Severance audiences have repeatedly voiced the theory that the series has dug so far down into the intricacies of Lumon and the cult of Kier that no finale could possibly answer all the questions. I don’t think the Season 2 finale, “Cold Harbor,” even attempts to do that.
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The focus of both seasons of the series has been Mark Scout (Adam Scott) and his Innie consciousness, Mark S. Their relationships, perspectives, and ways of coping have demonstrated how different they are as people despite having the same body. So the ultimate question addressed by the finale is: Who gets to decide how this ends?
Severance, “Cold Harbor”
At the Damona Birthing Retreat cabin, Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette) asks, “Have you finished Cold Harbor?” Mark S. replies he hasn’t, and Cobel sighs with relief, stating that means Ms. Casey/Gemma (Dichen Lachman) is still alive and they can save her.
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In a dark MDR office, Helly (Britt Lower) turns to see Jame Eagan (Michael Siberry). Walking closer, he admits in a whisper that he doesn’t love Helena because he no longer sees Kier in her, but he sees him in Helly. She tells him the Eagen family created Hell and will burn in it. Expressionless, Jame identifies Kier in her in the moment. Stating that tomorrow is a special day, he turns and leaves.
The Plan
At the cabin, Cobel tells Mark S. that he must go to the Export Hallway as soon as Cold Harbor is complete. From there, he’ll descend to the Testing Floor. Once there, Mark’s Outie will find Gemma and bring her to the Severed Floor. Back on the Severed Floor, Mark S. has to get Gemma/Miss Casey to the exit stairwell.
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Devon (Jen Tullock) explains that if they can prove Lumon kidnapped Gemma, they can bring the company down. Mark S. asks what happens to the Innies if Lumon is destroyed. Cobel and Devon are silent. Mark S. takes that to mean they expect him to give his life and the lives of all the Severed Floor Innies to save one person they care about.
Devon tells him there’s someone else who wants to talk to him. She hands him a small camcorder and then opens the balcony doors. Cobel tells him to watch the recording, record his response, and then step outside.
Talking to Himself
Playing the recording, he sees Outie Mark addressing him directly, apologizing for what he’s done in creating Mark S. to escape his grief and asking for the chance to make things right. Mark S. sits down and records a response.
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Using the balcony as Outie Mark’s space and the room as Innie Mark’s space, they conduct a conversation that devolves into a fight. Innie Mark wants assurances that he and all the Innies will continue to exist. Outie Mark promises to continue reintegrating so Innie Mark can have a life and they can share consciousness in their body. Innie Mark is skeptical.
Outie Mark missteps by talking about Innie Mark’s relationship with Helly. Calling her “Heleny,” he comes across as patronizing. Innie Mark reacts passionately and questions if reintegration is even a real thing. He doesn’t believe that his Outie will do anything for him or any Innies once he has his wife back. When Outie Mark asks him to trust him, Innie Mark refuses.
The Real Macrodata Refinement
Outie Mark calls for Devon out of frustration. She and Cobel run up to the room. Cobel insists on speaking with Innie Mark alone. Once Mark steps into the room and shifts to Innie Mark, Cobel tells him the numbers he’s been refining in MDR are his wife, a gateway into Gemma’s mind.
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She explains that the feelings he has when refining the numbers are Kier’s Four Tempers — Woe, Frolic, Malice, Dread. Capturing them into files creates Innie consciousnesses. With horror, Mark states he’s completed 24 files. Cobel tells him Cold Harbor is the last file. Once it is done, both he and Gemma will no longer be of any use to Lumon.
When she tries to tell him he and Helly can never have a happy ending, he gets up and runs downstairs. Passing Devon, he tells her to tell his Outie that if the next thing he sees isn’t the Severed Floor, Outie Mark will never see his wife again. He runs out of the cabin.
Back to the Office
Mark S.’s consciousness surfaces in the Lumon elevator. The mural in the foyer has changed to one of him at his computer terminal, surrounded by everyone in his life. As he stares at it, the elevator opens behind him and Helly arrives. They hug. She sees the mural.
