Smart Severance Season 2 Theory Claims The Show’s Real Villain Is Not Who You Think (2024)

One clever Severance season 2 theory suggests its real villains may not be the most obvious. Directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle, and created by Dan Erickson, the Apple TV+ show followed the enigmatic Lumon Industries, a company that offers a controversial procedure called "severance," which surgically splits employees' minds into distinct work ("innie") and personal ("outie") selves. The narrative primarily revolves around Mark (Adam Scott), when a former colleague's sudden reappearance prompts him to question Lumon's true intentions. As the characters navigate their dual existences, Severance explores profound themes of identity, control, and corporate dystopia.

The Severance season 1 ending featured several twists, setting the stage for the second season. In the final episode, Mark, Helly, and Irving's "innie" personalities are activated in the outside world, leading to shocking discoveries about their "outie" lives. Meanwhile, Lumon’s figures of authority, Cobel and Milchick, scramble to regain control. This dramatic cliffhanger not only resolved some mysteries but also introduced new questions, leaving fans speculating about the direction of Severance season 2. Amid the many attempts to answer Severance season 1's unanswered questions, one smart theory claims the show's real villain is not who audiences think.

Cobel Is Not Severance’s Real Villain – Theory Explained

She Could Have A Profoundly Personal Motive Driving Her Actions

One of the Severance season 2 theories suggests that Harmony Cobel, a key figure at Lumon Industries, is not the real villain. Throughout season 1, she is portrayed as the authoritarian antagonist, overseeing the severed workers at Lumon Industries with an iron grip. However, a popular fan theory suggests that Cobel might actually be on the side of Lumon's workers and could also have a deeply personal motive driving her actions. According to this theory, Cobel might have a loved one in a condition similar to that of Mark’s wife, Gemma, who is also Ms. Casey at Lumon.

The person could be in a state of brain death, coma, or another such state, with Cobel secretly working to achieve a successful reintegration of their identities. This theory adds a layer of personal tragedy and desperation to Cobel, painting her not merely as a corporate enforcer, but as someone grappling with profound personal loss. Such a revelation would not only deepen the narrative complexity of Severance but also massively heighten the stakes for Cobel's character.

Cobel’s True Intentions In Severance Would Explain Her Interest In Mark

Especially Her Investment In Mark and Gemma Recognizing Each Other

This theory of Cobel's true intentions would certainly explain her continued interest in Mark, starting with her living as his neighbor, Mrs. Selvig. If Cobel is secretly an ally of the innies, it would explain why Cobel expresses genuine happiness and support when Mark decides to quit Lumon. Likewise, if Cobel indeed has a loved one in a similar state, her actions can be interpreted as an attempt to understand and perfect the reintegration process, using Mark and Gemma as a test case.

It would thus make sense why she is so interested in Mark and Gemma’s interactions, particularly why she feels so disappointed when they fail to recognize each other during their encounters. This theory also explains why Cobel conceals the severance chip side effects from the board. The mystery behind what happened to Gemma is one of the many burning questions Severance season 2 needs to answer, but Cobel's emotional investment in it adds a new layer of intrigue to the plot.

Severance Already Told You Who The Show’s Real Villains Are

The Founders Of Lumon Industries: The Kier Family

Severance has been quite clear that its true villains are not Cobel or Miltchick, but the Kier family and the other powerful individuals who seek to propagate the severance procedure. As founders of Lumon Industries, the Kier family represent the faceless corporate greed and ambition that drive the company's unethical practices. This family’s vision for severance is not merely about productivity but about wielding absolute power over individuals' lives, both in and out of the workplace.

However, there is a lingering possibility that Severance has yet to reveal its ultimate antagonist. The original Kier Eagan, the visionary founder of Lumon, might still be alive or exerting influence from the shadows. If this is true, it would add a chilling dimension to the story, suggesting that the oppressive control exerted by Lumon is not just a corporate strategy but a deeply personal mission of one man's enduring legacy. Such theories can only be confirmed by the highly anticipated release of Severance season 2.

Severance

TV-MA

Drama

Mystery

Sci-Fi

From director and executive producer Ben Stiller and creator Dan Erickson comes “Severance.” Mark Scout (Adam Scott) leads a team at Lumon Industries, whose employees have undergone a severance procedure, which surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. This daring experiment in “work-life balance” is called into question as Mark finds himself at the center of an unraveling mystery that will force him to confront the true nature of his work… and himself.

Cast

Christopher Walken , Tramell Tillman , Michael Chernus , Adam Scott , Britt Lower , Patricia Arquette , Jen Tullock , John Turturro , Dichen Lachman , Zach Cherry

Release Date

February 18, 2022

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Apple TV+

Writers

Dan Erickson

Directors

Ben Stiller

Showrunner

Dan Erickson , Mark Friedman