If there’s one factor Lumon loves greater than torturing its staff, it is a creepy portray.
Who might neglect “Kier Pardons His Betrayers,” the blood-red tableau that greeted the returning MDR Innies within the Season 2 premiere? Or what in regards to the extraordinarily violent “The Grim Barbarity of Optics and Design” from again in Season 1?
Every is unsettling in its personal proper, in addition to a key a part of Lumon’s propaganda machine. However in its Season 2 finale, Severance introduces a brand new scary portray that blows these out of the water: “The Exalted Victory of Chilly Harbor.”
The work commemorates Mark’s imminent completion of Cold Harbor, putting him and his pc on the heart of the pool at Woe’s Hollow. On condition that location’s key position within the Kier Eagan canon, the depiction of Mark in Woe’s Hole emphasizes how essential his work on Chilly Harbor is to Lumon. Plus, the frigid waters evoke the title “Chilly Harbor,” including further layers to the portray’s significance.
However Mark — rendered right here in a state of revelation, hand raised as if to ship the ultimate keystroke on his file — is not alone. He is surrounded by a crowd of people that guided him to this second (some greater than others), making “The Exalted Victory of Chilly Harbor” a round-up of Severance‘s ensemble.
Here is everybody who’s in Severance‘s “The Exalted Victory of Chilly Harbor.”
On the left facet of the portray: Lumon troublemakers and blips within the grander plan.
Credit score: Screenshot: AppleTV+
The group of individuals on the left facet of the portray are largely those that have triggered Lumon bother or been concerned in firm crises. The inclusion of some, like Mark’s MDR staff, is smart, whereas the presence of others, like Devon (Jen Tullock) and Ricken (Michael Chernus), could seem a bit extra baffling. Why would Lumon put non-Lumon staff on this historic portray? Or firm enemies like Concord Cobel (Patricia Arquette), for that matter? Let’s break it down.
The MDR Innies: Irving (John Turturro), Helly (Britt Decrease), Dylan (Zach Cherry), and Petey (Yul Vazquez)
Just like the racist “inclusively re-canonicalized” Kier work Lumon gifted Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman), “The Exalted Victory of Chilly Harbor” appears as very similar to a (creepily misguided) try to have fun Mark because it does a bit of Lumon propaganda. And you’ll’t have fun Mark with out together with the MDR staff.
Certain, they’ve all had their moments of revolt at Lumon, from triggering the Time beyond regulation Contingency to Irving attempting to drown Helena and Petey reintegrating. But when Lumon needs Mark to see the portray as an encouragement to complete Chilly Harbor and declare his place in Lumon historical past — once more, not his vibe! — then it is a no-brainer to maintain his staff beside him. Plus, whereas they’re on the left facet of the portray, from Mark’s perspective, the MDR staff are at his proper hand. They’re his right-hand staff! How candy, even when the portray itself is spooky as could be.
Optics and Design: Burt (Christopher Walken), Felicia (Claudia Robinson), and Elizabeth (Rachel Addington)
MDR is not the one division to get some love in “The Exalted Victory of Chilly Harbor.” O&D additionally will get celebrated, regardless that they, too, acquired in bother with Lumon for inter-departmental mingling. However since O&D curates the Severed Flooring’s work, who’s going to cease them from together with themselves?
Concord Cobel (Patricia Arquette)
Cobel’s inclusion within the portray is perplexing. On the one hand, she was the pinnacle of the Severed Flooring for nearly all of Mark’s time there, and she invented severance, so she completely needs to be commemorated. Then again, she’s now an enemy of Lumon, and Mr. Milchick made some extent that the corporate was distancing itself from her within the Season 2 premiere. (Bear in mind the “throuple” second? Less complicated occasions.) So I suppose props to Lumon are to ensure that giving Cobel some credit score and never enhancing her out of historical past.
Mark’s household: Devon (Jen Tullock) and Ricken (Michael Chernus)
“The Exalted Victory of Chilly Harbor” options a number of individuals who have by no means set foot on the Severed Flooring, beginning with Mark’s sister, Devon, holding child Eleanor, and Mark’s brother-in-law, Ricken. Innie Mark did meet them each throughout the Time beyond regulation Contingency, so these aren’t unfamiliar faces. Plus, Ricken’s guide The You You Are proved instrumental to Mark’s journey of self-discovery in Season 1, to the purpose that Lumon has recruited Ricken to jot down a (closely edited) model for different Innies.
Essentially the most fascinating aspect of Ricken and Devon’s position within the portray is Devon’s physique language. She’s the one individual within the crowd to be turned away from Mark, and he or she’s taking a look at him with skepticism. Her perspective within the portray is smart given her real-life worries about Mark’s position at Lumon, however it additionally means Lumon’s acquired her in its sights. How a lot hazard is she actually in?
