The launch of Season 2 of *Severance*, entitled “Hello Ms. Cobel,” has already stirred a flurry of inquiries among fans. Are the assertions about **severance reform** from Lumon Industries credible? Why is Helly (Britt Lower) hiding her discoveries from the Season 1 finale? And what is truly happening with Miss Huang (Sarah Bock)?
### The Intrigue Intensifies with “Cold Harbor”
One of the most fascinating questions emerges in the closing moments of the episode. Mark (Adam Scott) heads back to the Lumon’s Macrodata Refinement (MDR) sector, where his duty of sorting numbers takes an unexpected twist. While he works, the display shifts between his activities and another screen showing the vitals of Gemma (Dichen Lachman), Mark’s Outie spouse, whom he thought was deceased. In truth, Gemma is alive, functioning in Lumon’s Severed Floor as Wellness Counselor Ms. Casey. Her vital signs—heart rate, temperature, and a severance chip icon—indicate that Ms. Casey is Gemma’s severed Innie. To add to the enigma, the top left corner of the screen reveals two puzzling words: “Cold Harbor.” What could this imply?
### What Does “Cold Harbor” Mean?
“Cold Harbor” refers to the file Mark is engaged with throughout the episode. Interestingly, this was also the codename for Season 2 during its production. Similar to earlier MDR files such as Allentown and Tumwater, Cold Harbor is named after a geographical location—specifically, the historic region in Virginia famous for the 1864 Battle of Cold Harbor. Although the show has yet to clarify the significance of these file labels, it opens up the possibility that MDR’s files may relate to actual historical events or ramifications in those areas.
The link between Cold Harbor and Gemma is unmistakable, as the episode discloses that Mark is 68% through the file. Could his advancement be directly associated with Gemma’s health status? Does his role in MDR somehow contribute to her survival or even her revival? If Gemma is uniquely tied to Cold Harbor, might other files like Allentown and Tumwater also connect to persons previously presumed dead?
### Unraveling MDR’s Tasks
While the episode presents numerous unresolved queries, it also offers critical revelations regarding MDR’s enigmatic responsibilities. One significant discovery revolves around the numerical data Mark and his colleagues are assigned to organize.
At the bottom of the display that monitors both Gemma’s vitals and Mark’s progress on Cold Harbor, five boxes are available for sorting number clusters. Unlike Mark’s interface, however, these boxes are divided into four smaller categories named WO, DR, FC, and MA. These abbreviations likely relate to the Four Tempers set forth by Kier Eagan: woe, dread, frolic, and malice. This aligns with Mark’s Season 1 explanation to Helly that the numbers are intended to evoke specific emotions.
This hypothesis is further backed by *Severance: The Lexington Letter*, a companion book released in 2022. The book includes an orientation manual for Macrodata Refiners, affirming that the numbers are categorized into subgroups WO, DR, FC, and MA. It also delineates the emotional reactions these numbers are designed to stimulate. For example, WO numbers are said to incite feelings of sadness or hopelessness, while FC numbers incite joy or ecstasy—clearly aligning with woe and frolic.
### The Larger Context
Now that we understand what the numbers signify, even more inquiries surface. What is Lumon’s ultimate intention in sorting Kier’s Four Tempers into various combinations? Are they seeking to create an individual with a flawlessly balanced temperament? Is Gemma merely one of many subjects in this experiment? Or is Mark unwittingly reconstructing Gemma’s character, setting the stage for her complete revival? Could these numbers potentially hold the secret to immortality?
And perhaps the most urgent question of all: What will occur when Mark finishes the Cold Harbor file? The potential outcomes are mind-blowing, and we have only just begun Season 2!
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*Severance* Season 2 is currently available for streaming on Apple TV+, with new episodes premiering every Friday.