Severance Season 2 Episode 7 "Chikhai Bardo" Review - Exploring Memory, Trauma, and Corporate Absurdity

As Severance keeps its emotional grip tight, Episode 7, "Chikhai Bardo," goes beyond the usual unsettling corporate secrets. It opens up something much deeper. While it still critiques modern capitalism, this episode dives into the psyche, exploring memory, trauma, and how we suppress and face our darkest moments. What starts as a sharp commentary on corporate absurdity turns into a journey into the heart of human experience: how we remember, how we repress, and how we ultimately find the strength to heal.

The Evolution of Severance: From Satire to Soul-Searching Journey

When I first watched Severance Season 1, I was struck by its sharp critique of corporate life—a world where employees are reduced to mere cogs in the machine, stripped of their personal identities, forced to swallow hollow corporate slogans, and lose themselves in the process. It was clever, funny, and at times heartbreaking. But with the arrival of Chikhai Bardo, I can no longer see Severance as just that. This show has evolved into something much more: an intricate examination of the human mind, memory, and the trauma we carry with us.

The episode opens with an almost unsettlingly serene shot of Gemma’s life, a stark contrast to the sterile, fluorescent-lit spaces we've come to associate with Lumon. We’re pulled into the warmth of fall, a vivid campus filled with life. It’s a jarring shift that signals that we’re no longer just talking about the corporate world, but the very nature of existence itself.

A Tale of Two Realities: Mark, Gemma, and Memory

Chikhai Bardo deftly weaves three distinct storylines, all centered around Mark and his relationship with Gemma. The first explores Mark’s recovery from a stroke, while his family members, Devon and Reghabi, struggle to navigate the medical and emotional fallout. The second storyline delves into the romantic history between Mark and Gemma, showing their meeting, falling in love, and ultimately, the devastating moment when Mark learns of Gemma’s death in a car crash. But what’s especially interesting is the implication that we’re experiencing these memories from Mark’s perspective, as he lies unconscious, his mind "journeying" through these painful moments.

The third narrative brings us into the world of Gemma, who has seemingly been trapped in Lumon’s sinister "Testing Floor" since her death—a death that we now suspect was staged by Lumon for reasons yet unknown. This revelation complicates the show’s premise even further, pushing the boundaries of what we understand about the relationship between mind and body.

The Subtext: Trauma, Memory, and the Cycle of Suffering

What makes this episode a standout is its ability to intertwine profound themes with its trademark dark humor. For example, Mark and Gemma’s initial meeting is framed by two key metaphors: Mark is grading a paper on PTSD, while Gemma is reading about death and religious conversion in Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich. Both of these themes—the aftermath of trauma and the inevitability of death—serve as a subtle prelude to the events that follow. The show’s nuanced approach to these themes goes beyond simply referencing them; it asks us to consider how trauma shapes not only our past but also our present.

Even more striking is the scene where Mark and Gemma meet while donating blood. Their connection feels fateful, as though their shared vulnerability in this moment will tie them together forever, even as the eventual tragedy looms large. The Lumon logo, subtly featured on the blood donation machine, is a perfect example of how Severance continues to blur the lines between the personal and the corporate, revealing that the machinery of modern life impacts even the most intimate moments.

Gemma’s Prison: The Dreadful Experiment Beneath Lumon’s Surface

But it’s in the exploration of Gemma’s life within Lumon that the episode truly shines. As Gemma enters various rooms, each corresponding to a specific task, we are introduced to the twisted world that Lumon has constructed. Each room is a kind of mental purgatory, designed to test and possibly improve the company’s severance technology. Within these rooms, Gemma’s consciousness is severed into new "innies" who only know the world of that particular space. Whether it’s a dentist’s office or a bizarre Christmas card writing task, each room represents a different slice of her fractured psyche.

What’s fascinating here is the show’s treatment of memory. These rooms don’t just represent the physical spaces that Gemma inhabits—they’re also manifestations of her psychological trauma. Each experience she faces is another step in her journey of self-destruction and, perhaps, self-discovery. The final twist, revealing that Gemma is alive and not just a clone or another personality, forces us to reconsider everything we thought we knew about the show.

The Control Room: A Bigger Picture

The existence of a "control room," where agents monitor and refine Gemma’s experience, adds another layer of mystery. These agents seem to be controlling her experiences in real time, using a live feed to track her progress. What’s unclear is whether they’re testing the effectiveness of the severance technology or manipulating her memories for some other purpose. Theories abound, but one thing is certain: Lumon is playing a much deeper game than we initially thought.

Closing Thoughts: Severance and the Human Condition

What Chikhai Bardo ultimately delivers is a meditation on memory, trauma, and the nature of identity. Through Gemma’s suffering and Mark’s emotional journey, Severance pushes the boundaries of what we consider possible within the realm of science fiction. It asks difficult questions about the cost of corporate control over our lives and the psychological toll that it exacts.

As I reflect on this episode, I realize that Severance has become far more than a satire of modern capitalism. It has evolved into a profound exploration of the human condition—how we deal with loss, how we cope with trauma, and how we try to find meaning in a world that seems intent on making us forget who we are. In the end, Chikhai Bardo isn’t just a brilliant piece of television; it’s a call to remember, to confront our deepest fears, and to reclaim our sense of self from the forces that seek to control us.