Severance Season 2 Review: An Unsettling Journey of Twists, Revelations, and Unanswered Questions

Warning: Full spoilers ahead!

I can’t be the only one who finished Season 2 of Severance and just sat there, staring at the screen, trying to process everything. This season took everything that made the first one great—its eerie atmosphere, mind-bending mystery, and gut-punch emotional moments—and cranked it up. But was it perfect? Not quite. Let’s break it down.

The Expanding World of Lumon

Season 1 left us with so many questions, and while Season 2 doesn’t answer all of them (of course), it does flesh out the world in some really unexpected ways. We get a closer look at Lumon’s hierarchy, and let me tell you—Cobel (Patricia Arquette) somehow managed to be even more unsettling this season.

One of my favorite aspects was how we explored the outie lives of more characters. Irving (John Turturro) had a particularly heartbreaking arc, and learning more about Helena’s true nature outside of work added a whole new layer of complexity to her character.

And of course, we got more of Mark’s heartbreaking search for Gemma. The way this season weaved that storyline through both his Innie and Outie perspectives was brutal in the best way possible.

Cobel’s Secret Role: Uncovering Her Connection to Severance

Then comes the revelation that completely shifts our understanding of Cobel. While exploring her childhood home, she uncovers an old notebook brimming with designs, notes, and research—on the severance chip. This is the moment everything changes: Cobel wasn’t just a senior Lumon executive; she played a crucial role in creating the severance procedure. I had to stop and take it all in. Up until now, she’s been portrayed as a strict enforcer of the system, but this discovery opens up a whole new layer of mystery.

With Cobel’s involvement in the creation of severance, her obsession with Mark and the others becomes far more personal. She's not merely a puppet of the system; she’s someone trying to reclaim ownership of something that she may believe was taken from her. This revelation makes everything she’s done up until this point feel more calculated, giving us a fresh lens to view her character. It also begs the question: Was her research willingly given to Lumon, or was it taken from her? This twist redefines her motivations and deepens the intrigue surrounding her role in the series.

Milchick Stole the Show

Let’s talk about the real MVP: Milchick. Tramell Tillman deserves an award for his performance this season. That man somehow managed to be both terrifying and oddly charismatic. The “Music Dance Experience” was already one of the creepiest moments from Season 1, but Season 2 took his role as Lumon’s enforcer to a whole new level.

In episode 9, Milchick’s confrontation with Mr. Drummond was one of the most intense moments of the season. What stood out wasn’t just the genuine anger Milchick showed, but the choice of words that came out of his mouth: "devour feculence." At first, it sounds like nonsense, but it’s actually a deliberate act of rebellion. After being told to use simpler terms, Milchick throws the corporate jargon right back at them—mocking the very system that’s controlled his every move. It was a subtle but powerful moment of defiance, showing that Milchick is starting to see through the facade of Lumon. For a second, it felt like he might rebel against the system—but as always with Severance, the line between rebellion and loyalty is razor-thin, and the moment quickly passed. His subtle act of defiance was both unsettling and brilliant, making us wonder whether he might finally break free—or if he’s too deep into Lumon’s grip to escape.

Pacing Issues? Kind of

Okay, so I do have to call out one thing: the pacing in the middle of the season felt… off. The first few episodes had a great buildup, but then it felt like we were treading water for a bit before everything came crashing down in the final two episodes. Some subplots, like the seemingly meaningless goats scene and the ORTBO (Outdoor Retreat Team Building Occurrence), where they sent the outies outside in the cold, felt a little lost in the shuffle. I get it—this show is all about slow-burning tension, but there were moments where I just wanted things to move faster.

The Finale: My Brain Is Still Processing

I need to talk about that final episode. The tension was absolutely unreal. Mark’s innie finally pieced together the puzzle about Gemma, his outie’s wife—only to realize the truth was even more complicated than he'd imagined. Helly? She went full rebellion mode, breaking free from her chains. And then, just when everything felt like it was on the verge of breaking, Lumon ripped the rug out from under them. That final shot—just cut to black—chilling. I think I might’ve yelled at my TV.

The complexity of Mark’s innie vs. outie was on full display here. Mark’s innie had a brief moment of clarity about everything—the truth about Gemma, his life, and the system he’s trapped in. However, as the final moments unfolded, it wasn’t a resolution; it was a cliffhanger. Mark and Helly running hand in hand down those cold, sterile hallways with alarms blaring, the camera shaking with chaos. And then… nothing. Just silence.

This moment wasn’t just about physical escape—it was about Mark's emotional and psychological journey. The innie Mark almost had a chance to break free in his moment of awareness, but the brutal truth is that even his most important breakthroughs come with a price. Severance never gives us that closure—leaving us desperate for answers, and aching for Season 3.

Final Thoughts: Worth the Wait?

So, was Season 2 worth the long wait? Absolutely. Did it give me everything I wanted? Not quite—but in a way that makes me respect it even more. Severance continues to be one of the smartest, most unsettling shows on TV, and Season 2 proved that there’s still so much more to explore in this world.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be rewatching the season and looking for every hidden clue I might’ve missed.

Rating: 9/10 – An incredible follow-up with just a few pacing hiccups. Bring on Season 3!