“Severance” On Apple TV+
- Thread starter Gimpdiggity
- Start date
LOL Ok, here it is, behind spoiler tags:
So there you go...thoughts?
First, reconsider what we already know...
As we learned from the finale episode of Season 1, we now know that the Eagan mission is to convert the world to Kier's religion. And we also know that Jame Eagan (current CEO) is planning to use his Severance chips to that end. Not just to help the world achieve work/life balance, but to help them all see Kier's path. This is not speculation; Jame confessed to it all in the bathroom.
Also, we know that Harmony Cobel was engaged in a series of tests with Mark Scout, to see if his Severance chip was impervious to leaks of personality from innie to outie or vice versa. Her need to do this was probably triggered by Petey's absence and the fact that Reghabi was out there, potentially causing trouble. We got confirmation of this from various points of evidence: stealing Gemma's candle, having Ms. Casey light it during Mark's wellness session, prodding into his personal life, camomile cookies, etc. Judging from many of Harmony's leading questions, she's looking for holes or gaps in the chip: she is trying to trigger his memories. Mr. Milchick confirms as much when he says in Episode 9, something like: "Well that's it, we know that the chips really work," after watching the candle have no effect on Mark. This indicates that Harmony's actions were part of her mission: To find cracks in the chip, and, failing to do so, validate that the chip works perfectly. Her die-hard commitment to Kier's legacy (which we were led to doubt a few times) solidifies this. So I'm reporting all of the above as facts, not speculation.
We also factually know that Macrodata Refiners experience different emotions as they filter and sort the numbers. Since the show has given us no evidence to suggest that ESP is a thing in this world, we MUST arrive at the conclusion that the emotions they're feeling are being triggered (or transmitted) by their brain chips. Therefore logically, the chips are for MORE than just severing work from personal life.
Okay, so....what is Macrodata Refinement doing?
Speculation time...
Judging from the last couple episodes, there seems to be no greater mission for Lumon than the Severance chips. They're lobbying congress about them, keeping quiet about alternate uses (forgetting a childbirth), etc. So any speculation about cleaning up the oceans from "eels and s***", or organized crime, or government spy work, or any money-based ventures like eliminating competition, etc., are all red herrings, distracting us by making us speculate OUTWARD, and hiding the fact that it's all about what's going on inside. Lumon and the Eagans are not about money...they're about conversion to Kier's beliefs. So your typical corporate greed motivations are out the window. And when we look INWARD within the company, the purpose of Macrodata Refinement seems so simple.
If the chips are all-important, then the Macrodata Refiners' jobs are all about interacting with the chips. Period. This is in service to the bigger mission of putting Lumon in control of people's minds, and, once enough people have converted to Kier, controlling the world.
I think there are two possibilities of the "how" here, both equally insidious:
So, what about the goats?
No idea...religious sacrifices maybe? Maybe that's why the goat's keeper was very mournfully shouting, "They're not ready!" Probably a red herring to the bigger picture to throw us off the track of what is really a simple explanation for what Macrodata Refinement does all day.
As we learned from the finale episode of Season 1, we now know that the Eagan mission is to convert the world to Kier's religion. And we also know that Jame Eagan (current CEO) is planning to use his Severance chips to that end. Not just to help the world achieve work/life balance, but to help them all see Kier's path. This is not speculation; Jame confessed to it all in the bathroom.
Also, we know that Harmony Cobel was engaged in a series of tests with Mark Scout, to see if his Severance chip was impervious to leaks of personality from innie to outie or vice versa. Her need to do this was probably triggered by Petey's absence and the fact that Reghabi was out there, potentially causing trouble. We got confirmation of this from various points of evidence: stealing Gemma's candle, having Ms. Casey light it during Mark's wellness session, prodding into his personal life, camomile cookies, etc. Judging from many of Harmony's leading questions, she's looking for holes or gaps in the chip: she is trying to trigger his memories. Mr. Milchick confirms as much when he says in Episode 9, something like: "Well that's it, we know that the chips really work," after watching the candle have no effect on Mark. This indicates that Harmony's actions were part of her mission: To find cracks in the chip, and, failing to do so, validate that the chip works perfectly. Her die-hard commitment to Kier's legacy (which we were led to doubt a few times) solidifies this. So I'm reporting all of the above as facts, not speculation.
