Ava Harper

Jan 24, 2025

Article

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Ava Harper

Jan 24, 2025

Article

...

What is Cold Harbor? Theories from Severance Season 2

Apple TV+’s Severance has returned with more unsettling mysteries, and one name keeps surfacing—Cold Harbor. Introduced in the early episodes of Season 2, this enigmatic project appears to be at the center of Lumon’s latest schemes. But what exactly is Cold Harbor, and why is Mark S. (Adam Scott) so vital to its completion? Let’s dive into the theories and clues scattered throughout the season so far.

The Return of Ms. Casey and the Cold Harbor Connection

A major shock in Severance Season 1 was the revelation that Ms. Casey, Lumon’s wellness counselor, is actually Mark’s supposedly deceased wife, Gemma. In Season 2, Cold Harbor is first referenced in a brief screen flash showing Ms. Casey’s face, hinting that she remains deeply entangled in Lumon’s experiments.

Helly R. (Britt Lower) later explicitly mentions the project, stating that Mark must return to work long enough to "complete Cold Harbor." This raises the question: is Cold Harbor linked to the mysterious process that brought Gemma back, or is it something even more sinister?

What Is Cold Harbor? Theories Behind Lumon’s Project

While the series hasn’t provided a concrete definition of Cold Harbor, several compelling theories have emerged:

(Theory 1) A New MDR File—or Something More?

The Macrodata Refinement (MDR) team has worked on projects with seemingly random names before, such as "Siena" and "Tumwater." Some believe that Cold Harbor is simply the latest file in a long line of mysterious data sorting tasks—but if that’s the case, why is Mark’s involvement so crucial?

(Theory 2) A Cloning or AI Experiment?

One chilling theory suggests that Cold Harbor is tied to cloning or artificial intelligence. The screen showing Ms. Casey in Episode 1 included what looked like build numbers and data packets, terms commonly associated with programming and iterative testing. Could Lumon be attempting to resurrect key figures—like its founder, Kier Eagan—through AI or cloned bodies?

This would explain the unsettling presence of goats in Season 1, as cloning experiments often start with animals before progressing to humans. Perhaps Mark’s wife, Gemma, is a test subject in this process, with Cold Harbor acting as the final stage of perfecting Lumon’s methods.

(Theory 3) Reprogramming Severed Employees?

Another possibility is that Cold Harbor is designed to refine the personalities of severed employees, aligning them with Lumon’s ideals. The company already manipulates its workers' emotions through severance, so could this project take it further—modifying traits like fear, loyalty, or obedience?

There’s evidence to support this: Severance Season 2 subtly references Kier’s Four Tempers—woe, frolic, dread, and malice—which could be the basis for an experimental personality refinement system. If Mark is unknowingly categorizing numbers that correspond to these traits, he may be helping to reshape Ms. Casey’s identity without realizing it.

Why Is Mark S. Essential to Cold Harbor?

One of the most pressing questions is why Lumon is so determined to keep Mark at work. Some theories suggest his role in Cold Harbor goes beyond simple MDR tasks:

What’s Next for Cold Harbor in Severance?

As Season 2 unfolds, we’re likely to learn more about Cold Harbor and its implications for Mark, Gemma, and Lumon as a whole. Whether it’s a cloning project, an AI-driven experiment, or something far darker, one thing is clear—Cold Harbor is the key to understanding Lumon’s ultimate goal.

With so many mysteries still unsolved, Severance continues to captivate viewers with its eerie corporate dystopia. But will Mark uncover the truth before it’s too late?