Who would’ve thought love, goats, obscenely humongous words, and marching bands would be in a show about severing the mind during work hours? I wouldn’t have! Yet here we are—and it made for a hell of a fantastic season finale! Severance’s season two finale was one of this year’s best closers to a season that took us on an emotional rollercoaster and left us wanting season three IMMEDIATELY! This episode was nothing but high-stakes, and we can’t help but wonder… what’s next for the gang? Are you ready to dive in?
**MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD**
The Breakdown
The Mark Scout Battle
Have you ever got into an argument with your significant other during work hours, and anything that has nothing to do with the argument pisses you off? That’s what was going on with Mark. Mark’s outtie was tasked with getting his innie on board with the plan to help his wife, Gemma, escape the secret severed floor. Outtie Mark almost had the innie on board until he completely disregarded his innie’s love life.
“Helleny, or whatever…”
The two Marks engaged in a heated video recording battle for God knows how long, and it was entertaining to watch. However, we begin to see how Innie Mark would be giving up his short yet stressful life as a severed employee for Lumon. He would be giving up his love life and the friends he made, and essentially, he would be “killing” all innies by going through with the selfish plan of getting Gemma out and escaping with her.
We watched the two Marks team up with the Innie gang to rescue Gemma from Cold Harbor before it was too late, which made for a dramatic episode. We got the beating of Drummond followed by his accidental (yet fulfilling) death, Emile (the goat) living to see another day and an emotional rekindling of Mark and Gemma. Although we thought they made it to the home stretch, Innie Mark made the (dumb yet understandable) decision to get Gemma out while staying with Helly and the rest of the innies, and the credits rolled. Innie Mark couldn’t fathom losing his entire life for one woman’s freedom, which is fair—but it puts them at a crossroads of what will happen now. Innie Mark finally realizes that he has the freedom to make his own choices and feel for someone who isn’t supposed to be a bittersweet moment for me. I’m so glad he did what he thought best, but also, I was hurt because my girl Gemma was hurt and left stranded without her Mark.
While Mark and Gemma’s short reunion wooed the audience, it would be remiss of me to leave out the dramatics happening on the rest of the severed floor.
Milchick Claps Back
Milchick’s “use of unnecessarily big words,” paired with the passive-aggressiveness of the photo he received early on and his clapbacks to Drummond, made this moment more monumental. Milchick is positioned to find out if he should continue to deal with Lumon’s BS or stand with the outies, something that I hope to explore in the next season.
Helly R or Helena Eagan?
Although Helena didn’t play a big role in this episode, Helly did. The appearance of Helena’s father, James, appearing on the severed floor to speak to Helly was a wtf moment for sure. James compared Helena’s innie to that of the second coming of Kier (praise Kier) because of her acts of defiance and willingness to rebel. Additionally, the final scene of Helly (I think it’s Helena) shows us how happy she is that innie Mark decided to stay. You can also tell she was ready for the rebellion! I’m excited to see how this pans out.
Dylan G’s Braverism
While Dylan may not have been viewed as someone who played a pivotal role in the finale, you’ll be sorely mistaken. His choice to stay and fight alongside Helly, Mark, and now the entirety of the C&M department marked a huge victory and showed the bravery his outtie wished to display. This season, Milchick allowed innie Dylan to visit his wife. His wife fell for Innie Dylan because he was everything she missed about her outtie husband. Dylan’s outtie giving him those words of affirmation about being bold gave him the courage to stay and stand with the rest of the innies in dire need.
Where’s Irving B.?
Irving’s situationship, Burt took him to the station, gave him a ticket, and made sure he didn’t look back. I want to know… where did my man go? After being exiled for clocking Helena’s tea, Irving met Burt and his long-time lover on the outside. However, Burt revealed that he works as Lumon’s muscle and was tasked with sending Irving to his death. If not for Burt’s change of heart, Irving would be “taken care of,” as Helena said. Instead, Burt “took care” of his man, who isn’t his man (teehee).
The HBCU Experience
There was something so hilarious yet profound about Milchick sprinting away after handing Innie Dylan his note from his outtie to make it to the dramatic HBCU-esque band performance for the completion of the Cold Harbor file. We know that it was meant to serve as a distraction to keep Mark away from Gemma while they enact Cold Harbor, but it was also quite entertaining. The Severance fan base lives for a Milchick dance moment, and I hope we get another one (with a background story) next season.
