What’s Going on With Gemma in Severance?

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Episode 7 of Severance Season 2.

The long-awaited Gemma-centric episode of Severance has finally arrived, and it’s left fans with more questions than answers. Titled “Chikhai Bardo,” Episode 7 delves into the past and present of Gemma (Dichen Lachman), shedding light on her connection to Lumon and the sinister experiments she’s enduring. Here’s a breakdown of what we’ve learned—and what it all might mean for the future of the show.

Gemma’s Past: A Love Story Intertwined with Lumon

The episode opens with a flashback to Mark (Adam Scott) and Gemma’s first meeting at a blood drive at Ganz College, where they were both professors. Mark taught history, specializing in World War I, while Gemma taught Russian literature. The blood drive equipment bears the Lumon logo, hinting that their connection to the company goes back further than either of them realizes.

Series creator Dan Erickson previously hinted that Lumon may have targeted Mark because of his relationship with Gemma—or vice versa. Episode 7 doesn’t provide a definitive answer, but it does reveal that Lumon has been manipulating their lives for years.

Gemma’s Present: A Prisoner of Lumon’s Testing Floor

Gemma, now known as Ms. Casey, is trapped on Lumon’s testing floor, where she’s subjected to a series of grueling experiments. Each room on the floor corresponds to a different innie version of Gemma, who is forced to endure specific tasks or experiences. These include:

• Dentist Room: A two-hour session of excruciating dental work.
• Airplane Room: A turbulent flight simulation.
• Allentown Room: Writing endless thank-you notes until her hand cramps.

Outie Gemma doesn’t remember what happens in these rooms, but the physical pain lingers. Her handler, Dr. Mauer (Robby Benson), oversees the experiments and seems to have a disturbing obsession with her. When Gemma asks about the one room she hasn’t entered—Cold Harbor—he cryptically replies, “You will see the world again, and the world will see you.”

Lumon’s Manipulation of Mark and Gemma

The flashbacks reveal that Lumon has been meddling in Mark and Gemma’s relationship from the start. Dr. Mauer appears at the fertility clinic where the couple seeks treatment after a devastating miscarriage. Additionally, Gemma receives mysterious ideographic cards, one of which depicts “Chikhai bardo,” a Buddhist concept representing the transitional state between life and death.

Gemma describes the image as “the same guy fighting himself, defeating his own psyche. Ego death.” This theme of internal conflict and transformation seems central to Lumon’s experiments.

The Cold Harbor Connection

The Battle of Cold Harbor, a bloody and lopsided Civil War battle, may hold the key to understanding Lumon’s master plan. Fans have theorized that Lumon aims to create a workforce of emotionless innie slaves, using the MDR team to refine the severance process itself.

The four categories of numbers MDR refines—WO (woe), FC (frolic), DR (dread), and MA (malice)—correspond to Kier’s four tempers. By sorting these emotions, Lumon may be attempting to erase the feelings that make people human, creating obedient, unfeeling workers.

Mark’s progress on Cold Harbor has stalled since his reintegration began, suggesting that his outie’s emotions are interfering with the experiment. This raises the chilling possibility that Mark’s efforts to save Gemma could doom her to endless suffering.

Lumon’s Broader Agenda

The Lexington Letter, a companion e-book to Severance, hints that Lumon is developing its severed employees as weapons. The letter describes an MDR file that allegedly caused an explosion targeting Lumon’s rival, Dorner Therapeutics. If Lumon is creating emotionless soldiers, it would explain their interest in suppressing feelings like love and empathy.

Final Thoughts

Gemma’s story is a heartbreaking exploration of love, loss, and manipulation. As Mark and Gemma’s fates become increasingly intertwined, the stakes for their survival—and humanity itself—grow ever higher.

What do you think Lumon’s ultimate goal is? Will Mark and Gemma find a way to escape, or are they doomed to be pawns in Lumon’s sinister game? Let us know your theories in the comments!

Stay tuned for more updates as *Severance* continues to unravel its mysteries.