As *Severance* Season 2 approaches its concluding two episodes, one question rises above the others: What truly is Cold Harbor?

### Cold Harbor has been enigmatic since the Season 2 kickoff.

From the very onset of Season 2, *Severance* has hinted at the importance of Cold Harbor. Yet, as the episodes unfolded, we’ve acquired additional understanding of what this enigmatic term signifies.

With Mark’s (Adam Scott) puzzling MDR file and the eerie rooms on Lumon’s testing floor, here’s all we know about Cold Harbor at this point.

## Cold Harbor represents the title of Mark’s MDR file—and he is the sole individual who can finalize it.

In *Severance* Season 2, Episode 1, it becomes apparent that Cold Harbor is the file Mark is in the process of perfecting for Lumon. At the season’s outset, he’s accomplished 68% of it, and by Episode 7, he’s at 96%. However, following a seizure brought on by reintegration, it’s uncertain how swiftly he can bring it to completion.

From the start, Lumon has emphasized that Mark—and solely Mark—must conclude Cold Harbor. This is the rationale behind their rehiring of him post the *Overtime Contingency* incident at the conclusion of Season 1. It’s also why they quickly complied with his request to reinstate his original team to the severed floor.

Mark’s significance to Cold Harbor is intertwined with his profound bond with Gemma (Dichen Lachman), who is at the core of Lumon’s research.

## Cold Harbor is additionally one of the chambers on Lumon’s testing floor.

Similar to other MDR files such as Allentown, Dranesville, and Siena, Cold Harbor is designated for one of the numerous rooms that Gemma endures daily within Lumon’s testing facility.

In Episode 7, we observe that every room contains a distinct Severed identity of Gemma, each facing a distressing scenario—like a bumpy flight or a painful dental treatment. For each Innie, these episodes compose their mere existence, an unending cycle of suffering.

After Gemma completes her circuits, Dr. Mauer (Robbie Benson) questions her, probing if she remembers anything from the rooms or if any feelings have remained. Although she doesn’t recall the experiences, she does experience physical discomfort—like throbbing teeth or a cramped hand—implying that some impacts endure.

This suggests Lumon is probing the severance boundary to discover if emotional trauma can be entirely eradicated. Their overarching objective seems to be to create a method to sever all painful experiences, which they could subsequently market. As Dr. Mauer informs Gemma, “Mark will gain from the world you’re birthing. Kier will strip away all his anguish just as Kier has removed yours.”

## Cold Harbor is the sole room Gemma has not yet entered.

Among all the chambers on the testing floor, Cold Harbor remains the only one that Gemma has not yet dealt with. Since Mark is the individual responsible for its completion, this room likely poses the most considerable emotional hurdle to confront.

If Lumon can verify that the severance barrier remains intact even when Gemma faces extreme emotional turmoil—particularly turmoil orchestrated or influenced by Mark—then their experiment will be regarded as successful.

## What might be contained within the Cold Harbor room?

As we haven’t yet glimpsed the interior of the Cold Harbor room, its contents stay enigmatic. Nonetheless, fan speculations propose it might compel Gemma’s Cold Harbor Innie to relive the demise of a cherished one or the trauma of a miscarriage, assessing whether she can entirely obliterate profound sorrow.

## What will happen to Gemma once Mark completes Cold Harbor?

While we still remain uncertain about the specifics of Cold Harbor, another pressing inquiry lingers: What actions will Lumon take regarding Gemma once their experiment concludes?

When Gemma inquires with Dr. Mauer about what follows her experience in Cold Harbor, he responds, “You will perceive the world again, and the world will view you.”

This implies she may be reintegrated into society—but in what capacity? Will she come back as herself, as Ms. Casey, or as some other version of her severed identities? Given Lumon’s past, it’s improbable they would allow her departure without assuring they maintain narrative control.

A discussion between Dr. Mauer and Mr. Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson) in Episode 7 introduces an additional sinister dimension. Mr. Drummond states to Dr. Mauer, “When [Mark] is done, you’re gonna have to say goodbye to her.”

But does “goodbye” imply Gemma will finally break free from the testing floor? Or does it hint at something markedly more malevolent? Considering Lumon’s history, it is reasonable to presume