### *Severance* Season 2, Episode 7: A Mind-Altering Discovery
Episode 7 of *Severance* Season 2, entitled **”Chikhai Bardo,”** provides an astonishing viewing experience.
#### Mark and Gemma’s Narratives Merge
This episode skillfully intertwines Mark’s (Adam Scott) recollections of his bond with Gemma (Dichen Lachman) and our first genuine insight into Gemma’s distressing experiences on Lumon’s testing floor. Mark’s memories offer a profound understanding of their marriage—its delights and difficulties—while Gemma’s arc reveals chilling new information regarding Lumon’s broader experiment.
One of the most surprising discoveries is that the files the MDR team has been enhancing—like Allentown and [Cold Harbor](https://mashable.com/article/severance-what-is-cold-harbor)—are linked to the various rooms that Gemma must endure each day. Each room showcases a new Severed identity with an undesirable experience, ranging from a painful dental appointment to a turbulent flight or an afternoon dedicated to writing thank-you notes for holiday gifts.
As is typical of *Severance*, every solution prompts even more inquiries. Mashable engaged with series creator and showrunner **Dan Erickson** to delve into this groundbreaking episode.
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### Bringing Gemma to Life
**Mashable:** This episode is the first instance where we fully encounter Gemma beyond Mark’s memories. What was crucial in her portrayal?
**Dan Erickson:** In earlier appearances, Gemma is shown in a diminished capacity as Ms. Casey, more of a corporate robot with flickers of humanity trying to emerge. She possesses curiosity, empathy, and concern for others—like in Season 1 when she expressed to Mark and Helly, *“I was scared”* after their visit to the goats. These characteristics, while subdued, were always evident.
With every character, we investigate how distinct their Innie and Outie personas are, but also how much their fundamental identity remains consistent. Ms. Casey’s intellectual curiosity and kindness served as the foundation for grasping who Gemma genuinely is.
On Mark’s end, we aimed to illustrate who he was prior to his loss—his joy, humor, and warmth. It was essential that their relationship felt authentic and lived-in, filled with shared jokes and profound love.
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### Parallel Journeys: Mark and Gemma’s Quest for One Another
**Mashable:** This episode contrasts Mark’s memories of his marriage with Gemma’s experiences at Lumon. How do these aspects resonate with each other?
I cherished the concept that both Mark and Gemma are striving to connect. Gemma is physically trying to escape the testing floor, only to transition back into Ms. Casey once she reaches the Severed Floor and willingly returns. That scene was heart-wrenching.
Simultaneously, Mark—though unconscious—is mentally searching for his spouse, navigating through memories and questioning what’s genuine. His reflections on their marriage, once perceived as flawless, uncover flaws. He might be recalling it the way he *wants* to, rather than how it actually was. Memory is flawed, yet it fundamentally shapes our identity and influences how we see ourselves.
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### The Testing Floor’s Disturbing Trials
**Mashable:** We finally observe the testing floor and discover that the files MDR refines pertain to the chambers Gemma enters. How did you determine the unsettling scenarios she faces?
That was a significant topic of discussion, and I can’t divulge too much just yet because there’s still a mystery surrounding why this is occurring to her.
What’s pivotal is that she undergoes these painful or disagreeable experiences and then exits. Dr. Mauer (Robby Benson) continually asks if anything *transfers*—if Gemma retains any emotional traces from these experiences. Thus far, it appears that she does not. That’s the core question: Is anything remaining? But the larger inquiry persists—what precisely is Lumon attempting to prove or disprove?
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### The Most Terrifying Rooms That Didn’t Make the Final Cut
**Mashable:** Many of these rooms evoke common fears. Were there any scenarios that didn’t end up in the show?
Oh, definitely! At one time, I had a list of around 50, which we eventually trimmed down.
For instance, I *despise* flossing, so I proposed a room where she’s just flossing indefinitely. But then someone else contended that flossing can be satisfying, so we debated whether it was more nightmarish or enjoyable.
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### The Everyday Horror of Lumon’s Project
**Mashable:** The rough flight room really struck a chord with me—I even thought, *“If I could sever myself for a flight, I might do it.”* That