8 Mind-Blowing ‘Severance’ Season 2 Fan Theories That Could Change Everything
Since its debut, Severance has captivated audiences with its unsettling corporate dystopia, enigmatic characters, and mind-bending mysteries. As Season 2 unfolds, fans have begun piecing together theories that might shed light on the show’s biggest secrets. With its intricate storytelling, cryptic clues, and thought-provoking themes, Severance has inspired countless discussions and speculations.
From the eerie rituals of Lumon Industries to the unsettling implications of severance technology, the show continues to leave viewers questioning reality and the true motives of its characters. Could Lumon be hiding even darker secrets? What is the endgame of the mysterious company? And who can truly be trusted?
Here are eight of the most intriguing theories circulating about Severance Season 2.
1. Macrodata Refinement’s Hidden Function
One of the longest-running mysteries in Severance revolves around the true purpose of Lumon Industries’ Macrodata Refinement (MDR) division. While the workers believe they are eliminating “bad” data, fan theories suggest a more sinister purpose.
Some fans speculate that MDR is systematically erasing traumatic experiences from employees’ pasts, ensuring obedience by removing memories that might cause them to rebel. If true, this could mean that the severance process doesn’t just divide consciousness—it rewrites it. This raises the question of whether Lumon is using severed employees to perfect a method of targeted memory deletion, with potential applications far beyond the workplace. Could MDR be part of a broader plan to control individuals even outside of Lumon?
Another theory suggests that MDR’s true function is to prepare a “clean slate” for reanimation. If Lumon is experimenting with cloning or a form of consciousness transfer, wiping previous memories could be a way to reset individuals for future use. Employees may unknowingly be testing a process that would allow Lumon to resurrect people in a way that ensures total compliance, making them valuable assets for the company’s grander agenda.
Lastly, MDR’s data-sorting work could have genetic implications. If employees unknowingly filter genetic sequences rather than numbers, it would connect to larger experiments Lumon may be conducting in secret. Given the presence of genetic research themes elsewhere in the show—like the baby goats—MDR’s work could be essential to a more ambitious bioengineering project. This would mean that Mark, Dylan, Helly, and Irving aren’t just processing meaningless data but are part of a far-reaching experiment that could redefine human identity itself.
2. The Significance of the Baby Goats
One of the most bizarre moments in Severance was the introduction of the baby goats in Season 1. While their purpose remains unclear, theories suggest they might be more than a strange quirk of Lumon’s secretive operations.
Some fans believe the baby goats are part of a genetic engineering experiment. Lumon could be experimenting with cloning, memory transference, or even hybridization, using animals as test subjects before applying the process to humans. If true, the goats could be early iterations of an experiment designed to perfect severance technology beyond the workplace, possibly even allowing memories to be transferred between beings. This might explain why their presence in the show felt both surreal and unsettling—as if they represented something much larger in Lumon’s overarching scheme.
Another theory suggests that the goats are linked directly to the severed employees. Since severance requires a clear division between “innies” and “outies,” some speculate that the goats serve as vessels for storing or sustaining severed consciousness. The way the baby goats were housed and treated with extreme secrecy hints that their role may be critical to maintaining the severance process or even advancing it. Could these animals hold the memories of former employees? Or are they test subjects for an even more invasive version of severance?
Alternatively, the goats might be purely symbolic. They could represent innocence and purity, contrasting with the moral corruption at the heart of Lumon’s operations. The juxtaposition of these helpless creatures against the sterile, eerie halls of the company could be a way for Severance to highlight the emotional and ethical toll of Lumon’s experiments. Whether literal or metaphorical, the baby goats remain one of the show’s most mysterious and haunting elements.
3. The Connection Between Lumon and the Government
Given the scale and secrecy of Lumon’s operations, many fans believe there must be governmental involvement. Some theories suggest that Lumon is either working with the government, being investigated by it, or serving as a testing ground for larger societal experiments.
