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The 10 Biggest Questions We Have Ahead of the Severance Season 2 Finale

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In the second season’s next-to-last episode of Severance, titled “The Fallout from Mark’s Absence,” the storyline focused on the consequences of outie Mark (Adam Scott) failing to show up for work, as Lumon’s executives anticipated his innie would complete the enigmatic Cold Harbor file on that particular day.

During the challenging shift, those who reported to work found themselves in difficult situations. Dylan (Zach Cherry) considered quitting due to his outie’s wife ending their relationship, and Helly (Britt Lower) had an unsettling encounter with her outie’s intimidating father, Lumon CEO Jame Eagan (Michael Siberry). Meanwhile, Burt (Christopher Walken) was taking Irving (John Turturro) out of town, presumably to keep him safe. As for Ms. Cobel (Patricia Arquette), she was hurrying back to Kier, intending either to aid Mark in rescuing Gemma (Dichen Lachman) or use him for her own purposes; we’re yet to know which one it will be.

As a movie critic, I found myself engrossed in the intriguingly titled “The After Hours,” a prelude to the season-ending spectacle that’s yet to unfold. The episode was more about laying groundwork than revealing fresh insights, leaving many of the enigmas that have been swirling throughout the season shrouded in mystery. Here are 10 burning questions I’m left pondering.

What’s up with all the references to The Twilight Zone?

In anticipation of Episode 9, it’s worth mentioning that the title “The After Hours” echoes a 1960 episode from the iconic sci-fi horror series, “The Twilight Zone”. This specific episode tells the story of Marsha White, who searches for a gift in a department store and is led to a mysterious ninth floor. There, she finds a gold thimble – an item she needed – but it’s damaged. As she returns the thimble, she starts to suspect that the saleswoman and elevator operator are not human. Her fears are confirmed when she realizes she too is a mannequin, who had been granted a month’s experience of living among humans outside the store. The twist comes when Marsha, having enjoyed her time so much, returns a day late, unaware that she was a mannequin all along.

In her conversation with the security guard at the birthing center, Ms. Cobel cleverly uses a quote from Rod Sterling’s introduction on The Twilight Zone as a secret password, saying “Miss Marsha White on the ninth floor, specialties department, looking for a gold thimble,” to gain entry into one of the isolated birthing cottages without any additional inquiry. Furthermore, Ms. Cobel addressing Jen Tullock’s character as “one of Jame’s” during this scene raises questions about how frequently a woman carrying Jamie’s child is brought to this facility, suggesting either an eerie commentary on the dominance of the Eagan patriarch or a hint at a chilling, unseen plot twist that remains to be discovered.

Returning to “The Twilight Zone”, it’s worth considering if the episode title might be hinting at the eventual outcome for either Gemma, currently confined on Lumon’s testing floor, or Helly, who is eager to discover where that mysterious dark hallway with the elevator ends.

What does Jame want with Helly?

Regarding Helly, who’s the last MDR staff member on the floor and is currently struggling to understand the situation, the closing moments of the episode witnessed a stealthy appearance by Jame, aiming to disrupt her efforts to remember Irving’s instructions to the Exports Hall. Sadly, it didn’t appear that he was simply dropping by for a casual visit.

“You tricked me,” he told her. “My Helly.”

It’s possible that James might have been referring to the conversation they had in the bathroom earlier, when the person who went on stage giving a speech (believed to be Helena but was actually Helly) during the Overtime Contingency in the Season 1 finale. This was one of the rare occasions where James expressed kindness and affection towards his supposed daughter, Helena, though it turned out to be Helly instead.

If we’re guessing, we’d say James doesn’t particularly like the Eagans treating the innie (innocent) like mere cattle and gaining an advantage over him. It might be wise for you, Helena, to consider making a quick escape now.

Is Helly going to be the one to find Gemma?

