10 Burning Questions ‘Severance’ Season 2 Needs to Answer

When Severance premiered in 2022, it didn’t just capture attention—it expanded the boundaries of what serialized television could achieve when it comes to questioning corporate culture. Created by Dan Erickson and executed by Ben Stiller (executive producer and directed six of the nine episodes in Season 1), the series emerged as a genre fusion hit, seamlessly combining sci-fi, psychological thriller, and dark comedy. Its premise—a surgical procedure that splits a person’s consciousness into two distinct identities, one for work and one for home—was an audacious concept—the result was an entertaining meditation on autonomy, memory, and corporate overreach.

At its core was Adam Scott, whose haunting performance as Mark S., a grieving widower grappling with the dualities of his severed existence, anchored the series with the question about humanity, “have we gone too far?” which made its high-concept premise all the more resonant. Britt Lower’s Helly served as the narrative’s moral and political heartbeat, a character whose rebellion against the dystopian apparatus of Lumon Industries reframed the stakes of the show’s world. Patricia Arquette delivered chilling tinges of humor as Ms. Cobel, while John Turturro and Christopher Walken gave us one of the most tender, subversive love stories of 2022 with Irving and Burt.

Ben Stiller, best known for his comedic instincts, proved his directorial range in Severance. Through his production company, Red Hour Films, he helped build a series that juxtaposed the sterile, fluorescent-lit monotony of Lumon with moments of disarming universal truths about humanity, which earned critical acclaim for its layered storytelling, minimalist but pointed production design, and haunting score.

The series amassed 14 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, and won awards for its evocative main title design by Oliver Latta and Teddy Blanks, and Theodore Shapiro’s unforgettable music. It became a cultural touchstone, its influence spilling outside the TV landscape.

Even Grammy-winning artist SZA tweeted at Stiller, “Was trying to be polite but I really need a new season of Severance right the f*** now” (via Complex). Stiller responded, “Ok ok got it,” prompting SZA to clarify, “Omg please accept my humble apology lmao whenever ur ready is fine. Just dying of thirst—it’s the best show ever! Ur a madman. THANK U, Mr. Stiller King Sir!”.

We also thank Mr. Stiller King Sir as Season 2 of this Apple TV series approaches its highly anticipated premiere on Friday, January 17, 2025, viewers remain eager for answers to the web of mysteries left unresolved in Season 1. From shocking revelations about Mark’s wife to Helly’s defiant rebellion, Severance left us with a number of unanswered questions and potential threads. If you haven’t had time to revisit the first season, don’t worry—here are 10 burning questions Severance Season 2 needs to answer, alongside reminders of the key moments that left us counting down the days until Lumon’s return.

10

What Is Lumon Industries’ Ultimate Goal With the Severance Procedure?

The Cult of Lumon: A Company or a Religion?

Season 1 introduced us to Lumon Industries as a corporate monolith cloaked in mystery, its true purpose lurking just beyond the cold fluorescence of its hallways. The severance procedure—a separation of work and personal consciousness—promised productivity free from personal distraction, but its darker implications quickly unfolded.

Through eerie rituals like the Perpetuity Wing, where employees are indoctrinated into a quasi-religious reverence for Lumon’s founder, we glimpsed a company less concerned with innovation and more preoccupied with control. The final episodes teased larger, sinister intentions, from the cryptic “Eagan Philosophy” to hints that severance may extend far beyond the walls of the office.

A Glimpse into the Future: Power or Oblivion?

Season 2 has the opportunity to crack open Lumon’s true agenda. Is the severance procedure an experiment in obedience, a means of rewriting identity, or something even more insidious—like a tool for corporate dominance over society at large? Perhaps it’s a reflection of our own digital-age anxieties, where work-life boundaries blur under the relentless demands of capitalism. The show’s layered writing suggests the answers won’t be straightforward, but they’re bound to deepen the show’s meditation on the human cost of submission to power.

9

Will the “Innies” Gain More Autonomy or Find a Way to Communicate With Their “Outies”?

A Life Lived in Fragments

One of Severance’s most compelling tensions is the brutal separation between the “Innie” and “Outie” selves. Season 1 depicted the Innies as isolated prisoners, their entire existence confined to Lumon’s windowless offices. Mark’s heartbreaking discovery that his Outie is grieving a dead wife he can’t even remember emphasized the cruelty of this dynamic. Helly’s rebellion, culminating in her televised exposure of Lumon’s practices, further highlighted the desperate need for the Innies to bridge this divide.

