Spoilers for Severance Season 2, Episode 7 are forward! You’ve got been warned.
Apple TV+ simply dropped one other episode of Severance Season 2 on the 2025 TV schedule, and it created as many questions because it answered. The large takeaway, although, was we lastly bought a have a look at the testing ground–and extra importantly, what Mark’s lacking spouse Gemma has been as much as whereas there.
Initially, Gemma was considered lifeless, having been in a deadly automobile crash two years earlier than the beginning of the sequence. Nevertheless, on the finish of Severance Season 1, we discover out she is alive. She is definitely the Lumon wellness counselor, Ms. Casey, who spends most of her time down on the ominous testing ground.
The testing ground was one of many largest mysteries we would have liked solved, together with what the hell the MDR group truly does. Now, I believe I’ve the reply, and this idea pertains to Gemma’s expertise on the testing ground.
What Gemma Has Been Up To On The Testing Ground
A well-liked fan idea to come back out of Season 1 was that Ms. Casey is a clone of Mark’s spouse Gemma. Nevertheless, Episode 7 dispelled that fully.
Severance confirmed Gemma’s true self in a few methods. One, the nurse in control of caring for her calls her Gemma. Two, she asks about Mark a number of instances, and we even see her recollections of their life collectively, together with once they first met whereas donating blood (hooked as much as Lumon machines, in case you missed the refined droplet emblem).
Nevertheless, I used to be actually extra fascinated by why Gemma goes into a number of rooms a day dressed in numerous outfits. Every time she enters one, she severs, that means she enters a unique consciousness. The idea of severance just isn’t new to the viewers by any means. Nevertheless, we’ve by no means seen it on this scale.
Gemma’s thoughts has seemingly been severed a minimum of seven instances, almost certainly extra. One in every of her innies exists in a room the place it’s all the time the vacation season. One other is perpetually caught visiting the dentist. None of them recall the others’ experiences, together with Gemma. Though, similar to on the severed ground, bodily stress and damage linger… like a cramped hand or exhaustion from sleepless nights.
Talking of all these rooms, did I point out Gemma’s testing rooms are labeled with the names of MDR information? Yep, that’s proper, we lastly have some perception into what Helly, Mark, Dylan, and Irv are engaged on, and after watching this episode, I’ve a idea on what the numbers truly imply.
My Principle About What MDR Is Actually Refining
Understanding that Gemma’s numerous rooms are named after MDR information, I really feel prefer it’s protected to imagine that no matter MDR is refining, they’re immediately associated. My idea is that Mark and co. are literally refining the severed components of Gemma’s mind, extra particularly, taming her tempers.
As we all know from Season 1’s go to to the Perpetuity Wing, the 4 tempers, initially tamed by Kier, are Woe, Frolic, Dread, and Malice. Abbreviations of those tempers seem on the bins on the backside of an MDR laptop, into which the refiners get rid of the “scary numbers.” By doing this, I believe they’re taming tempers of the severed mind by way of the chip.
Why, although? Theoretically, as exemplified by the girl on the birthing retreat, it might imply by no means having to expertise a taxing process or emotional hardship. Nevertheless, innies have very sturdy ideas, feelings, and opinions of their very own, ones that may doubtlessly hurt their outies.
Aside from Ms. Casey, who all the time appeared extra emotionally impartial in comparison with the others. I believe it’s as a result of MDR has tamed her tempers, making her docile to any process or occasion that wants finishing.
What Lumon plans to do with the outcomes of Gemma’s checks and severed expertise continues to be a thriller. However there’s a little an excessive amount of thoughts management occurring for my style. To not point out, her true self is trapped on the testing ground, and I concern Lumon won’t let her go away with the present information she possesses.
The principle query I’ve now’s what makes Mark’s Chilly Harbor file so essential? Does it must do along with his love for Gemma? What will likely be within the Chilly Harbor testing room? Hopefully, we are going to get extra solutions subsequent week.
Till then, you may stream Season 2 of Severance with an Apple TV+ subscription.