Mashable High Tales
Ricken’s buddies: Balf (Rajat Suresh), Danise (Annie McNamara), Patton (Donald Webber Jr.), and Rebeck (Grace Rex)
Far at the back of the lefthand crowd, you may make out extra characters who’re unaffiliated with Lumon: Ricken’s assistant, Balf, in addition to his dinner-less ceremonial dinner squad of Danise, Patton, and Rebeck. Innie Mark met all of them at Ricken’s studying throughout the Time beyond regulation Contingency, so their inclusion right here might be meant as extra encouragement to Mark — even his most rebellious moments and unauthorized encounters led him to Chilly Harbor.
In fact, Lumon being Lumon, there is a small probability that these 4 do have a better connection to the corporate. However since we have not seen them past Ricken’s occasion, I am doubting it. That does not imply they do not need to be remembered within the artwork equal of “Severance‘s Biggest Hits,” although!
The collateral injury: Mark W. (Bob Balaban), Gwendolyn Y. (Alia Shawkat), and Dario R. (Stefano Carannante)
Gone however not forgotten, the three new Innies Mark meets (after which sends away) within the Season 2 premiere get their second within the highlight… at the back of “The Exalted Victory of Chilly Harbor.” Does that make up for shedding their lives? Or for Mark W.’s Outie breaking his lease in Grand Rapids?
On the appropriate facet of the portray: The Lumon loyalists
Credit score: Screenshot: AppleTV+
Whereas the left facet of the portray is a hodgepodge of outsiders and rebellious Lumon staff, the appropriate facet of “The Exalted Victory of Chilly Harbor” consists of characters who are likely to have the best allegiance to Lumon — or who simply have not rocked the boat as a lot.
Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman)
We have not seen a lot of Wellness Director Ms. Casey in Severance Season 2, however she does take a spot proper beside Mark in “The Exalted Victory of Chilly Harbor.” Coming from Lumon, that proximity — a reference to her truly being Mark’s wife Gemma — feels exceptionally merciless.
Staff MDR: Mr. Milchick and Miss Huang (Sarah Bock)
Severed Flooring supervisor Mr. Milchick and Wintertide Fellow Miss Huang could have had their squabbles within the again half of Season 2, however they seem facet by facet right here. Miss Huang is even carrying her trusted theremin. She simply needs to play!
Natalie Kalen (Sydney Cole Alexander)
Board Liaison Natalie pops up along side the gang. No board speaker in sight although. I suppose the board will not be becoming a member of us for this portray.
Doug Graner (Michael Cumpsty)
Reghabi (Karen Aldridge) could have killed Head of Safety Doug Graner in Season 1, however at the least he will get memorialized in “The Exalted Victory of Chilly Harbor.”
Mammalians Nurturable: Lorne (Gwendoline Christie), Wyatt (Brian Rock), and the Goat Man (Jared Johnston)
Mammalians Nurturable, aka the Goat Division, joins MDR and O&D on this terrifying tableau. Pictured listed here are Division Head Lorne; Wyatt, the primary goat wrangler Helly and Mark met in Season 1; and Goat Man, who has the honour of carrying a large goat costume. Whereas MN hadn’t triggered chaos at Lumon previous to the Season 2 finale, I wager Lorne throwing down with Mr. Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson) would possibly jeopardize their division (and their probabilities of making it into work) within the close to future.
The 4 Tempers: Woe, Dread, Malice, and Frolic
The representations of Kier Eagan’s 4 Tempers watch on as Mark finishes refining Chilly Harbor. Cobel confirmed that the refining course of meant constructing a brand new Innie for Gemma out of the Tempers, making their inclusion right here make much more sense. (There’s additionally a non-zero probability that these might be the dancers from the Waffle Parties.)
The MDR Shadow Innies
Rounding out the appropriate facet of the portray are the unusual Shadow selves launched in “Woe’s Hole.” Do we all know their deal? Completely not, however it’s sufficient to get them within the portray!
On high of the portray: Lumon’s CEOs, previous, current, and future
Credit score: Screenshot: AppleTV+
Lording over the scene from the highest of the Woe’s Hole waterfall — famously the tallest on the earth! — are 9 Eagans, a few of whom we have met within the present, and lots of of whom we have solely seen as statues within the Perpetuity Wing.
Because the CEO-in-waiting, Helena Eagan stands on the heart of the tableau, flanked on both facet by her father Jame (Michael Siberry) and Lumon founder Kier (Marc Geller). Rounding out the remainder of the Eagan lineup, from left to proper, we have now: Ambrose, Myrtle, Phillip, Leonora, Baird, and Gerhardt. They’re all taking a look at Helena, the way forward for Lumon, whereas she appears forward, to a post-Chilly Harbor world.
Too dangerous for Lumon, then, that Mark derails your entire mission by serving to Gemma escape! That is what you get for calling your shot too early and portray your propaganda forward of time.
Severance Season 2 is streaming on Apple TV+.