It appears quite probable that Helly and Gemma, two significant figures in Mark’s separate lives, will cross paths at some juncture. As Helly navigates towards the elevator of the Exports Hall, where Mark might soon uncover Gemma’s location, Helly could be Mark’s best opportunity to orchestrate a swift rescue if such a situation arises.

Is Dylan going to get back on the MDR loyalty train?

From selflessly activating the OTC during Season 1 and allowing his friends to explore the outside world, to persuading Irv that his inner life was valuable in the Season 2 opener, Dylan has often shown strong loyalty towards MDR. However, as Season 2 progressed, Lumon tempted him with an opportunity he had never experienced before: the chance at romantic love, with his outer self’s wife no less.

In Episode 9, it wasn’t surprising that Gretchen’s (Merritt Wever) breakup left Dylan in a state of distress, leading him to submit a form for an internal resignation. Yet, we can anticipate that Dylan will remain significant in the upcoming events involving his colleagues at the macrodata refining team. It’s possible that his outer self may harbor feelings of resentment due to the infidelity, which could lead him not to accept the resignation. This suggests that Dylan might return sooner than expected.

Is Irving really gone for good?

Regarding Dylan’s role in the final act of “Severance,” it applies equally to Irving, who appeared to depart at the conclusion of Episode 9. Despite his apparent reluctance to accept that he and Burt could never be together, it is highly unlikely that Irv has completely disappeared from the storyline now, isn’t it? Isn’t it?

Is Mr. Milchick on the verge of a crash out?

Mr. Milchick, currently leading the upper echelons of the company, has had a tough time in Season 2, seemingly subjected to racially-biased mistreatment from his superiors at Lumon. However, in Episode 9, he boldly confronted security chief Mr. Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson). Interestingly, Milchick seems to exhibit a subtle sense of compassion towards the ‘innies’ when not being pressured to prove himself to Lumon by enforcing discipline upon them. If he were to join forces with MDR in a rebellion against Lumon, it could potentially lead to remarkable outcomes.

Is that the last we’ll see of Ms. Huang?

After finishing the Wintertide Fellowship, the same program where it’s now known that Miss Cobel grew up as a child, Miss Huang (Sarah Bock) was given a statue of Jame Eagan’s head and bid farewell at the end of Episode 9. It seems she might have been there primarily to offer us a peek into young Miss Cobel’s experiences. However, we’re left pondering if she could have a more significant part to play in the future events.

Is something weird going on with Devon?

There’s a lot of talk going around suggesting that Devon’s actions this season, like switching to an Android or contacting Ms. Cobel after learning about Mark’s reintegration, might hint at some kind of collaboration between Devon and Lumon. However, we prefer to think that Devon is simply innocent, frightened for her brother, not scheming. But if you’re determined to find evidence of something suspicious, you likely will.

Additionally, let’s discuss Ricken (Michael Chernus), his recent book, and his broader ties to Lumon. However, tread cautiously as you delve into the theories suggesting that Ricken was once a former employee at Lumon who disguised himself as a goat. Proceed with this intrigue at your own peril.

Does Ms. Cobel actually want to help Mark?

It appears that, even though Ms. Cobel temporarily stepped away from Lumon, it’s difficult not to suspect she has secretive intentions in assisting Mark in locating Gemma prior to his innie finishing Cold Harbor. One wonders if Harmony is genuinely prepared to risk her lifelong achievements for Gemma’s rescue. We can’t help but feel apprehensive about the outcome.

What is Cold Harbor?

The enigma that lies at the core of the series unfolds here: What exactly is Cold Harbor, and what might Lumon gain from it? As per Ms. Cobel, once Mark completes Cold Harbor, it will lead to Gemma’s demise. However, the project has been stagnant at 96% since Mark began reintegrating. The entire storyline thus far seems to be leading up to this revelation, so brace yourself for potential dire consequences and keep your fingers crossed for a positive outcome, fellow Severance enthusiasts.

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2025-03-14 10:06

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