One major theory is that Lumon is actively collaborating with government agencies, such as intelligence or defense organizations. The mention of “Cold Harbor” has led some fans to speculate that severance technology may have military applications—perhaps as a way to create soldiers who have no memory of their missions or intelligence agents with compartmentalized identities. If true, this could mean that Lumon is not just a rogue corporation but part of a broader, state-backed initiative to refine and weaponize severance technology.
Others believe that, rather than working with the government, Lumon is actually being closely monitored or infiltrated by federal agencies. The ethical and legal implications of severance are enormous, and it’s likely that regulatory bodies or intelligence agencies have taken an interest in Lumon’s activities. If this theory is correct, some of the characters we assume to be loyal to Lumon—perhaps even Cobel or Milchick—could be double agents gathering evidence or attempting to bring the company down from within.
Finally, a more disturbing theory suggests that severance is part of a larger societal experiment, with Lumon serving as a testing ground before wider implementation. Some fans believe the company is refining the technology for use in prisons, the military, or even corporate settings beyond Lumon. If severance can be imposed on unwilling individuals, it could become a tool for large-scale social control, effectively creating a class of workers or soldiers who have no knowledge of their own exploitation. This theory suggests that Lumon’s ambitions extend far beyond its office walls, and that Severance may ultimately be exploring the terrifying implications of corporate and governmental overreach.
4. Kier’s Resurrection
The cult-like reverence for Kier Eagan, Lumon’s founder, has led to speculation that his return is the company’s ultimate goal. Some theories suggest Lumon has long been working toward the resurrection of Kier, using their severance technology to create a perfect host.
One of the strongest theories is that Lumon is developing a method to clone Kier Eagan and implant his consciousness into a new body. If true, this would explain the company’s obsession with loyalty to Kier and its meticulous control over employees. The severance technology may be a key component of this plan, allowing Lumon to selectively implant Kier’s memories and personality into a newly grown body, effectively reviving its founder to lead once more.
Another theory posits that severed employees themselves could be unknowingly contributing to this process. Some fans speculate that each worker’s consciousness is being tested, refined, or even harvested in some way to create an ideal vessel for Kier’s return. This could mean that the severance program is less about controlling workers and more about perfecting the process of consciousness transfer before implementing it on Kier himself.
A final, more abstract theory suggests that Lumon isn’t just reviving Kier physically but is instead working toward the ideological or symbolic rebirth of his leadership. If the company’s long-term goal is to ensure that Kier’s influence remains eternal, then severed employees might be part of a larger cult-like experiment designed to extend his teachings indefinitely. Whether through cloning, consciousness transfer, or ideological indoctrination, Kier’s “resurrection” remains one of the most haunting possibilities within the Severance universe.
5. Dylan G.’s Role in the Conspiracy
Dylan was one of the most loyal employees in Season 1—until he discovered he had an outie family. Now, fans suspect he could become a major force against Lumon. His brief but powerful moment of rebellion in the Season 1 finale suggests he may have an integral role in disrupting Lumon’s operations.
Some theories suggest that Dylan could be working as an inside man, intentionally resisting Lumon from within. After realizing the extent of Lumon’s control, he might secretly be aiding the resistance, using his deep knowledge of the company’s security protocols and overtime contingencies to sabotage them from the inside. His prior enthusiasm for incentives and rewards could have been a facade, covering for his true intent to undermine the corporation.
Another intriguing theory is that Dylan is playing both sides. While he may appear to be aiding the resistance, he could also be gathering information to ensure his own safety or to broker a better deal for his outie. If Dylan is indeed a double agent, his actions could ultimately shift the power dynamics at Lumon, forcing both the resistance and the company to rethink their strategies.
Lastly, Dylan might hold the key to breaking the severance procedure entirely. He is one of the few employees who has experienced multiple overtime contingencies, momentarily accessing memories from both his innie and outie lives. If he learns how to manipulate this process, he could become the key to restoring memories to all severed employees, effectively dismantling Lumon’s control. Whether Dylan continues to fight from the inside or takes a more direct approach, his role in Season 2 will likely be pivotal to the larger battle against Lumon.
