2025 sees the long-awaited debut of Severance Season 2 among this year’s most eagerly anticipated TV premieres – however, it also brings a touch of melancholy. A full three years have passed since Season 1 first graced our screens on Apple TV+, which in the fast-paced world of modern television and streaming feels like an eternity. Consequently, the intricate storylines and secondary plots from Severance‘s inaugural season may now be fading from the memory of many viewers. To ensure you’re up to speed before Season 2 delves deeper into these threads, here are ten essential FAQs about the rich tapestry of lore and revelations from Severance Season 1 that you should remember as we eagerly await the new season.

Obviously, SPOILERS FOLLOW!

10 Things to Remember About Severance Before Season 2

10. There’s A Cure For Severance (Sort Of…)

Previously employed at Lumon Industries as a scientist specializing in the severance process, Dr. Regabhi (Karen Aldridge) eventually grew disillusioned with this procedure and departed from the company. In secret, she created a method known as “reintegration” which she utilized on Mark Scout’s colleague Peter “Petey” Kilmer (Yul Vazquez), aiming to reunite the two halves of his split personality. Despite ongoing refinements, the reintegration process resulted in Petey suffering from a debilitating and ultimately lethal cognitive deterioration. In the series’ debut episode, Mark ascended to Petey’s position within the Macrodata Refinement (MDR) division as its new department chief.

9. Dr. Reghabi Killed Doug Graner

In the peculiar narrative structure of the series Severance, a murder plays a relatively minor role in the overall season plot. It transpired that Dr. Regabhi contacted Mark via Petey’s phone (in episode 6) and arranged a rendezvous at her recently acquired college lab. Lumon’s severed-floor head security officer, Doug Graner (played by Michael Cumpsty), trailed Mark to this meeting, only to be neutralized by Regabhi in the following episode (episode 7). Since then, she has been observed attempting to dispose of Graner’s remains.

8. Bert Had to Go

One standout character development in the first season of ‘Severance’ involved MDR team member Irving Bailiff (played by John Turturro) and his blossoming workplace romance with the head of Optics and Design division, Burt Goodman (portrayed by Christopher Walken). As their relationship progressed, it attracted attention, resulting in Burt being retired from Lumon. The season concluded with Irving’s “Innie” successfully escaping work life, locating Burt, but discovering that his potential love interest was already married. It remains unclear whether Burt’s narrative will continue or if Irving’s storyline will shift focus in the future.

[WATCH: First 8 Minutes of Severance Season 2]

7. Dylan is FATHER

As a movie critic, I found Dylan G., portrayed by Zach Cherry, to be somewhat under-the-spotlight in Season 1, but the brief glimpses we got were incredibly impactful. Behind his competitive and meticulous exterior lies a devoted father of three. Prepare for the exploration of this narrative thread to unfold more fully in Season 2.

6. Rogue Harmony

Harmony Cobel, who was in charge of the floor at Lumon, controlled everyone’s point of view. But her obsession with Mark, both at work and pretending to be his neighbor Mrs. Selvig, led to her losing her job. To make matters worse, when Mark’s “innie” (another self) escaped from Lumon, he told his sister Devon that Harmony and Mrs. Selvig were actually the same person. Now, Harmony is in danger because her secret has been exposed and she knows too much.

5. Senator & The Severed Wife

As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but notice two intriguing personalities who made recurring appearances in “Severance” Season 1: Senator Angelo Arteta (played by Ethan Flower) and his wife, Gabby (portrayed by Nora Dale). It was Senator Arteta’s ties with Lumon that fueled his support for policies beneficial to severance. In the course of the season, I befriended Gabby and discovered a striking detail: she had undergone severance herself so as to forget the agony of her third pregnancy and childbirth. Despite their limited screen time in Season 1, the Artetas serve as significant pieces in the broader narrative puzzle, with hints that their roles will expand – a suggestion given by their appearance in the finale, where Gabby introduced someone called “Helena” to her husband Angelo.

4. The Face of Lumon

In simpler terms, Natalie (Sydney Cole Alexander) serves as the connection between Lumon’s upper management, or its mysterious board, and the lower levels of the company. Essentially, she acts as both the primary public relations representative for the program and the voice for Lumon’s secretive board. Throughout Season 1, we saw Natalie in various TV interviews and face-to-face encounters. Given that Helly is now on a mission to expose the concept of severance to the world, it seems likely that she will require more assistance from Natalie in the near future.

3. The Terror of the Testing Floor

Irving B.’s primary pastime outside his home is painting. Interestingly, though, it’s discovered that Irving B. harbors a disturbing obsession with his creations: he repeatedly paints and re-paints the testing floor at Lumon to depict a haunting, ominous corridor of terror. Unraveling the significance behind this chilling image appears crucial for Season 2’s exploration.

2. Gemma Is Being Tested

Among the most striking twists unveiled in Severance Season 1 was the revelation that Mark’s wife, Gemma Scout, portrayed by Dichen Lachman, was not only alive but had been present right before Mark (and our) eyes throughout the entire series!

In one key moment towards the end of the season, Harmony Cobel arranges for Mark and Gemma to participate in a wellness session, with the aim of shattering their conditioning and reconnecting them. However, when neither Mark nor Gemma recall each other, Ms. Casey, who is Lumon’s full-time Wellness Counselor (Gemma), is instructed to go down to the ominous Testing Floor. The reason for Gemma’s permanent placement within Lumon’s severed division remains a puzzle, and it is unclear whether she willingly participated or was forced into this role. Additionally, the purpose of the Testing Floor is shrouded in mystery as well.

1. “Overtime” Isn’t the Only Contingency Option

In a surprising turn of events, the MDR team unveiled and utilized an alternative work mode known as the “Overtime Contingency.” This enabled their altered work identities to function outside of Lumon’s premises. Yet, it wasn’t the only secret capability hidden within those brain chips – perhaps future seasons will reveal more about the true capabilities of these devices.

Severance Season 2 premieres on Apple TV+ on January 17th.

2025-01-14 21:11

10 Things Severance Fans Need to Remember Before Season 2