I would also like to drop the gem that Tramell Tillman (Milchick), a graduate of the illustrious Jackson-State University, used the opportunity to channel that HBCU energy and pay homage to the Sonic Boom of the South! I love a good HBCU moment. I love how the cast and crew allowed him this moment to highlight a part of HBCU culture. Band and band dancing has always been the heart of the schools if we’re being honest, and it was fun to watch Milchick give us a little Lumonchella! Any time music or a touch of color is added to their three-colored world, it brings joy, even if it’s temporary.
While Dylan and Helly held Milchick back, they inspired the C&M department to join the makeshift innie rebellion. It took the taking of three of their instruments before they decided to start thinking about it. I saw the band as a metaphor for the rebellion. Being so in sync that the disruption could break the “perfect” sound, AKA whatever Lumon is trying to do. I hope to see some of the C&M department return as a series or season regular.
The Emotional Toll
This episode left fans emotional as they watched their favorite innies take back control for themselves. innies weren’t made to love; they weren’t supposed to have an identity or agency over anything. They were only supposed to do what Lumon told them. The complications of the season one finale left a permanent MARK (pun intended) on the way the innies viewed the world—their world, and this season was meant for them to break away from Lumon’s policies. Being able to experience love, loss, grief, and find their own identity—that’s what makes a person. And like Burt said, innies have souls, too. It would be a shame if they were to perish.
Also, seeing Milchick having to tame his tempers (another pun intended) so as not to be out of line and remain professional was interesting to watch throughout the season. This predominantly (and presumably all-white) board put Milchick in a place of leadership, leaving him overworked and overwhelmed—something that Black people and other people of color can relate to. Having the board try to criticize his “wrong-doings” every step of the way, even though it wasn’t his fault, was hard to watch. The black-faced Kier photos mocking his eloquent vocabulary were nothing but MACROaggressions. Milchick was made to be a “yes” man for Lumon, and it feels good seeing him slowly but surely rebel against that as the season reached his end. This season put us through the wringer, and this finale put us in the emotional coffin.
Theories for Season 3
What’s Next For Mark and Helly?
As I’ve said earlier, Mark and Helly ran off into the bland, white hallways of Lumon’s severed floor, ready to love and rebel. I want to know what their plan is. Do they plan on a full rebellion? Are they planning on making a world down in the severed floors? How will they fight, and how will they keep Helly from being brought back as Helena? This leads me to my big question: Helly was shown deviously smiling when innie Mark chose her. I think that may be Helena. If I’m correct, then I feel she’ll try to lead a failing rebellion or try to have Mark impregnate her, bringing life to the next Kier.
What Exactly Is Cold Harbor?
Why was it such a big deal for Gemma to complete Cold Harbor? This season, “taming the tempers” was thrown around a lot, and seeing that Gemma had twenty-four other innies of herself makes me think that Cold Harbor was the last temper—seeing if she can sever (thrice pun intended) herself from the memory of Mark. Maybe taming the tempers was meant to eliminate Kier’s shortcomings, as written in his text. Perhaps it was going to be used to impliment in all severed employees. I think it was the latter. Having complete control of innies without having to do anything else would be a dangerous thing that the world would not discover until it would be too late.
Pick A Side, Cobel!
This season, Cobel’s loyalty was tested, and her life’s hard work was almost burned. Is this semi-maniacal woman doing all of this for the praise of Kier, or has she finally freed herself from the cultist mindset and is actually on the side of rebellion? Will we see her, Devon, and Reghabi team up? Will Cobel use her found work to start reintegration?
Successful Merging
Is reintegration 100% possible—and if it is, will we see that done to one of our beloved characters next season? I feel like somehow Mark gets out and is “reintegrated,” but he fights for dominance with his Innie. I don’t think it’s 100% possible, but we’ll see.
FIN
I love how Severance managed to stay weird and mysterious while being thrilling and intentional in everything it does. I’m also glad that it was renewed for a third season! Severance stans, stand up!!! This is our time. I hope we’re all ready to see what the next season brings and that we don’t have to wait another three years to find out. It may be time for a rewatch, where I enjoy every episode equally.
What are some of your theories you have for season three? Comment down below or share with us on GeekedT’s Instagram!
Reintegrating,
Michael