How Much Time Has Passed

Severance has returned for its highly anticipated second season, bringing back its eerie corporate dystopia and a web of new mysteries. One of the biggest early questions in Season 2 revolves around time—or more specifically, how much of it has passed since the events of the Season 1 finale. At the start of the new season, Mr. Milchick states that five months have passed since the Overtime Contingency was triggered, a claim that, as later episodes reveal, is completely false. The real passage of time in Severance is only two days, making Milchick’s deception yet another unsettling layer in Lumon’s long history of manipulation.

This revelation raises an intriguing question: Why would Milchick lie about something so seemingly trivial? His deception isn’t just a casual mistake—it’s an intentional falsehood meant to mislead Mark and the others. While the show hasn’t yet revealed the true reason behind this lie, there are several compelling possibilities. Given Milchick’s history of dishonesty and psychological manipulation, his statement could be part of a larger strategy, a simple power play, or even a way to cover up something more sinister happening at Lumon.

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Milchick Is Controlling the Severance Narrative

One of the most plausible explanations for Milchick’s lie is that he wants to manipulate the severed employees’ perception of reality. By telling Mark S that five months have passed, Milchick is crafting a false narrative that influences how Mark S understands his own Outie’s choices. If Mark believed that his Outie had months to reflect on returning to Lumon rather than just two days, it would reinforce the illusion that his Outie is willingly and happily coming back to work. This could help prevent any doubts or rebellion from creeping in.

This type of deception fits Lumon’s broader pattern of psychological control. The entire concept of severance is built on a strict separation between work and personal life, but Lumon’s executives frequently manipulate the Innies into believing they have more autonomy than they really do. If Milchick can make Mark and the others think that their Outies have had plenty of time to adjust to life outside of Lumon before returning, they might be less inclined to question their circumstances.

The Lie Could Be Covering Up Something Bigger

Another possibility is that Milchick’s lie serves as a cover-up for something more significant happening behind the scenes. The two-day gap between the Overtime Contingency and Mark’s return means that the aftermath of the Season 1 finale is much fresher than Mark realizes. There may have been immediate consequences—ones that Milchick and Lumon don’t want the Innies to suspect.

Perhaps Lumon has been scrambling to contain the damage from the Overtime Contingency, and presenting the illusion of a five-month gap could help smooth over inconsistencies. If the Innies believed that five months had passed, they might assume that any drastic actions taken by Lumon in the aftermath were old news, rather than active, ongoing cover-ups. Given that Lumon has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to lie and manipulate to maintain control, it wouldn’t be surprising if this deception serves a larger purpose.

Another key factor is that Mark’s Outie initially decided not to return but quickly changed his mind. The timing in Severance of this reversal is crucial. If the change happened within just two days, it could mean that external pressure was placed on him, at least that could be a perception of the Innies come up with. By stretching the timeline, he can remove any concerns about how quickly things changed.

The five-month lie also allows Milchick to more effectively push the idea that Lumon has changed and that it’s not the evil entity the Innies had to fight against. This appears to be the most obvious answer but it’s not a slam dunk, considering that Milchick seems to lie about things that don’t need to be misleading.

Milchick Just Likes Messing With People

Of course, there’s also the simplest explanation: Milchick enjoys lying. Over the course of Severance, he has shown a tendency to mislead, manipulate, and even toy with the severed employees. From his cheerful but unnerving enforcement of corporate rules to his condescending way of explaining the outside world, Milchick thrives on control. His false claim about the world’s tallest waterfall—another blatant lie—suggests that sometimes, he deceives just because he can.

It’s possible that Milchick doesn’t even have a grand plan with this particular lie; he just enjoys creating confusion. Keeping the Innies in Severance uncertain, disoriented, and dependent on Lumon’s version of reality benefits the company. Even small lies, like the fabricated five-month gap, can subtly undermine the Innies’ sense of stability. If they can’t trust their own memories or perceptions, they’re less likely to question the larger system that confines them.

As of now, Severance hasn’t provided a definitive answer to why Milchick lied about the passage of time. Whether it’s part of a larger corporate scheme, a psychological tactic, or just a demonstration of his power over the Innies, it further cements Milchick’s role as a master manipulator. Given Lumon’s track record, it’s entirely possible that the real reason behind this deception will be more disturbing than anyone expects.

Severance

Release Date

February 18, 2022

Showrunner

Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman

Directors

Ben Stiller

Writers

Dan Erickson

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  Tramell Tillman

  Seth Milchick

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