Fans of the Apple TV+ show Severance are buzzing with theories about a peculiar new addition to the Lumon Industries staff in the second season.
The Macrodata Refinement team, led by Mark S (portrayed by Adam Scott), has returned to our screens after they awakened their ‘innies’ in the outside world.
After a three-year break, the highly-praised sci-fi drama made its comeback on Friday (January 17), reuniting Mark with his colleagues Dylan G (Zach Cherry), Irving B (John Turturro) and Helly R (Britt Lower).
However, there have been significant changes in the five months that their floor supervisor Mr Milchick (Tramell Tillman) claims have passed since their attempted rebellion.
Perhaps the most shocking change is the arrival of Miss Huang (Sarah Bock), their new Deputy Manager who appears to be only around 10 years old. Given the team’s surprise at having an actual child supervising them (though fans were amazed to learn that Bock is actually 18), there are likely to be some revelations about her character as the Lumon mystery unravels this season.
Severance fans ‘work out’ Miss Huang’s real identity after heartbreaking clue (Image: APPLE)
Some viewers believe they’ve already solved the puzzle after noticing Miss Huang’s offhand remark that she was previously a crossing guard before joining MDR.
“I think Huang’s outie died as a child (likely in a car crash, will get to that next) and was brought back to life by Lumon via the MDR team,” one fan speculated in a recent thread.
“Miss Huang said she used to be a crossing guard, so her outie also having been involved in a car crash isn’t that unlikely. During the ball game when she is asked why she is a child she says, ‘because of when I was born'”, reports .
“But I actually think it’s because of when she died. If she passed as a child and Lumon resurrected her consciousness (or implanted a new one into her? ) she would effectively be trapped in her childhood body forever.”
The theory of Lumon rebuilding consciousnesses, particularly of the company’s founder, Kier Eagan, has been a popular speculation amongst fans since Severance’s first season. Could Miss Huang also be someone who’s been resurrected after their death and implanted with a new, easily manipulated personality?
Meet MDR’s new Deputy Manager Miss Huang (Image: APPLE)
Some fans have speculated that she could be the daughter of Mark and his wife Gemma, who was revealed to actually be the team’s wellness counsellor Ms Casey (Dichen Lachman) at the end of season one.
However, others have dismissed this theory, considering Mark’s ‘outie’ has never mentioned them having children.
Another post speculated: “[Huang] was a crossing guard…
“I don’t think any parents would allow their kid to become severed. Sounds like it would be very illegal, the consent part but also the child labor issues.
Did Miss Huang die in the same accident as Gemma aka Ms Casey? (Image: APPLE)
“I think she died like Gemma (and maybe even a car related death too?) and they brought her back, so like Ms Casey she does not have an outie. I like that better than her being a clone/their child.”
The role of Huang as a crossing guard eerily mirrors Gemma’s supposed demise in a car crash. Could it be that both were victims of the same accident, leading to their death or coma, only to be resurrected by Lumon?
We can only hope that the remaining episodes of Severance’s second season will shed some light on these mysteries.
Severance season 2 continues Fridays on Apple TV+.