'Severance' Season 1 Ending Explained: Fan Theories, Speculations & QnA

The Season 1 finale of "Severance" confirmed several key theories regarding the characters' outies:

• Helly's Identity: Helly's outie is revealed to be Helena Eagan, daughter of Lumon's founder, Kier Eagan. This explains why Helly's innie consistently tries to quit her job at Lumon.
• Irving's Role: Irving's outie continues to investigate Lumon, suggesting that he might be the mole within the organization. His outie collects newspaper clippings about company controversies and maintains a list of former employees.
• Gabby's Connection: At Lumon's PR event, Senator Angelo Arteta's wife Gabby admits that she's Severed, confirming Devon's suspicion about her in the last episode.

These revelations hint at the complexity of the characters' lives outside of Lumon and raise numerous questions about the motives behind their actions inside the workplace. We eagerly await Season 2 to explore these themes further and gain more insight into the intricate web of connections and secrets that bind the characters together.

• Mark: Mark's outie is a history professor named Mark Stern, who was married to Gemma, also known as Ms. Casey.
• Dylan: Dylan's outie works at Lumon and has a son and two other children.
• Helly: Helly's outie is Helena Eagan, daughter of Lumon's founder, Kier Eagan.
• Irving: Irving's outie lives with his dog Radar in a dingy apartment and has been investigating Lumon.

In Season 2, we can expect to delve deeper into the lives of these outies and discover more about their motivations and experiences outside of Lumon. These explorations should provide additional insights into the complex relationships between the characters and help clarify the mysteries surrounding Lumon and its operations.

Redditor ybneyk proposes Lumon's goal of generating artificial life, linking it to Kier's Four Tempers represented by colors in MDR's computers. These colors pervade the show, indicating brain activity categorization. The theory suggests the baby goats are Lumon's version of Dolly the Sheep, with speculations about Ms. Casey and Gemma's death being part of this artificial recreation. Ricken's knowledge, evident in his book inscription to Mark, adds a layer of mystery to Lumon's potential endeavors.

In "Severance," Lumon Industries employees work in various departments, with the primary focus being on Macrodata Refinement (MDR). The specific duties of the MDR team involve sorting encrypted numbers into digital bins based on their emotional impact. The purpose behind this activity remains largely unexplained, as the characters themselves are unaware of the significance of the numbers they handle.Some theories regarding Lumon's activities include:

• Experimentation: Lumon may be using humans as test subjects to study the effects of separating emotions from daily life.
• Data processing: Lumon could be involved in advanced data analysis, potentially utilizing artificial intelligence to interpret patterns in the numbers.
• Resurrection project: Lumon might be attempting to revive Kier Eagan through the collected data.

However, none of these hypotheses have been confirmed within the context of the show. The true nature of Lumon's operations remains shrouded in mystery, adding intrigue to the ongoing narrative.

Natalie, connected to Lumon's mysterious Board, hints at a strong relationship with the Eagan family. While she appears to have a direct line to Lumon's decision-makers, questions arise about her true level of connection. The possibility that Natalie might be the one calling the shots and the existence of The Board could be a facade adds intrigue to the complex dynamics within Lumon Industries. The true nature of The Board remains a central mystery in the Severance narrative.

The appearance of baby goats in a department with a white room and an employee feeding them suggests a connection to human kids, cloning, and consciousness transfer. The employee's statement, "They're not ready," hints at a growth process. The goats' screams, resembling wailing babies, raise questions. Helly speculates a link to the numbers, though Mark doubts it, leaving the purpose of the goats open for future season revelations.

The "interdepartmental coup" in question was not an uprising but rather a narrative created by higher-ups at Lumon. It seems to be a fabricated story to prevent collaboration among departments. The painting by Burt and the differing opinions among MDR and Optics and Design contribute to the ambiguity surrounding the event.

