The season one finale of Severance was a television event that left viewers stunned, with numerous shocking twists setting the stage for the next season.
After a long three-year wait, the highly anticipated sequel is nearly upon us, and it’s possible you’ve forgotten some crucial details from the previous chapter.
The series follows severed workers Mark S (portrayed by Adam Scott), Irving B (John Turturro), Helly R (Britt Lower) and Dylan G (Zach Cherry), set within the all-encompassing Lumon Industries, a secretive firm capable of splitting their employees’ memories between their personal and professional lives.
When the defiant Helly joins the group, they collaborate to uncover more about their enigmatic workplace, constantly under the scrutiny of their supervisor Mr Milchick (Tramell Tillman).
Simultaneously, floor manager Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette) maintains strict control while leading a double life as Mark’s neighbour, Mrs Selvig, reports .
Severance season 1 finale explained including crucial details you missed (Image: APPLE)
As we approach the premiere of Severance’s second season this Friday, let’s revisit the most significant twists, reveals and overlooked details from the finale, The We We Are.
What transpired in the final episode of Severance’s first season?
Throughout the inaugural season, Helly grows increasingly anxious about the fate of her ‘innie’, as they come to understand that losing their jobs essentially equates to their demise.
Severance will finally return this Friday (Image: APPLE)
Dylan reveals to the team that Lumon possesses the power to awaken their severed employees in the outside world, a process referred to as the ‘overtime contingency’.
Mark and Helly devise a scheme for Dylan to remain after hours to initiate the procedure, while Irving finds out his office crush Burt (Christopher Walken) is retiring, meaning they’ll never cross paths again.
In the preceding episode, during Dylan’s ‘waffle party’, a reward for achieving Macrodata Refinement’s quarterly quota, he sneaks away to trigger overtime while Helly, Mark and Irving’s ‘outies’ are conscious. Moreover, before parting ways, Helly and Mark share a kiss in case their plan goes awry.
Dylan activates the overtime contingency (Image: APPLE)
The finale kicks off with Mark waking up at his outie’s sister Devon’s (Jen Tullock) house, embracing who he recognises as his boss, Cobel. However, when he departs, he addresses her by name, leading her to realise the innies are awake and she alerts Mr Milchick.
Simultaneously, Mark’s innie meets with Devon who breaks the news about his wife Gemma’s death, and they both discover that Mrs Selvig next door is actually his boss. In another location, Irving wakes up and uncovers some unsettling facts about his outie, notably that he has been obsessively painting a creepy dark hallway presumably situated somewhere in the Lumon offices.
He also stumbles upon US navy medals belonging to either him or his father, along with a map and employee directory which could lead him to Burt.
Helly discovers she’s the daughter of Lumon’s CEO (Image: APPLE)
In a jaw-dropping twist from the Severance season one finale, Helly comes to the realisation that she is actually Helena Eagan, daughter of Lumon’s CEO Jame Eagan (Michael Siberry). She had agreed to undergo severance to garner public support for the controversial procedure.
Additionally, she’s discovered to be tight-knit with Natalie (Sydney Cole Alexander), Lumon’s PR face and the very person who sacked Cobel.
Irving tracks down Burt (Image: APPLE)
At a company gala where Helena is scheduled to speak, Helly seizes the moment to expose to the attendees the brutal truth about how their ‘innies’ are oppressed and tormented.
Meanwhile, Irving locates Burt’s residence only to be heartbroken upon finding out he’s already in a relationship. Elsewhere, Mark stumbles upon the most chilling revelation to date: a photo of himself with Ms Casey, Lumon’s wellness counselor, who he shockingly recognises as his own wife.
Ms Casey is actually Mark’s wife Gemma (Image: APPLE)
With time possibly running out, Mark frantically attempts to inform Devon that Gemma is at Lumon, managing to blurt out “She’s alive!” just before his ‘outie’ regains control. Back at the office, Mr Milchick has subdued Dylan, effectively halting the overtime process.
As fans eagerly await this Friday’s premiere of Severance, questions abound: Will it offer the answers we crave, or will it plunge us deeper into its enigmatic narrative?
Severance season 2 premieres Friday, January 17 on Apple TV+.