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In MDR, there is an animatronic figure of Kier Eagan in the middle of the room holding an envelope addressed to Mark S. Inside is a card from Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman) promising Mark “goodly splendors” upon completion of his 25th file.
The MDR computer terminals boot up. Helly whispers about Jame Eagan’s visit. Mark tells her he knows why Lumon’s doing what they’re doing.
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The Severed Floor elevator doors open. Dylan (Zach Cherry) looks surprised to be back. Milchick greets him and tells him to follow. Dylan takes in the new mural for a moment, then follows. The placard by the mural reads, “The Exalted Victory of Cold Harbor.”
File Completion
In her room, Gemma opens her closet to find a gray overcoat and scarf. Catching her breath, she recalls it is what she wore the last time she saw Mark.
In MDR, Helly asks if they can trust Cobel. Mark hypothesizes that he could refuse to finish the file and leave Gemma/Miss Casey alive but trapped on the testing floor. Helly reminds him they’re screwed either way.
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Gemma wonders out loud, “What’s happening?” Nurse Cecily (Sandra Bernhardt) directs her to get dressed.
Helly encourages Mark to do what his Outie’s asked, and maybe the reintegration will work for him. She points out he’ll have a chance at living. Mark insists he only wants to live if it’s with her. Gently, she states, “But I’m her.” Mark nods and sets to work. In the Testing Floor monitoring room, Mauer (Robby Benson) and Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson) watch as the Cold Harbor file nears completion.
Dylan George
In the Break Room, Milchick places a black envelope in front of Dylan and tells him it is his Outie’s response to his resignation request. As it may cause Dylan to have an emotional outburst, Milchick intends to leave the room. He runs out at full speed.
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Dylan reads the response. In it, Outie Dylan expresses: (1) his outrage at Innie Dylan kissing Gretchen; (2) his understanding of why he kissed her because Gretchen is perfect; and (3) that he hopes she’ll see in him what she sees in Innie Dylan. He admits he likes knowing Innie Dylan is there at Lumon, being impressive and bad-ass. Ultimately, he leaves it to his Innie to decide if he really wants to leave. However, he recommends staying.
Goodly Splendors
Milchick runs down the corridor, removing his tie on the way to MDR. Cold Harbor is at 99 percent complete. Mark’s about to refine the final set of numbers. Helly slips the directions to Mark. He hits the key to complete the file.
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All the power goes out. Lights come up on either end of one wall, accompanied by synth music and a fog effect. A spotlight appears on the Kier animatronic. It addresses Mark directly and introduces Milchick, who appears in the spotlight to recorded applause.
Next, Milchick announces Choreography and Merriment, Lumon’s own marching band. As the sound of the approaching band grows louder, attracting Dylan’s attention in the Break Room, Milchick drags the Kier figure away.
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Choreography and Merriment file in, surrounding Mark and Helly. Milchick marches with the band, conducting.
Efficacy
Jame exits an elevator and enters a single cubicle with a computer monitor and a portrait of Kier on the wall. Mauer tells him the efficacy test will begin shortly.
In MDR, Mark whispers to Helly that he has to get going. Milchick announces that the next act will be The Ballad of Ambrose and Gunnel. The music begins, and Milchick jumps into a solo dance routine. As he leaps away from them, Helly asks Mark if he’s ready. He is.
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She grabs Milchick’s radio and runs into the restroom. Milchick follows, and Mark leaves to find the Exports Hallway. In the restroom, Milchick finds his radio in the toilet. Helly jumps out from behind the restroom door, runs out, and shuts it behind her, holding it so Milchick can’t get out. Dylan’s on his way to MDR.
Drummond gets out of the Exports elevator. He walks down the black hallway and steps out into the corridor. Pushing the wall segment opposite the door to Exports, it gives way. He enters, and the doors shut behind him. On the Testing Floor, Cecily and Gemma arrive at the Cold Harbor door.
Lambs to the Slaughter
Lorne (Gwendoline Christie) pushes a wheeled pen down a hallway. The baby goat in the pen bleats plaintively.
