WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Severance season 2, episode 8! In the latest episode, we take a fascinating journey into Harmony Cobel’s (Patricia Arquette) past in Salt’s Neck, uncovering a pivotal truth about her connection with Lumon that sheds light on some of her odd behaviors from season 1. Despite being one of Kier Eagan’s most fervent and indoctrinated followers in the first season, Cobel was hiding significant secrets from the company. She not only assumed the identity of Mark’s Outie’s neighbor, Mrs. Selvig, but also engaged in her own unapproved experiments on Mark’s Innie and Ms. Casey on the severed floor.
After the events of MDR’s Innies triggering the Overtime Contingency Protocol and exposing Lumon’s dubious practices in the season 1 finale, Cobel faced removal from her role as the severed floor manager, with Milchick taking her place. Although Helena Eagan offered her a new position away from the severed floor, Cobel decided to leave Lumon entirely, taking her belongings and returning to Salt’s Neck, where her deeper ties to the company were unveiled. Strikingly, Cobel was key in the original creation of the severance procedure and its protocols, unraveling her unusual interactions with Mark and Gemma throughout season 1.
Cobel Was Secretly Testing The Limits Of Her Own Severance Creations With Mark & Gemma
Cobel Wanted To Experiment On The Bounds Of Her Own Creation
In season 1, Cobel seemed merely curious about how the severance procedure operated, given her close involvement with the Innies and her managerial position on the severed floor. However, season 2 deepens our understanding of her motivations. Cobel’s willingness to take significant risks in her tests with Mark and Gemma stemmed from her ownership of the severance technology. The procedures and protocols were designed by her, and Jame Eagan had stolen the accolades, compelling Cobel to conduct secret assessments of her own inventions through Mark and Gemma (including Ms. Casey).
At first glance, her actions appeared driven by a simple scientific inquiry into the severance process. Yet, as the plot unfolds, it becomes breathtakingly clear that she wanted to see just how far her creations could reach. For instance, Cobel sent Mark’s Innie to wellness sessions with Ms. Casey, even introducing a particular candle from their home into the session to determine if Mark and Gemma could recognize each other. She also posed intriguing questions to Mark about Gemma, hoping to see if the remnant memories from his Innie would emerge during these exchanges.
Why Jame Eagan Wouldn’t Let Cobel Take Credit For Her Severance Inventions
The Eagans Needed Full Control Over & Claim To The Technology
In the public eye, Jame Eagan is credited with the invention of severance and all related protocols. However, revelations in season 2, episode 8 show that Cobel was the mind behind these innovations, dedicating her life to Lumon and supporting Kier’s vision. When she presented her groundbreaking designs to Jame Eagan, he insisted that she remain in the shadows, claiming “Kier’s knowledge is for all.”
Cobel disclosed that she was the author of the severance circuit blueprint, the base code, the overtime contingency, the Glasgow block, and “all of it” related to the technology.
The Eagan family recognized that this technology was crucial to their agenda. Giving Cobel credit would threaten their monopoly over its usage, manufacturing, and manipulation. By placing all accolades on Jame Eagan, they not only maintained exclusive control but also solidified the Eagan lineage’s reputation and influence within society. The severance procedure stands as Jame Eagan’s most significant legacy of his tenure as CEO, which the show confirms was ultimately built on deceit.
New episodes of Severance season 2 release Fridays on Apple TV+.