We also factually know that Macrodata Refiners experience different emotions as they filter and sort the numbers. Since the show has given us no evidence to suggest that ESP is a thing in this world, we MUST arrive at the conclusion that the emotions they're feeling are being triggered (or transmitted) by their brain chips. Therefore logically, the chips are for MORE than just severing work from personal life.
Okay, so....what is Macrodata Refinement doing?
Speculation time...
Judging from the last couple episodes, there seems to be no greater mission for Lumon than the Severance chips. They're lobbying congress about them, keeping quiet about alternate uses (forgetting a childbirth), etc. So any speculation about cleaning up the oceans from "eels and s***", or organized crime, or government spy work, or any money-based ventures like eliminating competition, etc., are all red herrings, distracting us by making us speculate OUTWARD, and hiding the fact that it's all about what's going on inside. Lumon and the Eagans are not about money...they're about conversion to Kier's beliefs. So your typical corporate greed motivations are out the window. And when we look INWARD within the company, the purpose of Macrodata Refinement seems so simple.
If the chips are all-important, then the Macrodata Refiners' jobs are all about interacting with the chips. Period. This is in service to the bigger mission of putting Lumon in control of people's minds, and, once enough people have converted to Kier, controlling the world.
I think there are two possibilities of the "how" here, both equally insidious:
- The Refiners' emotions are being mapped. The software triggers certain emotions based on certain stimuli in order to confirm various scenarios it's putting out. It sends some coded number to the chip, the chip triggers some emotion (or not), and the software now has a clearer picture of their brain pathways, but as they pertain to their emotions. Click a button on a remote, and I can make you happy. Or afraid. Control someone's emotions and you control their beliefs.
- The Refiners are being programmed. More specifically, their job of organizing numbers is a process of re-wiring their brains (brainwashing) to make them more "suggestible" to the Eagan mission via emotional manipulation, and possibly provide Lumon with the map to accomplishing this on a wider scale.
So, what about the goats?
No idea...religious sacrifices maybe? Maybe that's why the goat's keeper was very mournfully shouting, "They're not ready!" Probably a red herring to the bigger picture to throw us off the track of what is really a simple explanation for what Macrodata Refinement does all day.
So there you go...thoughts?
Very well thought out.
I do agree they there has to be a larger purpose to what appears to be an extremely mundane job that is tied to Kier’s larger plan.
I do agree they there has to be a larger purpose to what appears to be an extremely mundane job that is tied to Kier’s larger plan.
A long wait until January 2025!
Added about 30 minutes ago.
Can't wait for season 2 this Friday. I've almost finished a rewatch of the first season and I've been listening to the great podcast that Adam Scott and Ben Still her have been doing this last week, doing a recap of each episode and interviews with the cast and other creatives.
If you're a fan it is worth a listen.
Severance Official Podcast
If you're a fan it is worth a listen.
Severance Official Podcast
They dropped season 2 early - episode 1 is available now.
AnubisGuard
Master Member
Great episode. The first 15 - 20 minutes were playing with a weird vibe (intentionally I assume) but it all came together. The conversation in the Break Room was fantastic.
I twigged pretty quickly that they're setting up Helly as an antagonist, but somehow I didn't put two and two together until someone else pointed out that, duh, she's Helena undercover.
I twigged pretty quickly that they're setting up Helly as an antagonist, but somehow I didn't put two and two together until someone else pointed out that, duh, she's Helena undercover.
Props for the series seem to be few and far between.
That’s exactly what I’m thinking—they are seeing Helena not Helly.