6. The Mystery Surrounding Outie Irving
Irving has been one of the most enigmatic characters in Severance, and his “outie” appears to know more than the others. This raises numerous questions about his past and his connection to Lumon.
One of the most compelling theories is that Outie Irving has deep connections to Lumon. His meticulous records of severed employees suggest he has been investigating the company, potentially in search of hidden truths about its operations. It’s possible that he once worked in a high-level position within Lumon before choosing to undergo severance himself—either as an experiment or as part of a larger plan to expose the company from within.
Another major theory is that Outie Irving has secret knowledge of the exports hall. His hallucinations and visions of a long, ominous corridor could indicate that his outie self has either worked in or visited a part of Lumon that most employees never see. If true, this could mean Irving has stumbled upon classified information about where severed employees truly go once they leave their designated departments.
Finally, some fans believe Irving might have discovered a way to communicate with his innie. If anyone has managed to bypass the strict mental separation between their two selves, it could be Irving. Whether through subconscious messages, hidden symbols, or some kind of experimental method, his ability to retain fragmented memories may prove critical in uncovering Lumon’s darkest secrets. If this theory holds, Irving could be one of the most dangerous threats to the company’s control.
7. Reghabi’s Origins and Strategy
Reghabi, the mysterious former Lumon scientist, has quickly become a key player in the fight against the company. Fans suspect she has a deeper connection to Lumon than she lets on, potentially positioning her as one of the most important figures in the battle against severance.
One of the most popular theories suggests that Reghabi was once a high-ranking Lumon official. Her intricate knowledge of the severance procedure and its effects indicates she may have been involved in its development. If she helped create or refine the process, her current mission to dismantle it could be a way of atoning for past mistakes—or perhaps she was betrayed by Lumon and is now seeking revenge.
Another theory proposes that Reghabi is executing a larger, well-coordinated plan against Lumon. She may be strategically gathering allies, such as Irving and Mark, to expose the company’s most closely guarded secrets. Her actions suggest she isn’t working alone, and she could be connected to an underground resistance movement determined to bring Lumon down from within.
Lastly, some fans speculate that Reghabi has a personal stake in this fight, potentially through a connection to a major character. She might be related to a severed employee—perhaps even Mark himself—or have direct ties to the Eagan family. If this theory holds true, her motivations could be deeply personal, making her fight against Lumon not just a mission but a quest for redemption or justice.
8. Cobel’s Role in Taking Down Lumon
Ms. Cobel, initially a loyal Lumon executive, was revealed to have her own agenda. Many fans believe she could play a crucial role in dismantling the company, either as a calculated strategist or a vengeful adversary.
One theory suggests that Cobel might form alliances with Mark and Devon, leveraging her inside knowledge to help them expose Lumon’s secrets. Her unusual fascination with Mark’s life outside Lumon could indicate that she sees him as a key player in taking the company down. If Cobel defects from Lumon and joins forces with its enemies, her position as a former high-ranking executive could provide the resistance with invaluable information.
Another possibility is that Cobel has been manipulating Lumon all along, using her position to gain access to classified information and subtly working against the company from within. If she has been secretly gathering intelligence or sabotaging Lumon’s operations, her eventual betrayal could be a carefully planned move rather than a sudden change of heart. This theory would make Cobel one of the most dangerous threats to Lumon, as she possesses both knowledge and experience that few others have.
Lastly, some fans believe Cobel may be motivated by personal revenge. If Lumon wronged her in the past—perhaps by severing someone she cared about or forcing her into compliance—her actions could be driven by a deep-seated need for justice. Whether her fight against Lumon is strategic or emotional, Cobel’s true motives remain one of the biggest mysteries heading into Season 2.
Our Endless Speculation Continues….
Severance Season 2 is packed with cryptic clues and hidden details that fuel our endless speculation… Whether these theories prove to be true remains to be seen, but they highlight the show’s intricate world-building and ability to keep fans guessing!
Let us know your thoughts, theories, and conspiracies below! And before we sign off – check out this geek-out worthy mailer that Apple TV+ sent us!
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