Irving's father's Navy background, evidenced by the uniform and medals, raises questions about Lumon's history. The implication is that the military, possibly the U.S. Navy, might have been involved in the initial Severance Procedures. Irving's outie gathering information on Lumon's workers hints at a connection. Lumon could have used Severance as an experimental PTSD treatment for combat veterans, providing a potential motive for Irving's infiltration of the company.

Helena, as James Eagan's daughter, underwent Severance as a PR tactic to promote mass Severance Chip usage. This move aimed to showcase the procedure's safety and value. However, innie Helly disrupts Helena's plans by sabotaging her speech. The situation highlights parallels between Lumon Industries and real-life tech companies, emphasizing the complexities of their actions and personalities.

Yes, Dylan is portrayed as a workaholic in the show. Actor Zach Cherry skillfully depicts his obsession with workplace success through subtle performances. Dylan often boasts about meeting quotas and displays rewards on his desk as evidence of his accomplishments, indicating workaholic tendencies. A theory by a Reddit user, kitastropheb, suggests that Dylan undergoes severance to distance himself from these tendencies, prioritizing time with his son.

Harmony Cobel's challenging experiences, from being fired for her unsevered investigations to her role in the overtime protocol incident, raise questions about her future with Lumon. Despite her dismissal, her dedication to investigating Lumon might force the company to reconsider her employment. Cobel's Kier True Believer status and extensive knowledge present a potential threat to Lumon, raising uncertainty about how long she will accept being sidelined. The dynamics between Cobel and Lumon are poised for further exploration in future Severance episodes.

The secretive Optics and Design department, housing at least seven employees, manufactures Lumon stationary, appliances, and other items. This operation allows Lumon to maintain discretion about its activities, as the company, described as "Elon Musk-like," has the financial flexibility to produce everything internally. The department's role involves creating various items crucial to Lumon's operations while avoiding external scrutiny.

There's a theory that Helly's chip might be malfunctioning. Despite Mark's acknowledgment of initial struggles, Helly stands out with her numerous escape attempts, indicating discontent. A keen Reddit user, scubascratch, noticed a detail during her surgery scene, with a warning suggesting a tool issue. This detail might explain Helly's resistance and difficulty adapting, hinting at a potential problem with her chip.

Helena Eagan's decision to work at Lumon, despite her family's wealth, raises questions about her motivation. While Helena's recorded speeches hint at seeing it as a cool project, her personal reasons for undergoing the procedure remain unclear. As a member of the Eagan family, financial necessity is unlikely, leaving her motivations for sacrificing eight hours of her life daily for Lumon a mystery. Helena's quip about family loyalty not being her motivator adds further intrigue to her decision, and the exploration of her true motivations is anticipated in future Severance episodes.

Lumon's response could involve the elevator to deeper levels and the Severance Chip protocols like Beehive, Branch Transfer, Clean Slate, Elephant, Freeze Frame, Glasgow, Goldfish, Lullaby, and Open House. Potential punishments include memory erasure, reprogramming, department transfers, or suspended animation until the innie's next assignment. The consequences are likely to reveal darker aspects of Lumon in Severance season 2.

The theory suggests that all citizens in Kier might have undergone severance to avoid unpleasant aspects of life. Instances like the Senator's wife and Devon's encounter with a strange Innie at a maternity retreat support this idea. The peculiar behavior of citizens in Kier, such as the bird-lady and unusual conversations, aligns with the theory. Helena's father's mention of Lumon's plan to chip everyone adds to the speculation that more residents may have undergone severance than initially thought.

Milchick appears to be working against the MDR Department within Lumon. After receiving a warning call from Harmony Cobel regarding the MDR Department's plans, Milchick becomes determined to stop them. Milchick might be collaborating with Regabhi, who is known for killing Mr. Graner after hunting her down for unsevering Petey. However, nothing is definitive, and Milchick's true intentions remain somewhat ambiguous throughout the series. Some fans even speculate that Milchick might be a robot or part of a larger scheme.

