In the fourth episode of Season 2, “Severance” takes a surprising twist when Lumon Industries organizes an Outdoor Retreat and Team Building Exercise (ORTBE) for its severed employees. The narrative focuses on Mark (Adam Scott), Irving (John Turturro), and Dylan (Zach Cherry) who find themselves in a frosty wilderness, encountering nature for the first time while unraveling puzzling hints about Kier Egan and his brother Dieter. This unconventional journey leads to one of the show’s most poignant scenes, as Irving gives up his Innie life to reveal Helena’s (Britt Lower) deception, compelling Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman) to acknowledge her as an Eagan. Despite the powerful emotional moments, the ORTBE raises new, intriguing quandaries for the series.
WARNING: Spoilers below for Severance Season 2, Episode 5
In order for ORTBO to function as planned, Lumon had to organize a team of Outie employees and guide them individually to potentially dangerous locations – Mark on a cliff, Irving on an icy lake, Dylan in the woods – without allowing them to cross paths before activating their devices. The risky operation, as shown in Episode 5, was initiated by Milchick, adding to the confusion. One might wonder how a mid-level manager managed to secure approval for such a complicated task that provided little control over employee interactions. Additionally, it’s puzzling why Lumon didn’t seem concerned about multiple Outies discovering this specific location, considering their usual emphasis on maintaining utmost secrecy and preventing knowledge leakage.
Most troublingly, Episode 5 glosses over some very important questions. When Mark’s sister (Jen Tullock) asks about his weekend activities, he replies in an unexpectedly casual manner, merely stating that he woke up wet after his Innie had a rope accident. While it is true that Mark is currently preoccupied with reintegration, this offhand explanation seems illogical. From the standpoint of an Outie, being taken to a remote location, placed in potentially dangerous situations, and waking up soaked doesn’t seem like something trivial. It should be a deeply concerning experience that demands thorough explanation. The show’s choice to move past this incident without delving into its consequences indicates a potential shift in its storyline focus, which may raise some concerns.
Skipping ORTBO’s Explanation Threatens Severance‘s Foundation
In the fictional universe of Severance, the authors construct a chilling dystopia by delving into how corporations exert power via intricate bureaucracy. On the detached office floor, even basic actions such as eating a watermelon necessitate paperwork, security clearances, and multiple approvals. Moreover, employees are under constant scrutiny, while the complex maze-like design of the detached floor serves to confuse Innies and keep them isolated from one another. Every rule, no matter how minor, underscores Lumon’s grip over its workforce through relentless regulations and surveillance. However, the ORTBO incident represents utter chaos since it is impossible for corporations to maintain full control of their employees in an outdoor setting.
In Episode 5, Milchick’s evaluation highlights the significant ways ORTBO disregards the show’s core values. While his superiors express anger over Helena’s revelations, they fail to acknowledge obvious security lapses that should alarm a corporation as obsessed with control as Lumon. This oversight suggests that the same leaders who view Innies as livestock allowed the transfer of decapitated employees to an unprotected site without considering basic logistics or safety measures. This isn’t merely a plot inconsistency; it’s a profound betrayal of how Lumon has been portrayed to function across all its levels.
In my perspective as a movie reviewer, the show has consistently kept its cards close, with each employee privy to only the bare essentials regarding their work environment. However, an unusual situation arises when ORTBO provides directions to a vital Lumon location for the Outies. The plot fails to elucidate why this exceptional access to company secrets was granted or how Milchick intended to safeguard these sensitive details from being leaked by the Outies.
There’s a chance that Season 2 of Severance could wrap up at the ORTBO event, neatly resolving all the unresolved threads, but the manner in which Episode 5 handles the protocol violations is troubling. By portraying these significant breaches as secondary plot points, Severance weakens its own concept. If Lumon can disregard crucial security measures whenever it serves the narrative, then employee rebellions against such restrictions become less impactful in future conflicts. This is about maintaining the show’s plot integrity and ensuring that ordinary work scenarios continue to feel like high-stakes battles for autonomy and self-determination.
On Fridays, fresh installments of “Severance” become available on Apple TV+. What were your thoughts on the latest episode titled “ORTBO”? Will the show delve deeper into the events that transpired outside? Jump into the conversation by leaving a comment below!
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2025-02-14 20:40