Rebellion or Reinvention?

In Season 2, the Innies’ autonomy could take many forms. Will they discover a way to communicate with their Outies, finally sharing the knowledge and agency that has been so carefully stripped away? Or could Lumon’s control tighten, trapping the Innies in a more oppressive iteration of their existence? The battle for identity—who we are when no one is watching—remains at the heart of Severance, and this season has the potential to explore whether the fractured selves can ever truly become whole.

8

What Are the Implications of Helly’s Rebellious Actions Within Lumon?

The Spark That Lit the Fire

Helly’s journey in Season 1 transformed her from a reluctant cog in Lumon’s machine to a fiery disruptor willing to risk everything. Her initial attempts to leave the company—grappling with a shocking lack of autonomy—revealed the devastating consequences of severance, while her defiance against Lumon’s executives became the emotional and moral center of the show. By the finale, her refusal to stay silent was an act of rebellion that echoed far beyond Lumon’s walls, as she exposed the company’s lies in a dramatic public moment.

An Unstoppable Movement or a Swift Retaliation?

Season 2 must grapple with the fallout of Helly’s bold actions. Will her rebellion inspire other employees to resist, igniting a larger uprising within Lumon? Or will the company retaliate with more aggressive methods of control? The tension between individual agency and corporate power lies at the core of her story, making Helly a fascinating lens through which to explore the show’s broader themes of defiance, oppression, and hope.

7

How Will Mark Cope With the Revelations About His Personal Life and His Decision To Undergo Severance?

Mark’s Fractured World Collides

Mark’s journey in Season 1 was defined by his struggle to reconcile the fractured halves of his identity. As an Innie, he was a dutiful Lumon employee slowly questioning the company’s motives. As an Outie, he was a grieving husband who had chosen severance to escape the pain of losing his wife, Gemma. The season’s climax delivered a devastating revelation: Gemma (Dichen Lachlan) is alive, working at Lumon under the identity of Ms. Casey. This discovery not only upended Mark’s understanding of his life but also exposed Lumon’s sinister manipulation of its employees’ most personal vulnerabilities.

Facing the Unthinkable

In Season 2, Mark must navigate the emotional fallout of this revelation. How will his Outie process the knowledge that his wife has been alive all along, her identity stolen by the very company he trusted to numb his grief? For Mark’s Innie, the stakes are equally high—he must decide whether to continue playing the obedient employee or fight back against the system that has violated his life. This tension between his two selves sets up a deeply personal conflict that could serve as a central thread for the new season.

6

What Happened to Petey, and What Does His Disappearance Signify for Other Severed Employees?

Petey’s Death and the Risks of Reintegration

Petey’s reintegration was one of the most haunting subplots of Season 1. As the only known employee to reverse the severance procedure, he served as both a cautionary tale and a glimmer of hope. His mental disintegration, marked by flashes of fragmented memories and paranoia, illustrated the devastating toll of reintegration on the human mind. Lumon’s efforts to silence Petey culminated in his mysterious death, raising urgent questions about the risks faced by those who try to escape the program.

Uncovering the Truth About Reintegration

Season 2 has the potential to explore the implications of Petey’s reintegration. Was his death the result of Lumon’s interference, or is the severance procedure itself so invasive that undoing it inevitably leads to catastrophic outcomes? Petey’s fate also raises broader concerns about the safety and future of other severed employees—if reintegration is possible but dangerous, what choices do employees like Mark, Helly, or Irving have if they wish to reclaim their full selves? The answers could redefine how we view the severance procedure and Lumon’s control over its workforce.

5

Are There External Forces or Groups Opposing Lumon’s Severance Program?

Resistance Beyond Lumon’s Walls

While Season 1 focused primarily on the internal dynamics of Lumon, hints of outside resistance surfaced through characters like Ricken, Mark’s brother-in-law, whose anti-corporate manifesto provided a comedic yet poignant critique of modern labor systems. Petey’s reintegration also implied that external actors may have been involved in helping him escape, suggesting the existence of an underground network working against Lumon. These breadcrumbs hinted at the possibility of a larger opposition force waiting to challenge the company’s grip.

The Fight Against Lumon Grows

Season 2 could introduce us to organized resistance groups that operate outside Lumon’s surveillance. Are there whistleblowers or former employees working to expose the company’s secrets? How much does the general public know about the severance procedure, and is there a strong movement to ban it? The existence of an external resistance could provide a vital counterbalance to Lumon’s internal oppression, expanding the series’ scope and raising the stakes for Mark, Helly, and their fellow employees.

