Alright, fellow TV addicts!
If you haven’t been mainlining Apple TV+’s “Severance,” you’re missing out on a seriously twisted, thought-provoking ride.
Season 2 is here, and it’s diving even deeper into the shadowy world of Lumon Industries, worker alienation, and the existential dread of corporate life.
Buckle up, because we’re about to unpack the craziest theories, religious allusions, and, yes, even the significance of Mark S.’s newfound hunger.
What’s the Deal with Severance, Anyway?
In case you’re new to the party, “Severance” poses a bonkers question: What if you could completely separate your work life from your personal life?
Lumon’s “severance” procedure promises just that, but as our favorite Macrodata Refinement employees are discovering, things aren’t exactly what they seem.
It’s like a corporate funhouse mirror reflecting our deepest anxieties about work-life balance, or lack thereof.
Is this the worst evil corporation on severance?
The Core Question: Reintegration and the Hungry Soul
Season 2 tackles what happens when the walls between your severed selves start to crumble.
Mark S., our beleaguered protagonist, is on a journey of reintegration, trying to piece together his fragmented memories and rescue Gemma, his deceased wife (or is she?), who is trapped as Ms.
Casey.
But what does it *mean* that Mark S.
is suddenly, insatiably hungry?
Think about it.
Mark’s refrigerator was a desolate wasteland of beer and chicken soup “Soylent.” He’s literally internalizing the corporate ethos of optimized efficiency, where food is just fuel.
But reintegration sparks a rebellion against this bland existence.
Real food – that glorious bowl of wonton soup – becomes a symbol of reclaiming his humanity.
Key Takeaways from Severance Season 2
- Alienation is a Bummer: Let’s face it, being disconnected from your work, your passions, or even your own memories is a recipe for existential angst.
“Severance” highlights how this estrangement chips away at our very being. - Food is Freedom: Mark’s culinary awakening isn’t just about satisfying a craving; it’s about pushing back against the forces of late capitalism that want to turn us into productivity machines.
- Crafting as a Counterbalance: Remember Gemma’s crafting supplies?
Hobbies, those “unproductive” pursuits, are essential for replenishing the soul and reconnecting with our human essence.
It’s a reminder that life isn’t just about work, work, work. - Radicalization Starts at Work: Subjugation might begin in the office cubicle, but so does resistance.
“Severance” shows how collective action, even on a small scale, can empower us to challenge the status quo. - Religious Undertones: Kier Eagan as a deity?
Company handbooks as sacred texts?
The show is dripping with religious iconography, hinting at Lumon’s twisted, almost cult-like control.
Is Lumon secretly “The Bad Place?”
Severance, a new record for Apple TV
Apple TV is tragically underwatched with an incredible batting average for great shows compared to the total it produces.
And these days, its flagship is Severance, now that the series has returned for season 2.
The show has now grown popular enough where it has unseated one of the original shows that put Apple TV on the map.
Severance are now the mostwatched overall show on Apple TV, blowing by three seasons of Ted Lasso already.
The Goats!
Oh God, the Goats!
Okay, let’s address the elephant (or should we say, goat?) in the room.
The Mammalian Nurturance department is…
unsettling.
What’s the deal with those baby goats?
Mind control experiments?
Cloning gone wrong?
Are they just there to add another layer of WTF to Lumon’s already bizarre atmosphere?
One possible explanation is that they are somehow linked to the mind control experiments.
Think Jon Ronsons book ,The Men Who Stare at Goats, about the US Armys attempts to develop the ability to telepathically kill goats.
Ronson suggested the program was linked to the broader MKUltra project, in which the CIA deployed a range of methods including psychological and physical torture and the use of psychoactive drugs to control minds.
What if the Innie Could Send you a message back?
In Episode 3 of Severance, Mark and his sister, Devon, have an idea.
They need to ask Marks innie a question, but Lumons famous code detectors make this impossible.
Nothing with any letters or symbols on it can pass through the elevator to and from the severed floor, seemingly making communication between innies and outies impossible.
