The Apple TV+ Severance season two finale was yesterday, and it’s been the only thing on my mind ever since. Now, the wait for season three begins… (but don’t fret – Ben Stiller has assured us that it won’t be another grueling three-year wait like last time!)
We finally got an answer on what ‘Cold Harbour’ actually is, a back-and-forth vlog convo between innie and outie Mark (Adam Scott), and a clue of what the hell all those goats are used for. But we’re still left with so many damn questions, which will keep us plenty busy until the season three premiere. So let’s unpack every mind-boggling moment of Severance‘s latest episode, and all the questions we’ve still got trapped in our noggins.
SPOILERS!! If you have yet seen the bombshell-dropping finale, turn back now since we’ll be breaking down everything that went down. This is your only warning!!
Mr. Milchick sprinting out of the room so he could make the marching band performance was a real highlight. (Image: Apple TV+)
A breakdown of Severance’s season two finale
The feature-length finale begins with innie Mark sitting down and conversing with his outie via a video camera, and the two consciousness agree to team up to save Gemma/Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman), after Ms. Cobel (Patricia Arquette) reveals that Gemma will die if not saved by innie Mark. Although their partnership is tense, since innie Mark is basically listening to what can only be described as his captor begging him to sacrifice his life, and other severed lives, for his wife.
Plus, outie Mark got Helly’s (Britt Lower) name wrong, which didn’t sit well with innie Mark at all and might’ve inspired why he made the decision to not leave with Gemma in the end.
The episode then shifts into the type of liminal horror spectacle that only Severance could ever muster. We’re talking heartbreaking scenes between Helly (Britt Lower) and innie Mark, an introspective letter written by outie Dylan (Zach Cherry) to his innie, but then we’re treated to a Beychella-themed performance with Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman) alongside a full-blown marching band. I loved every second.
Goat mama Lorne (Gwendoline Christie) makes her second appearance when she’s seen preparing a baby goat for some sort of slaughter sacrifice with Mr. Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson), and later gets into a bloody brawl with him when she saves Mark from Mr. Drummond’s murder attempt. Mark is then soaked in Mr. Drummond’s blood for the remainder of the episode (hot!!) and uses said blood to access the highly-secretive ‘Cold Harbour’ sector that houses a new severed Gemma.
I need my queen Lorne and Emile back on my screen way more in season three!! (Image: Apple TV+)
Outie Mark manages to lure Gemma out, and the pair escape upstairs and share a passionate kiss before they shift back into their severed selves: Ms. Casey and Mark S. Innie Mark manages to fulfill his promise to his outie self by saving Gemma, but does not leave with her.
In a scene that will forever divide Severance fans forever, Mark S chooses Helly and runs deeper into the building with her, choosing to save her and the rest of the severed floor than bringing down Lumon.
All the questions that got answered after the Severance season two finale
First up, we finally get a real answer on what Macrodata Refinement (MDR) actually is and what ‘Cold Harbour’ is, as well as what all those goats are used for.
What is Macrodata Refinement and ‘Cold Harbour’?
MDR’s “mysterious and important work” involves creating new severed innies for Gemma, and that ‘Cold Harbour’ was the final and 25th innie for Gemma. Once innie Mark completed it, Gemma’s final severed consciousness is seen completing the most traumatic experience in her outie’s life with no emotion: dismantling her dead child’s crib.
While never explicitly explained, it’s implied that Gemma’s severance chip will be removed after the completion of ‘Cold Harbour’, killing her in the process.
Honestly IDGAF, I’m so happy Helly and Mark S chose each other!! Innie rights!! (Image: Apple TV+)
What is the role of Mammalians Nurturable?
It was also revealed in the latest episode; to raise baby goats and then kill them in a ritualistic sacrifice. Mr. Drummond explains that the goat will be “buried with a cherished woman” (probably Gemma), but since Lorne and Mark both defeat Mr. Drummond with violent gusto both the goat (adorably named Emile) and Gemma are saved.
That debunks that whole ‘the goats are the secret board’ theory out the window, it seems.
All the questions we still have after the Severance season two finale
Where is Irving heading to?
Firstly: where is my king Irving (John Turturro)????
We know that he was heartbreakingly retired earlier in the season after revealing Helena was pretending to be Helly, but he wasn’t seen in the finale, only mentioned.
The last time we saw Irv, his innie beau Burt (Christopher Walken) sent him and his dog Radar on a train to a destination unknown. Where Irv is and what he is doing is still up in the air, and I swear nothing bad better happen to my beloved!!
What is the actual goal of the MDR project?
We know that it involves Gemma being severed multiple times, with each innie experiencing several different traumatic situations.
We know what they’re doing with MDR, but why? What would these severed consciousnesses be used for when Gemma is killed? My gut tells me that Gemma was used as a guinea pig in order for Lumon to promote severance to the public as a process to remove all negative experiences from their lives, but nothing is confirmed…yet.
Is reintegration actually possible?
Ms. Cobel seems convinced that combining both severed and unsevered psyches could be a reality, but innie Mark (and myself) aren’t too sure about it all.
Dylan the GOAT better be leading an innie revolution next season. (Image: Apple TV+)
Did Lumon severe an entire marching band simply for this one performance?
And was this what Mr. Milchick was busy working on this whole time? This question will be burning in my mind for months. And since we got a preview of a possible severed uprising with Dylan and the aforementioned band, we might just find out a bit more about them in the next season.
The Severance season two finale was a bloody showstopper, and you can find me rewatching it (and the entire season) over and over again until we get a glimpse of season three on Apple TV+.
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