Most Mind-Blowing Fan Theories About Severance

Summary

• A mysterious man in the finale points to a possible doppelganger monitoring Mark, adding layers to Lumen’s secrets.
• Cobel might have been the first severed test subject, linking to possible memory scrambles and deep complexities.
• Lumon’s cloning experiments and a digital board hint at sinister intentions.

Season 2 of Severance just wrapped up, and suffice it to say, the finale was nothing short of mind-boggling. It was a masterclass in suspense, as Mark’s journey to uncover the truth about his wife’s mysterious death tangled with the unnerving reality of Lumen’s twisted experiments. In short, it left viewers with more questions than answers, cranking up the mystery to a level where it’s literally impossible not to crave Season 3.

In the meantime, many fans have turned to some wild theories to keep their minds occupied, and these theories promise to take Severance fans down even deeper rabbit holes, offering tantalizing possibilities about what’s really going on at Lumen. For those looking to speculate even more about what’s in store for future seasons, here are some of the most mind-blowing theories that are sure to keep everyone guessing until Severance returns.

8

The Man In The Hallway Is Important

The Man Seen In The Hallway Is Mark’s Doppelganger Monitoring Him

A fleeting but chilling moment in the finale showed an unknown man watching Mark in the hallway. It’s a detail easily dismissed, but it’s one that raises far more questions than answers. Initially, this figure seemed like just another security replacement, but IMDb credits him as “Man in Hallway” and later as “Shadow Mark,” the doppelganger glimpsed during the Oro sequence. Not to be confused with Mark Watcher, who is played by an entirely different actor, this eerie lookalike suggests that something far more sinister is lurking within Lumen’s endless corridors.

The hallways of Lumen are already a maze of secrets, but this shadowy figure hints at entire sections of the severed floor yet to be explored. The presence of Shadow Mark implies that someone (or something) is actively monitoring Mark beyond the usual surveillance. Whether he’s a failed experiment, an alternate version of Mark, or something even more disturbing, his silent appearance suggests that Lumen’s control runs deeper than anyone realizes.

7

Cobel Was The First Severed Test Subject

Cobel Volunteered As The First Severance Subject At Lumon

One of the most fascinating theories about Severance suggests that Harmony Cobel (aka Mrs. Selvig) could have been the first to undergo the Severance procedure. Given her central role in creating the process, it’s not far-fetched to think she might’ve volunteered to test it out herself. This theory adds layers to her already mysterious character, as it would explain the stark contrast between her two personalities: the nurturing, almost motherly Mrs. Selvig and the cold, controlling Miss Cobel.

These conflicting traits, like her contradictory stories about her mother’s faith, point to a fractured identity—one that might not even be fully recognized by Cobel herself. If she truly was the first subject, the procedure likely scrambled her memories, causing lapses in her understanding of her own life. This theory hints at deep, unresolved complexities within her, pushing the boundaries of what’s to come in Season 3.

6

Lumon Is Working On Cloning

Lumen Is Using The Severance Procedure As Part Of A Dark Experiment In Cloning

In Severance, nothing is ever as straightforward as it seems, and one theory that has gained significant traction suggests that the MDR team might be involved in cloning. The idea is supported by a number of strange occurrences, like the mysterious “goat room” and the detailed study on Mark S.’s Cold Harbor file. The flash of Mark’s wife, Gemma, alongside what seem to be vital signs in the Season 2 premiere has only added to the speculation.

Some fans speculate that the ultimate goal of the Severance procedure might not just be memory suppression but a twisted experiment in transferring human consciousness into artificial bodies. This theory ties into Lumon’s unsettling obsession with preservation, from the wax sculptures to the “clone” of the Eagan family home, suggesting an interest in eternal life or resurrection. The haunting image of babies with adult heads further strengthens this idea, hinting at a lab-grown clone project.

5

The Board Isn’t Real

The Board Is A Collection Of Digitized Consciousnesses Of Former CEOs

Many fans think that the “board” isn’t composed of living people, but rather a digital entity—a collection of past CEOs’ consciousnesses uploaded onto a computer system. This chilling notion proposes that Lumen has found a way to preserve the minds of its former leaders beyond the grave, allowing them to continue running the company even after death. The ultimate aim is to transfer these digital consciousnesses into new human bodies, ensuring the CEOs’ eternal control over Lumon.

