video?" But Mark switching between innie and outie wasn't really about the video camera, it was about his innie being inside the cabin and his outie being outside on the deck. The camera just allowed them to have the conversation asynchronously.

Thank you for being much more precise than the knee jerk critic.

If the switch is all mental (not physical), why was it even necessary for each Mark to be in a different place ? (Perhaps just a device to help the audience recognize who was talking at that moment?)

no, no, no

The birthing center is a special place set up by Lumon for the wealthy ladies who have a chip inside them so they won't experience/remember childbirth. So when someone with a chip goes INSIDE A CABIN, their innie takes over. Then when you go OUTSIDE the cabin, you're the outie again. So Mark would film himself as the outie outside the cabin, and then go inside, his innie would watch the video, respond, step outside....and then the outie would watch and respond. Hope that is clear.

NP but I am amazed someone could watch the show and not understand that everyone with an innie has a chip in their brain that is activated in certain locations (the elevator, the doorway to the cabin). Not a criticism, just actually wondering what the experience of the show is if you don't know the switch between innie and outie is controlled by the chip and some kind of signal in specific places. What did you think was happening at Lumon when they got on the elevator? How did you think the process of severance functioned?

NP. +1
How on earth could a viewer not understand that?? And the person who said Mark and Gemma met while grading papers in the library - are they even watching the same show?

Wait. I get the innie/outie switch chip, but I thought real outie Mark and real outie Gemma did meet at the library years ago, before they got married and tried to have a baby etc -- that was a flashback, no? If not, what did I miss?

The flashback shows them sitting next to each other while grading papers and donating blood at a blood drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gemma will have access to Outie Mark in the real world , right?

Unless Innie Mark doesn't leave.

Oh, I forgot they share the same body!

So how were they talking by video? The brain kept switching back and forth but not the body?

I am still confused about how the numbers erased her memories (“passions”) while creating new innies??

What? Are you stupid?

You must make a great colleague in brainstorming sessions.

Such respectful, constructive input.

I mean, PP literally said she didn't understand how the Marks were talking to each other and it was very, very clear that they were sharing the video camera. You'd have to be a complete idiot to not understand that. So yeah, PP is stupid.

DP. The PP asked "So how were they talking by video?" But Mark switching between innie and outie wasn't really about the video camera, it was about his innie being inside the cabin and his outie being outside on the deck. The camera just allowed them to have the conversation asynchronously.

Thank you for being much more precise than the knee jerk critic.

If the switch is all mental (not physical), why was it even necessary for each Mark to be in a different place ? (Perhaps just a device to help the audience recognize who was talking at that moment?)

no, no, no

The birthing center is a special place set up by Lumon for the wealthy ladies who have a chip inside them so they won't experience/remember childbirth. So when someone with a chip goes INSIDE A CABIN, their innie takes over. Then when you go OUTSIDE the cabin, you're the outie again. So Mark would film himself as the outie outside the cabin, and then go inside, his innie would watch the video, respond, step outside....and then the outie would watch and respond. Hope that is clear.

NP but I am amazed someone could watch the show and not understand that everyone with an innie has a chip in their brain that is activated in certain locations (the elevator, the doorway to the cabin). Not a criticism, just actually wondering what the experience of the show is if you don't know the switch between innie and outie is controlled by the chip and some kind of signal in specific places. What did you think was happening at Lumon when they got on the elevator? How did you think the process of severance functioned?

NP. +1
How on earth could a viewer not understand that?? And the person who said Mark and Gemma met while grading papers in the library - are they even watching the same show?

Wait. I get the innie/outie switch chip, but I thought real outie Mark and real outie Gemma did meet at the library years ago, before they got married and tried to have a baby etc -- that was a flashback, no? If not, what did I miss?

+1
Mark and Gemma met at a Lumon blood drive.