Spoilers beneath for anybody who hasn’t but caught up on Severance‘s Season 2 episodes through Apple TV+ subscription, so be warned!
For as a lot time as audiences have spent on the planet of Severance — 14 TV episodes and numerous hours of hypothesis thus far — subsequent to no time has been devoted to cluing viewers in on precisely the place Lumon’s headquarters are positioned, at the very least compared to different U.S. landmarks. (If solely Keanu Reeves’ animated constructing was extra up entrance.) We all know it was inbuilt what turned referred to as the town of Kier, in a state that’s solely been referred to in textual content type as “PE.”
Bizarrely sufficient, viewers solely know of 1 metropolis that exists in Kier’s fast neighborhood: Ganz, PE. That’s the place the school is positioned that Mark S. and Gemma used to show at, and probably the place Devon and Ricken’s home is positioned. Past that, probably the most noteworthy disclose to date has been the nutso ORTBO episode figuring out the Dieter Eagan Nationwide Forest, which can or is probably not a respectable distinction.
So with out oodles and oodles of fabric to place forth as citation-friendly analysis, and certain not a lot coming later because the the 2025 TV schedule rolls on, let’s use what we truly know to take a couple of stabs at midnight at what PE might truly imply.
Concept: PE Stands For “Prime Eagan” Or One thing Comparable
I do not suppose anybody accustomed to Severance lore would balk on the concept of Kier Eagan wanting extra than simply founding a groundbreaking and life-changing firm. To me, he looks as if the form of one that would need to even have irreversible possession of the land upon which his house and firm had been constructed. And if Lumon has the worldwide attain of an organization like Amazon or Google, then maybe the Eagan household additionally possesses the ability to stake land claims.
Whereas I can’t faux to know the intricacies of how one would go about legitimately including a model new state to the nation as a complete, we don’t actually need to grasp that sophisticated course of to know the easier concept that this bloodline is one which thrives on energy and self-importance. And what higher instance can there be than naming a state after oneself?
At this level, I would not be stunned to be taught that Kier’s actual identify is Patrick or one other identify that will simply lend itself to this idea, however I do not suppose that is the case. And I additionally do not see him naming it after any of his siblings or youngsters, so even when we get extra Appendices readings down the road, they possible will not be about P-named characters.
Why I am Leaning Particularly Into “Prime Eagan”
Bear in mind the dream that Irving had in “Woe’s Hole” that clued him in on Helena’s id? Past establishing the mood Woe as a creepy AF stand-in for Helly, that sequence additionally delivers some fascinating digital visuals on Irving’s laptop monitor.
The same old MDR numbers begin going haywire as they’re joined by a choose sequence of letters (E, A, G, N) that may simply be anagrammed into “E-A-G-A-N.” However the numbers on show — 1, 3, 5 ,7 — could also be simply as essential, as they’re all prime numbers.
Okay, that is not fairly proper, because the numeral 1 technically is not a main quantity. However when it is mixed with different numbers, just like combining letters to make “Eagan,” then you will get 11, 13, 17, 31, 51, 71, and so forth. It isn’t excellent, however few issues about Lumon are.
Prime Might Have Different Meanings, Too
On the earth of Severance, even a simple idea like “pure childbirth resulting in wholesome conventional households” appears suspicious when utilized to the Eagan household. Followers have all types of concepts about how twisted the lineage and household tree may truly be, with studies of inbreeding beforehand coming to mild.
And so what if Prime Eagan isn’t solely indicative of the town being the central hub for the household’s enterprise, but additionally pertains to every of the members of the family who has risen to the function of CEO? What if every of them, even those who seemingly weren’t direct descendants, had been truly nonetheless biologically linked with Kier Eagan by means of early makes an attempt at cloning and gene-splicing strategies?
Which is to say, mixed with the concepts that “Dieter Eagan” is an anagram for “A.I.-generated” and “ORTBO” anagrams into “ROBOT,” that Lumon’s founding household might itself simply be the technology-infused results of Kier’s efforts to maintain his DNA alive for greater than 150 years. Maybe the seemingly younger Miss Huang and the seemingly resurrected Ms. Casey/Gemma are additionally changing into organic acolytes in that means.
Theories have already sprung up positing that the unidentified, grey-haired physician (assumed) within the chilly open is Kier Eagan himself, however that is a complete different equally wonderful dialog.
Or Possibly I am Completely Fallacious
The extra I take into consideration this concept, the extra it appears each completely right and intensely unconvincing. Which is a big a part of why Severance is so enjoyable to look at, since few reveals nspire such off-kilter theorizing on a continuing foundation. However let’s suppose I am incorrect right here, and that PE doesn’t suggest “Prime Eagan” in any respect.
It is also doable that “Reward Eagan” may very well be the state identify, with the oft-stated “Reward Kier” being extra of a loyalist catchphrase inside Lumon itself. However that is a bit extra boring and fewer ingenious than my preliminary concept, so let’s faux we already suppose it is incorrect.
However whereas we’re at it, let’s totally change our Simple Concept Pondering cap with the generic division retailer model and undergo a couple of different concepts for what the letters may very well be indicative of on this universe.
- Celebration of Egg
- Place-for Eagans
- Pillaged Parts
- Perpetual Edification
- Perfection Excellence
- Paternal Ewwness
- Nice Escape
- Petey’s Endgame
Simply consider the existential ramifications if June Kilmer can be singing “Fuck Lumon” in a state that was illogically named after her dad. Or do not take into consideration that in any respect, and shift again to why Lumon’s gifted work to Milchick had been so essential that his response to them was the primary constructive remark addressed throughout his efficiency evaluation.
Severance drops new episodes each Friday on Apple TV+, with solely a handful of episodes left to go in Season 2. If solely there was a chip I might put in my very own mind to have the ability to watch from the start with out remembering what occurs.