Severance Ep 6 Recap: Fuck You Lumon, I Hate You Lumon.
We have entered the back half of Severance and we are on our way to getting some answers. The first five episodes gave us a lot of questions, mainly what exactly is the purpose of everything that happens on the severed floor? There are many other secondary questions, why are the teams split up? Why did all these people choose to be severed, what exactly is Cobels’s deal? We didn’t get answers without new questions though, and ultimately I think that is what will keep this show going, it is a brilliant concept very well executed, with great performances, tonally deft writing, thoughtful direction, and an excellent score. None of that will matter if the story does not move forward, and start giving us answers to some of these questions.
How the show decides to handle Cobel(I just cannot bring myself to refer to her as Harmony) is something I am looking forward to as we go forward. The reasoning behind some of her actions are not totally clear, but the show has been clear that she is motivated by her service to Kier, and that is made even more apparent by today’s opening shot of her praying to a Kier Shrine and having the core values posted on her wall also while wearing what I believe is Petey’s chip around her neck.
Burt brings Irv to his special place and tries to put the moves on Irving who isn’t ready for lip to lip contact just yet. Director Aoife McArdle frames them gorgeously among those plants and then brings us even closer to give that moment an even greater sense of intimacy. She has done a good job of building on the directorial language stiller established over the first 3 episodes.
Devon runs into Gabby at a park and finds out she named her child Bradley and also runs into Angelo Arteta, Gabby’s husband, a Senator who has apparently been instrumental in lobbying for the legality of Severance.
MDR gather in the kitchenette motivated by either the Wise words in THE YOU YOU ARE, love and just general disdain for their lives down there and begin to talk about their next moves. Irv suggests going over to O&D and uniting the different teams(that man is down sooooo bad) like Kier originally intended. Accusations of stinginess with Facial encouragements are labelled against Mark after he is all smiley with Helly.
Mark, clearly a different man after soaking himself in the teachings of one Ricken Lazlo Ph.D has a somewhat tense conversation with Cobel about Casey being in the break room and eventually asks her what exactly it is they are doing down on the severed floor. He is promptly yelled at, and in an uncharacteristic act of rebellion leads MDR to O&D for the official meet-up
We are treated to slow motion-ish walking and an entirely new part of the score that had a very 3rd act of action movie vibe.
Mark gives a rousing speech that seems to encourage both teams to look for answers before Milchick comes to walk them back to a singing Cobel and some break room time for Mark.
The rest of the episode is spent on the outside. Mark is on another date with Alexa and has bruises on his knuckles. What did he get up to in the break room? Ricken and Devon are interviewing Selvig for the open lactation consultant position. For all her severed floor monstousitiy, Selvig/Cobel is pretty good with the baby humming the Kier song and calming her down.
I begged Kier for time with the refiners and Praise Kier, he delivered. Milchick and Dylan are in a closet together when Dylans Severed side is remotely activated and he asks about the ideographic card. Dylan’s son runs in and then outtie Dylan returns. When outtie dylan returns he seems to recognize milchick, do they know each other outside? I would be freake dout if a stranger was in my closet. My theory is Milchick came into the house under some lumon pretences, got dylan into the closet and activated it. Looking forward to answers about this. Also, DYLAN HAS A CHILD???????????
The date is going well when Mark sees a poster for June’s band and they go listen to them and they rock out to a “Fuck Lumon” song that is well, a song, it’s kinda catchy though.
Mark wakes up and decides to retrieve Petey’s burner, he’s lucky it was not trash day. He answers the call that comes in and decides to meet the person on the other end, who I believe is supposed to be Reghabi.
Bits x Bobs
I know I’ve said it a million times but this show has INCREDIBLE comedic chops. “You are sparing with the Facial encouragements” is not only funny but it’s perfectly Irving.
What is a part-time innie? Cobel refers to Casey as a part-time innie, is that an employee who only spends some of their time severed? Or just a part-timer who is severed?
I guess this furthers the theory some people have that there might be possibly different grades/types of Severance
Kier Chosen one, Kier/ Kier Brilliant one Kier/ Brings the bounty to the plain/ Through the torment, through the rains/Progress knowledge Show no fear/ Kier Chosen One Kier.
Graner is also down bad, Kier help that man.
What is being moved around in the Lumon offices?
MDR will mourn the will they won’t they energy shared by Ms. Casey and myself.
The way the score takes on a new form at the end of the episode to signify that we are entering a new phase of the story is genius.
We are back to an almost 50 minute runtime next week, praise Kier. This 40 minute stuff is not for me. Gimme my full hour Apple TV.
We Serve Kier Child.