There are several moments in the series that fuel this theory. In Episode 8 of Season 1, a muffled voice heard during a board meeting is believed by some to be Jame Egan, Lumen’s last living board member. Plus, Helena’s casual mention of calling the board right then and there in front of Cobel also raises a lot of suspicion. Could it be a digital construct, accessible at any time, anywhere? The concept of the “revolving,” introduced by Egan in Season 1, further hints at a CEO’s mind being uploaded onto the board upon death, with successors like Helena stepping into new roles, adding to this unsettling plausibility.

4

Irving Will Return As An Anti-Lumon Activist

Irving Will Make A Comeback As Part Of A Larger Anti-Lumon Movement

Irv’s mysterious payphone conversation is one of the most intriguing unresolved plot points from Severance, and it hints that his story is far from over. Although his character appeared to wrap up in Season 2 with a growing disillusionment with Lumon, this cryptic moment suggests that there’s more to explore. Fans have speculated that his caller could be an old acquaintance or a new character, possibly a former Lumon employee who is tied to the anti-Lumon movement.

It’s likely that his mysterious contact is deeply connected to an underground force such as the Whole Mind Collective, feeding him insider knowledge. Irv’s sudden awareness of the export hallway and his cryptic mention of receiving a “message” point to an external influence planting crucial information into his mind, setting the stage for an explosive Season 3 revelation.

3

Helly Is Pregnant

Helly Is Secretly Pregnant, Leading To Complicated Identity Questions

The evidence that Helly might secretly be pregnant is admittedly hard to ignore. Not only has Mark been with Helly twice—once as Helena—, but the show is filled with cryptic baby imagery, from the unsettling infants in the intro sequence to Lumen’s quiet presence at Gemma’s fertility clinic. Even Miss Casey’s ominous unfinished sentence in Episode 5 of Season 2, “Your Outie is going to be—,” before the scene abruptly cuts off, hints at a revelation tied to fatherhood.

If true, this theory would throw the show’s love triangle into chaos. Mark’s innie may have fathered a child with Helly, but the implications are far messier when considering that Helena has her own manipulative ties to Mark. It raises unsettling questions: whose baby is it? Would the consciousness that carried it even have a claim? And if Mark succeeds in saving Gemma, how would he even begin to explain that his severed self unknowingly became a father? The emotional fallout alone would make Season 3 its most intense yet, forcing Mark to reconcile both his fractured identity and a future he never saw coming.

2

Everyone In Kier Is Severed

The Entire Town Of Kier Is Under Lumen’s Control As Severed Subjects

The town of Kier feels unsettlingly detached from the rest of the world, almost as if it exists in its own reality – severed, even, in a way. It has its own state abbreviation, PE, and its own license plates, yet nothing beyond Kier has been truly explored.

One should consider Ricken and his friends. They possess a strange mix of intellectualism and childlike behavior, resulting in moments that feel oddly out of sync with reality. Instances like Patton questioning why World War I wasn’t called that at the time, or Ricken celebrating the discovery of a lost baby as if he had won a contest, hint at something deeper. Then there’s Rebeck, who has unexplained sores on the back of her head—potential evidence of multiple severance chip insertions. Even their names follow the severance pattern, with truncated last initials, reinforcing the idea that Kier might be an entire town of forgotten, altered minds.

1

Lumon Faked Gemma’s Death

Gemma’s Alleged Death Might Be A Cover-Up By Lumen

Perhaps the most chilling mystery in Severance centers on the alleged death of Gemma Scott. The official narrative claims she died in a car accident, with Mark even insisting he saw her dead body. However, the finale unearthed inconsistencies that suggest something far more sinister at play. A particularly compelling theory proposes that Gemma’s “death” was a cover-up, with some pointing to hints of drowning rather than a car crash. Evidence like a flash of her with wet hair, a sinking car in the opening credits, and her comment about preferring drowning to suffocation all point toward this possibility.

With Lumen’s dark connection to medical facilities, it’s not that wild to think the company could have faked her death and used their resources to kidnap her and then run tests on her. But what about the body Mark saw? Did Lumen manipulate memories or possibly use a body double to deceive him? And what about the ashes Mark keeps hidden away—are they truly Gemma’s? All these questions suggest that Severance could have just scratched the surface, hinting at how deep Lumen’s machinations truly go.