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Another fantastic episode, they've not lost the magic or momentum from season 1
If you are at a loose end you can refine some Macro Data here.
Lumon Industries
Or there is one coming to Steam:
Macro Data Refinement Simulator
If you are at a loose end you can refine some Macro Data here.
Lumon Industries
Or there is one coming to Steam:
Macro Data Refinement Simulator
AnubisGuard
Master Member
I'm withholding judgement on season 2 because week-to-week doesn't hit the way binging does, but one thing I have noticed is a lot of long pauses with people staring at each other. I....don't love it.
I absolutely love this method of storytelling through subtext. Saying a lot without saying anything. In my opinion this fits perfectly with the pace of the show. It creates space for the story to breath and I am 100% here for it.
Bloop
Sr Member
I thought that too, though I was second guessing myself, thinking maybe that wss just a red herring. Her lying about her experience outside (the "night gardener" that Irv was skeptcal of). Helena watching video of her innie, which I assumed was partly to learn all about Helly R.'s experiences so that she could pretend to be her. It also seems like she might be jealous of her innie.
Weird episode, but I liked it. Getting even more into the cult stuff. I still don't have any good guesses at what MDR's daily tasks are meant for, or any of the other departments, other than it's a cult and they want to increase their followers and gain more power.
Irving really had it all figured out, went out "like a boss," as they say. I don't think we've seen the last of him. Obviously, Irving's outie is "alive," and I would think Irving B. might still be "inside" him, though we don't know how severance works. Re-integration seems like the only way (as long as it doesn't kill you) and maybe that'll happen for Irving.
Irving really had it all figured out, went out "like a boss," as they say. I don't think we've seen the last of him. Obviously, Irving's outie is "alive," and I would think Irving B. might still be "inside" him, though we don't know how severance works. Re-integration seems like the only way (as long as it doesn't kill you) and maybe that'll happen for Irving.
Bloop
Sr Member
I keep forgetting that this is directed by Ben Stiller. I guess he's directed dark stuff before (The Cable Guy) but everything I remember seeing has still been more comedic.
It's also crazy that the creator, Dan Erickson hasn't done much else. It reminds me of Vince Gilligan kind of bursting on the scene with Breaking Bad, but Gilligan had a lot of other credits before that, including The X-Files. Erickson only has 2 credits on IMDb - Severance and Chambers, both as writer and producer.
It's also crazy that the creator, Dan Erickson hasn't done much else. It reminds me of Vince Gilligan kind of bursting on the scene with Breaking Bad, but Gilligan had a lot of other credits before that, including The X-Files. Erickson only has 2 credits on IMDb - Severance and Chambers, both as writer and producer.
Another brilliant, crazy episode.
I couldn't quite workout whether those "twins" that were directing the MDR team to the 4th appendix book were intentionally meant to look like slightly ropey CGI or whether that is a budgetary aspect of the show.
It seems intentional that we were only seeing them from a distance.
Given these "twins" were never in the same scene as the MDR team, if these were supposed to be clones or representations they could have just had the actors film those scenes.
It lead me to think these were most likely Lumon brand animatronics as their movements were only ever very slow and simple.
I couldn't quite workout whether those "twins" that were directing the MDR team to the 4th appendix book were intentionally meant to look like slightly ropey CGI or whether that is a budgetary aspect of the show.
It seems intentional that we were only seeing them from a distance.
Given these "twins" were never in the same scene as the MDR team, if these were supposed to be clones or representations they could have just had the actors film those scenes.
It lead me to think these were most likely Lumon brand animatronics as their movements were only ever very slow and simple.
The creepy shadow person in the S2E1 intro that was looming behind Mark has an actor/credit titled "hallway man". That actor also played the weird outdoor version of Mark with the title "Shadow Mark". I think that Gwendolyn mentioning animatronic versions of Eagan's in her perpetuity wing has meaning. I'm also going with these shadow people being animatronics, but possibly more advanced. It might tie into the MDR refining somehow?
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