Irving's initial hallucination during a dozing-off moment suggests a wake-up mechanism for workers. However, the escalation, with a puddle dripping from the ceiling and Mark's eye, raises questions. Irving's age and Mark's cheeky response hint at a potential deeper significance to the black goo. Further exploration in future episodes may provide clarity on its purpose beyond a personalized wake-up call for Irving.

Irving's repetitive painting hints at multiple resets, suggesting a complex history. Reddit user Manannan_Vannin speculates on a repeated cycle of love between Irving and Burt, resulting in resets due to fraternization policies. Despite Irving's talent in Optics and Design, Lumon consistently places him in MDR, causing a disconnect in his skill set and assigned department.

Kier Eagan is the founder of Lumon Industries in "Severance." His progeny runs the company, with each leader being a descendant. Some fans speculate that Kier's consciousness might transfer among them, while others believe he could still be alive. Helena's father, currently running Lumon, displays unusual behavior, fueling these theories.

While evidence suggests Harmony supports Lumon's workers, her actions in the finale raise questions. Despite her firing and genuine happiness for Mark's decision to quit, Harmony rushes to prevent Dylan and Helly's innie from speaking at Lumon's event, even calling Milchick. This conflicting behavior could stem from a desire to regain Lumon's favor quickly or genuine concern about potential brain damage from Severance Chip protocols. Harmony's interest in various Severance Chip effects, including Mark and Gemma's interactions and Petey's reintegration, hints at a deeper motive. Severance season 2 is expected to unravel Harmony's true loyalty—to Lumon or the exploited innies.

Despite her enigmatic role, Redditor AintLongButItsSkinny proposes a theory suggesting Ms. Cobel's motivations may be altruistic. She refrains from reporting Petey's successful re-integration to the Board, hinting at a desire to encourage Mark's reintegration. This speculation suggests Ms. Cobel may aim to make Mark un-severed and aligned with Lumon's interests.

Irving's outie has been conducting an independent investigation into Lumon, gathering information such as newspaper clippings related to company controversies and creating a list of severed employees. Additionally, he has painted numerous images of a dark corridor leading to the testing floor. These actions suggest that Irving's outie is seeking answers about Lumon beyond his innie's awareness.

Devon suspects Gabby, met at a birthing lodge, doesn't recognize her at the park due to potential Severance-induced memory loss. Gabby's Lumon-backed state senator husband adds intrigue, suggesting severed memories to cope with childbirth pain. The storyline implies a connection between Lumon's influence, memory alteration, and the emotional aspects of childbirth.

A theory suggests Irving's repetitive actions, like painting and listening to "Ace Of Spades," may be brainwashing techniques to connect his Innie and Outtie. Irving's Outtie delves into Lumon employees and consumes excessive coffee, impacting his Innie's sleep and causing blended dreams. This hints at a deliberate effort to merge consciousnesses through pattern recognition and sleep deprivation.

The exact explanation for Gemma's continued presence at Lumon remains uncertain due to the show's narrative complexity. However, some possibilities include:

1. Gemma wasn't truly killed in the car accident, and her death was staged or fabricated by Lumon to cover up their involvement in her condition.
2. Gemma's consciousness was somehow preserved or transferred into another individual, possibly during her time at Lumon.
3. Gemma is a robot designed to mimic her human counterpart, programmed to carry out tasks assigned by Lumon.

These explanations remain speculative until further information becomes available in subsequent episodes or seasons.

Mark's realization about Gemma's survival, combined with innie revelations and Ricken's determination, hints at Lumon's potential downfall. Exposing Lumon's actions with Gemma could disrupt the Severance Procedure promotion, derailing James Eagan's plans to turn everyone into Kier's children. The revelation may mark the beginning of challenges for Lumon Industries.

Milchick's tackle interrupts Irving's innie at Burt's house, raising questions about their relationship. Whether Burt and Irving's outies know each other remains unclear. If Burt and Irving are a real couple outside Lumon, it could explain their intimate connection as innies. The possibility of an affair adds a layer of complexity to their dynamic within the Severance storyline.