4

What Is the Significance of the Perpetuity Wing and the “Legacy of Joy” Exhibit Within Lumon?

The Museum of Corporate Mythology

The Perpetuity Wing stood out in Season 1 as a surreal and unsettling monument to Lumon’s cult-like ethos. Through its carefully curated “Legacy of Joy” exhibit, employees are indoctrinated into a mythology surrounding the Eagan family, with wax figures and propagandistic plaques portraying Kier Eagan as a visionary leader. This wing was more than a shrine—it was a tool to enforce loyalty, conditioning employees to view their work as part of a grand, almost divine mission. Its eerie symbolism and the reverence it demanded hinted at a broader, more sinister agenda behind Lumon’s corporate facade.

A Deeper Dive into the Eagan Mystique

In Season 2, the Perpetuity Wing could reveal more about Lumon’s historical and ideological roots. What does this obsessive worship of Kier Eagan mean for the company’s goals? Are there hidden messages within the “Legacy of Joy” exhibit that point to larger truths about the severance procedure? Exploring this wing further could provide critical context for understanding Lumon’s fixation on control, while also offering clues to how its employees might dismantle the very system they’re being conditioned to revere.

3

How Does the Severance Procedure Technically Function, and Are There Flaws in the System?

A Tech Dystopia in Action

Season 1 only scratched the surface of how the severance procedure operates. We know that a chip implanted in the employee’s brain creates a clean division between work and personal lives, but the exact mechanics remain mysterious. Moments like Petey’s reintegration, Ms. Casey’s programmed existence, and Irving’s visions of black goo hinted at deeper, potentially dangerous flaws in the system. These glitches raise significant questions about the procedure’s long-term effects on the brain and whether it can be undone without catastrophic consequences.

Unraveling the Science of Severance

Season 2 has the opportunity to pull back the curtain on the technology behind severance. Who developed the procedure, and how does Lumon ensure its control over employees’ identities? Are there vulnerabilities in the system that could be exploited, either by rebellious employees or external forces? The show could heighten the stakes, turning the technology itself into a battleground for control and resistance.

2

What Role Does MS. Cobel Play in Lumon’s Broader Agenda, and What Are Her True Motivations?

A Mastermind or a Pawn?

Ms. Cobel’s role in Season 1 was as enigmatic as the company she served. As the severed employees’ supervisor, she was Lumon’s enforcer, maintaining the company’s strict protocols and squashing dissent. However, her obsession with Mark, her secretive behavior, and her seemingly personal investment in Lumon’s mission suggested layers of complexity beneath her authoritarian demeanor. Her firing in the finale raised questions about her loyalty to Lumon and whether she might pursue her own agenda in Season 2.

Friend or Foe?

Season 2 will likely expose Ms. Cobel’s motivations and her connection to the Eagan family. Is she a true believer in Lumon’s philosophy, or is she leveraging her position for personal gain? Her dismissal at the end of Season 1 creates an intriguing power vacuum—will she seek revenge against Lumon, or will she attempt to reclaim her status within the company? Her character remains one of the series’ most unpredictable elements, and her decisions could significantly influence the unfolding power dynamics.

1

Will the Public Become Aware of the Severance Procedure, and How Might Society React?

Severance on the Brink of Exposure

Season 1 concluded with Helly’s explosive reveal during the Lumon gala, where she exposed the severance program as a tool of corporate control. This moment marked the first time the outside world was confronted with the reality of what severed employees endure. Up until that point, Lumon’s operations had been shrouded in secrecy, with the severance procedure presented to the public as a voluntary innovation to improve work-life balance. The limited glimpses of the outside world—Mark’s sister Devon’s casual acceptance of severance, for instance—suggested that most of society had little understanding of what the procedure truly entails.

Society’s Reckoning or Complicity?

Season 2 could explore the public’s reaction to Helly’s revelations. Will her testimony spark outrage and resistance, or will Lumon’s corporate power and PR machinery quash dissent? This storyline offers a chance to critique modern society’s relationship with technology and labor—how far are people willing to go to compartmentalize their lives, even at the expense of personal freedom? The public’s response will not only define Lumon’s future but also reflect the broader societal tensions the show dissects. Whether the world chooses to confront Lumon or turn a blind eye will be a defining moment for the series.