One night, as Mark is practicing burning the question into his eyes, Asal Reghabithe former Lumon employee who performed Peteys reintegration procedureshows up and lays into him.
It doesnt work.
Clean slate, she says.
Also, you could blind yourself.
And how was the innie supposed to send you a message back?
Lumon as Hell?
The show is peppered with religious allusions, motifs of light and dark, and enough underworld vibes to make Hades jealous.
Is Lumon a metaphorical representation of hell?
The severed employees are trapped in a cycle of meaningless labor, their identities fragmented, their connection to the outside world severed.
Sound like a party you want to attend?
Didn’t think so.
Woes Hollow and the Unraveling Mystery
The ORTBO episode, “Woes Hollow,” was a real departure, but was any of it even real?
Was it just a simulation?
Remember Dylans opening observation I knew there was no actual ceiling, but this is fing insane.
Computer games generally have no ceiling .
ORTBO is an anagram of robot.
Episode 4’s exploration of the weird mind games that Lumon plays with the innies and the strength of the mind control that Milchick has is so strong, Lumon is working on mind control.
This episode also saw that group hold, Dylan find directions to the mysterious black hallway, Mark and Helly have trouble reconnecting after Helenas betrayal, and Milchick receive a haunting subpar performance review.
That’s one hell of a mole they have to overcome.
So, What’s the Point?
“Severance” isn’t just about a wacky sci-fi premise.
It’s a commentary on the dehumanizing aspects of modern work, the search for meaning, and the importance of reclaiming our whole selves.
It’s asking us to question the sacrifices we make in the name of productivity and to consider what truly nourishes our souls.
Is that bowl of wonton soup really worth fighting for?
I think so.
What are *your* theories about Lumon and the true purpose of severance?
Are the goats the key to unlocking the corporation’s secrets?
Let’s discuss!
Unraveling the Mysteries of Severance Season 2: Your Burning Questions Answered
What is the ‘severance’ procedure in the show?
The ‘severance’ procedure, as performed by Lumon Industries, is a process that completely separates an employee’s work life from their personal life.
This means that the ‘innie’ (work persona) has no memory of the ‘outie’s’ life outside of Lumon, and vice versa.
Why is Mark S.
suddenly so hungry in Season 2?
Mark S.’s newfound hunger symbolizes his reintegration process.
It represents a rebellion against the bland, optimized existence promoted by Lumon.
Real food, like wonton soup, becomes a symbol of reclaiming his humanity.
What is the significance of the goats in the Mammalian Nurturance department?
The goats’ significance is currently unknown, but theories suggest they could be linked to mind control experiments, cloning, or simply exist to add to Lumon’s bizarre atmosphere.
Some theories also link them to the MKUltra project and mind control techniques.
What does Lumon Industries represent metaphorically?
Lumon can be seen as a metaphorical representation of hell, where employees are trapped in a cycle of meaningless labor, their identities are fragmented, and their connection to the outside world is severed.
It comments on the dehumanizing aspects of modern work.
What is the Woes Hollow episode about?
The Woes Hollow episode, ‘ORTBO,’ explores the mind games that Lumon plays with the innies and the strength of their mind control.
Some speculate it may even have been a simulation.
The acronym ORTBO is an anagram of robot.
The Search for Meaning in a Severed World
Severance Season 2 delves deeper into the dark realities of Lumon Industries, exploring themes of alienation, mind control, and the search for meaning in a world where work and life are artificially separated.
The show challenges viewers to consider the sacrifices they make in the name of productivity and to reclaim their whole selves.
Continue Your Severance Journey: What to Do Next
- Discuss: Share your theories about Lumon and the goats online with fellow fans.
- Rewatch: Revisit Season 1 and Season 2 episodes, paying close attention to details and symbolism.
- Explore: Research MKUltra and other real-world mind control experiments.
- Reflect: Consider your own work-life balance and the aspects of your life that truly nourish your soul.
