Warning! This article contains spoilers for Severance season 2’s episode 7.
The subtle nod to a 139-year-old story inSeveranceseason 2’s episode 7 seems to hint at how Mark’s story will eventually end. Considering all the bizarre story beatsSeverancehas introduced since season 1, it was hard not to be skeptical about whether the show intended to resolve all its underlying story beats. Since many similarmystery-box shows, likeLost, have previously gotten away with introducing one mystery after another without giving viewers a clear conclusion,Severance, too, could have done the same.
However, with the gradual developments inSeveranceseason 2, theApple TV+ sci-fi showis turning out to be the perfect form of pay-off media. While revealing new details about Lumon’s purpose, Gemma’s fate, and Mark’s future, the series has surprisingly been able to resolve many mysteries from season 1. Owing to this, it seems like every subtle detail and story progression inSeverancewill eventually mean something. Even the show’s nod to a 139-year-old story in season 2’s episode 7 has to have a deeper significance and hidden meaning that will potentially tie into Mark’s story.
Severance Reference To Leo Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich May Be Deeper Than It Seems
Dr. Mauer Reads The Name Of The Book In Season 2’s Episode 7
Before Gemma hits Dr. Mauer with a chair and attempts to flee the testing floor inSeveranceseason 2’s episode 7, Mauer notices a Leo Tolstoy book on her shelf and reads its title, “The Death of Ivan Ilyich.” He jokingly guesses that Ivan Ilyich probably dies in the book, but the subtle mention of the Leo Tolstoy story seems to have a deeper meaning in the show’s narrative. The Tolstoy novella revolves around a man, Ivan Ilyich, who buries his unfulfillment and dissatisfaction with life by focusing on superficial things like status, career, and societal expectations.
Severance’s Horrifying Doctor Mauer Explained: Did You See How He Targeted Gemma?
Severance season 2, episode 7 introduces a disturbing new Lumon character, Doctor Mauer, who has dark ties to the central mystery of the show.
However, the emergence of a sudden unexplained illness and the possibility of imminent death makes him more introspective. While the thought of death initially frustrates him, making him wonder why he deserves a fate so cruel, he eventually finds meaning in his suffering when it helps him understand the true purpose of his existence. InSeverance, Mark’s innie and outie have had similar journeys wherethey have faced the possibility of a certain death before realizing the true purpose of their existence.
Although the idea of death initially haunted both variants of the same character, both of them, like Ivan Ilyich, started a new phase of introspection, allowing them to understand what they truly want from their lives.
While Mark’s outie saw a part of himself die when he learned about his wife’s demise and got himself severed, his innie gained a new sense of mortality when he learned that Lumon only “created” him and the other innies to work endlessly and benefit the company. Both characters tried to distract themselves from their miseries either through work or alcoholism. Although the idea of death initially haunted both variants of the same character, both of them, like Ivan Ilyich, started a new phase of introspection, allowing them to understand what they truly want from their lives.
What Severance’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich Parallels Potentially Reveal About Mark’s Future
Like Ivan Ilyich, Mark’s Innie & Outie’s Journeys Will Be Driven By A Strong Sense Of Purpose
In an emotional scene fromSeveranceseason 2, Mark tells Reghabi how the mere thought of reuniting with a deceased loved one is enough to trigger a massive change in an individual. He adds that while some people only change because the thought alone is enough to spark transformation, he has a solid reason to believe he will meet Gemma again. This scene perfectly highlights how confronting Gemma’s death and recovering from his grief has helped Mark overcome his alcoholism and become a better person overall.
97%
83%
Streaming On
Apple TV+
Like Ivan Ilyich from the Leo Tolstoy story,Mark’s outie learns that the true purpose of his existence is to live with intention, rather than numbing his pain with alcohol or completely ignoring it through the severance procedure. Mark’s innie gains similar insights when he finally sees beyond his work as an MDR employee and learns to embrace the human experience by falling in love and standing up for himself. Both the innie and the outie’s parallels with Ivan Ilyich’s story suggest that after living in the dark for quite some time, they are ready to face the light and live more fulfilling lives.
Mark’s Innie & Outie Have A Different Purpose
Image via Apple TV+
Ivan Ilyich is freed from the terror of death in the Leo Tolstoy story, which kills the idea of death itself. Mark, too, could find a similar sense of freedom towards the end of hisSeverancejourney, but his pursuit of fulfillment would not be simple. The beginning of Mark’s outie’s fulfillment marks the end of his innie’s freedom. Similarly, his innie’s freedom would come at the cost of destroying his outie’s life. Both Mark(s) have seemingly created separate lives and identities for themselves. They are in love with two different women.
Severance season 2 is scheduled to have a total of 10 episodes, with its final episode set to be released on May 29, 2025.
Owing to this, if the innie wishes to live a more purpose-driven life as a human,he will have to shed his outie’s desires because they do not serve him. Similarly, Mark’s outie will have to be more selfish about his quest to find Gemma while dismissing his innie’s desire to have autonomy. The reintegration process might help both achieve an alignment in their goals inSeverance, but it seems unlikely that such a seamless reconciliation will happen without a massive cost for either of them.
Severance
Severance is a psychological thriller series featuring Adam Scott as Mark Scout, an employee at Lumon Industries who undergoes a “severance” procedure to separate his work and personal memories. However, as work and life personas mysteriously begin to collide, it quickly becomes clear that not all is as it seems. Created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle.
