Warning! This article contains spoilers for Severance season 2, episode 2.
Severanceseason 2, episode 2 outlined a harsh way that Lumon maintains control over the Outie personalities of its employees. Undoubtedly, one of the most interesting parts of the AppleTV+ show is thedifferences betweenSeverance’s Innies and Outies. The exploration of someone being entirely different in a workplace due to their forgotten memories of the outside world is endlessly intriguing and is a large factor in the rebellion shown by Lumon’s Innie workers inSeveranceseason 1’s ending.
InSeveranceseason 2, episodes 1 and 2, the aftermath of this ending was highlighted.Severance’s Overtime Contingency Protocolallowed the Innie workers to wake up in the outside world, causing much trouble for Lumon and the public perception of the severance procedure. As a result, two members ofSeverance’s cast of characterswere fired from Lumon: Dylan and Irving. Thanks to the former’s journey,Severanceseason 2, episode 2 outlined another disturbing truth about undergoing the severance procedure and allowing Lumon to have power over them.
Public Discrimination Against The Severance Procedure Keeps Outies Within Lumon’s Control
Lumon Will Forever Have A Hold Over Its Severed Employees
The journey in question was Dylan’s quest to find another job after being fired by Lumon. Dylan is shown attending a job interview at a door manufacturing company, with his natural charm and knowledge of the industry allowing him to hit it off with the interviewer. However, things take a sour turn when Dylan reveals he worked on Lumon’s severed floor. Immediately, the interviewer’s entire demeanor changes as he tells Dylan to leave but that they will thoroughly consider his application.
How Severance Works (& Why It’s Terrifying)
Severance season 1 slowly revealed how Luman Industries' severance process worked, with each new revelation being more sinister than the previous one.
After being pressed about it,the interviewer states that he does not want to hire Dylan because he is severed and he thinks the procedure is abhorrent. This highlights the harsh reality of Lumon’s control over the people hired to become severed workers. Not only are the Innie lives of Lumon’s severed employees controlled by authoritarian rules and managers but the Outies are also affected. Despite not being employed by Lumon anymore, the discrimination against severance saw Dylan be ousted from several job interviews, proving how Lumon can keep employees within their grasp.
Dylan’s Storyline Furthers Severance’s Main Themes
The Idea Of Work-Life Balance Has Never Been More Pressing
Interestingly, this storyline for Dylan furthers the main thematic elements ofSeverance’s entire story. The show was crafted as a mystery-thriller that plays on the concept of work-life balance. Every main storyline of the show explores that concept and, while taking deeper, more emotional, and personal directions with it using its characters,Severancealways circles back to how one balances life outside of work and time inside of work.
Severanceis exploring the idea that, as a Lumon employee, Dylan does not have a work-life balance…
With Dylan’s storyline,Severanceis exploring the idea that, as a Lumon employee, Dylan does not have a work-life balance. Without Lumon, he cannot work at all due to discrimination, meaning his entire life revolves around the company. This is a dark reality for the Outie version of Dylan as his Innie version is experiencing something similar. AsSeverancecontinues to tease though, Dylan’s Innie and his colleagues will stop at nothing to uncover Lumon’s plans and burn the company to the ground, thus freeing both of his personalities.
Cast
Severance is a psychological thriller series featuring Adam Scott as Mark Scout, an employee at Lumon Industries who undergoes a “severance” procedure to separate his work and personal memories. However, as work and life personas mysteriously begin to collide, it quickly becomes clear that not all is as it seems. Created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle.
