Summary
One cleverSeveranceseason 2 theory suggests its real villains may not be the most obvious. Directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle, and created by Dan Erickson, theApple TV+ showfollowed the enigmatic Lumon Industries, a company that offers a controversial procedure called “severance,” which surgically splits employees' minds into distinct work (“innie”) and personal (“outie”) selves. The narrative primarily revolves around Mark (Adam Scott), when a former colleague’s sudden reappearance prompts him to question Lumon’s true intentions. As the characters navigate their dual existences,Severanceexplores profound themes of identity, control, and corporate dystopia.
TheSeveranceseason 1 endingfeatured several twists, setting the stage for the second season. In the final episode, Mark, Helly, and Irving’s “innie” personalities are activated in the outside world, leading to shocking discoveries about their “outie” lives. Meanwhile, Lumon’s figures of authority, Cobel and Milchick, scramble to regain control.This dramatic cliffhanger not only resolved some mysteries but also introduced new questions, leaving fans speculating about the direction ofSeveranceseason 2. Amid the many attempts to answerSeveranceseason 1’s unanswered questions, one smart theory claims the show’s real villain is not who audiences think.
Adam Scott & Ben Stiller Interview: Severance
We interview Severance director Ben Stiller and star Adam Scott about their experience on the show and what stood out to them about the project.
Cobel Is Not Severance’s Real Villain – Theory Explained
She Could Have A Profoundly Personal Motive Driving Her Actions
One of theSeveranceseason 2 theoriessuggests that Harmony Cobel, a key figure at Lumon Industries, is not the real villain. Throughout season 1, she is portrayed as the authoritarian antagonist, overseeing the severed workers at Lumon Industries with an iron grip. However, a popular fan theory suggests thatCobel might actually be on the side of Lumon’s workers and could also have a deeply personal motive driving her actions. According to this theory, Cobel might have a loved one in a condition similar to that of Mark’s wife, Gemma, who is also Ms. Casey at Lumon.
This theory adds a layer of personal tragedy and desperation to Cobel, painting her not merely as a corporate enforcer, but as someone grappling with profound personal loss.
The person could be in a state of brain death, coma, or another such state, with Cobel secretly working to achieve a successful reintegration of their identities. This theory adds a layer of personal tragedy and desperation to Cobel, painting her not merely as a corporate enforcer, but as someone grappling with profound personal loss. Such a revelation would not only deepen the narrative complexity ofSeverancebut also massively heighten the stakes for Cobel’s character.
Cobel’s True Intentions In Severance Would Explain Her Interest In Mark
Especially Her Investment In Mark and Gemma Recognizing Each Other
This theory of Cobel’s true intentions would certainly explain her continued interest in Mark, starting with her living as his neighbor, Mrs. Selvig. If Cobel is secretly an ally of the innies,it would explain why Cobel expresses genuine happiness and support when Mark decides to quit Lumon. Likewise, if Cobel indeed has a loved one in a similar state, her actions can be interpreted as an attempt to understand and perfect the reintegration process, using Mark and Gemma as a test case.
It would thus make sense why she is so interested in Mark and Gemma’s interactions, particularly why she feels so disappointed when they fail to recognize each other during their encounters.
It would thus make sense why she is so interested in Mark and Gemma’s interactions, particularly why she feels so disappointed when they fail to recognize each other during their encounters.This theory also explains why Cobel conceals the severance chip side effects from the board.The mystery behind what happened to Gemma is one of the manyburning questionsSeveranceseason 2 needs to answer, but Cobel’s emotional investment in it adds a new layer of intrigue to the plot.
When Is Severance Set? Why Lumon Has Such Old Technology
Severance employs a visual style called retrofuturism, which lays the groundwork for the workplace comedy’s unique take on dystopian horror.
Severance Already Told You Who The Show’s Real Villains Are
The Founders Of Lumon Industries: The Kier Family
As founders of Lumon Industries, the Kier family represent the faceless corporate greed and ambition that drive the company’s unethical practices.
Severancehas been quite clear that its true villains are not Cobel or Miltchick, but the Kier family and the other powerful individuals who seek to propagate the severance procedure. As founders of Lumon Industries, the Kier family represent the faceless corporate greed and ambition that drive the company’s unethical practices.This family’s vision for severance is not merely about productivity but about wielding absolute power over individuals' lives, both in and out of the workplace.
However, there is a lingering possibility thatSeverancehas yet to reveal its ultimate antagonist.The original Kier Eagan, the visionary founder of Lumon, might still be aliveor exerting influence from the shadows. If this is true, it would add a chilling dimension to the story, suggesting that the oppressive control exerted by Lumon is not just a corporate strategy but a deeply personal mission of one man’s enduring legacy. Such theories can only be confirmed by the highly anticipated release ofSeveranceseason 2.
Cast
Severance is a psychological thriller series featuring Adam Scott as Mark Scout, an employee at Lumon Industries who undergoes a “severance” procedure to separate his work and personal memories. However, as work and life personas mysteriously begin to collide, it quickly becomes clear that not all is as it seems. Created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle.