In MDR, Milchick manages to wrench the door out of Helly’s hands with such force he falls to the ground. Before Milchick can escape the restroom, Dylan pushes a vending machine into the doorway, trapping him again.
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Cecily provides the blood sample to open the door to Cold Harbor. Gemma walks in and transitions to an Innie. Mauer addresses her over a speaker system, instructing her to move into the room. There is a wooden crib set up in the middle of the room.
Lorne brings the goat to Drummond in the hidden chamber. When he opens the door, she announces, “Mammalians Nuturable brings an offering.” The plan is to bury the sacrificed goat with Gemma after the test is concluded so the goat can guide Gemma’s spirit to Kier’s door. Drummond loads a blank round into a bolt gun.
Deconstruction
Gemma approaches the crib. There’s a screwdriver on the crib’s mattress. The song “I’ll Be Seeing You” starts playing on the speaker system. Mauer instructs her to take the crib apart.
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Inside the chamber, Drummond places the goat in the altar container and “commits the animal to Kier and his eternal war against pain.” He hands the bolt gun to Lorne.
Outside the chamber, Mark finds the door, but his badge doesn’t work. Inside, Lorne points the bolt gun at the goat’s head and asks Drummond how many more she must give. The answer is, “As many as the Founder calls.” As she prepares to kill the goat, they hear the noise of Mark trying to break down the door.
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Drummond opens the chamber’s doors and confronts Mark. They fight. Drummond is about to strangle Mark when Lorne holds the bolt gun to his head. She forces him to let go of Mark. Drummond suddenly knocks the gun out of her hand and attacks her. They fight. Lorne is better at it than Mark. Mark stops her from shooting Drummond in the head.
In his cubicle, Jame watches Gemma dismantle the crib on his monitor. Mauer reports that the barrier is holding, and she feels nothing.
The Testing Floor
Using Drummond’s badge to open the door, Mark holds Drummond at gunpoint and marches him down the Exports Hallway. Mark turns back to Lorne standing in the chamber holding the goat. He thanks her, and she thanks him on behalf of Emile, the goat.
As the elevator descends, Mark S. changes to Outie Mark, causing him to pull the gun’s trigger, killing Drummond, his blood fountaining onto Mark. The elevator doors open on the Testing Floor, and Drummond falls out, his legs blocking the doors from closing.
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In MDR, Milchick tries to climb out over the vending machine. Helly grabs a trombone from a band member and knocks Milchick back down. Milchick orders Choreography and Merriment back to their department. C&M starts to leave, but Helly stops them. She tells them about Irving and how everyone in MDR is about to be erased. She warns them they could be next.
Just as Mark finds Cold Harbor, Cecily jumps out and confronts him. He demands she open the door. She refuses and runs off. Mark sees the handprint access panel and fools the needle into taking Drummond’s blood to open the door.
Reunited
Mark steps into the room and sees Gemma. He tries to calm her, telling her about herself and their relationship. Mauer tries to dissuade her from listening to Mark. She takes Mark’s hand, and he leads her to the door of the Cold Harbor room. Jame screams curses. Mauer runs into the corridor. Mark coaxes Gemma through the door. Once she steps through, she transitions to Outie Gemma, who is overjoyed to see him. They embrace. The alarm starts blaring.
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At the elevator, Mark pushes Drummond’s legs out of the elevator, and the doors close just as Mauer gets there, shouting, “You’ll kill them all!” Together in the elevator, Mark and Gemma start kissing, only to shift into Mark S. and Miss Casey as they arrive on the Severed Floor.
A New World Order
In MDR, Milchick rams the vending machine repeatedly until he knocks it over. Dylan and the C&M band surround him. Meanwhile, Mark S. gets Miss Casey to the exit stairwell. He forces her to leave, and she shifts back to Outie Gemma. Mark S. is still inside. She pleads with him to come out, too, but he hesitates.
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Helly appears in the hallway behind him and calls his name. Mark turns to look at her and makes a decision. Gemma continues to pound frantically on the door, but he shakes his head at her and walks to Helly. He takes her by the hand, and they run away together.
Both seasons of Severance are streaming now on Apple TV+.
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