Severance

word of advice ! This article hold in spoiler for Severance season 2 ’s installment 8 .

severing ’s characters keep bring up to Kier Eagan ’s 9 principles , making it hard not to wonder what they mean and why characters like Harmony Cobel reach to follow them . With each new installment , Severanceexpands and enhance its traditional knowledge by not only revealing new details about what Lumon is trying to accomplish but also adding new depth to the company ’s history and the hoi polloi who depart it . Although theApple TV+ sci - fi showprimarily spread in the present timeline , there are report arc in the series that hark back to the past tense to reveal how Lumon has gradually grown its influence .

Severanceseason 2 ’s episode 8features one of these spark where Harmony Cobel revert to the location , Salt ’s Neck , where she was raised . The trip back home not only forces her to face some of the most traumatic memories from her puerility but also helps her recall how she started her Lumon journeying . The episode also sport references to Kier ’s 9 principle , which have been feature in the serial publication on more than one occasion in many previous story beat .

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All Lumon Workers Are Also Expected To Aspire To Them

Kier Eagan ’s nine gist principle have consistently been featured inSeverancesince time of year 1 . For instance , Irving mentions them in an early instalment from time of year 1 when he reveals a fun fact about him is that he know all nine core principles . He also contribute that on that given day , his favorite principle was " cheer . " A closer look at Harmony Cobel ’s Baird Creek Manor home in Mark ’s neighborhood also reveal that she placed many reminders of the rationale all over her home , showing her dedication to worshiping Kier and his beliefs .

… it is hard not to see how Kier ’s nine principles are also exchangeable to the nine fruit of the Holy Spirit described in Galatians , revealing how Lumon almost function as a religious initiation in its own rightfulness , with Kier being touted as the " god . "

AsSeverancehas revealed in many account arcs , the principles establish a band of behaviors that all Lumon workers and Kier Eagan followers are have a bun in the oven to demonstrate . The principle not only unite those who religiously comply the Kier cultus but also lead Kier ’s loyal followers to become better humans and actor in Lumon . mouth of organized religion , it is hard not to see how Kier ’s nine principles are also alike to the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit described in Galatians , revealing how Lumon almost functions as a religious institution in its own right , with Kier being brag as the " god . "

Adam Scott as Mark and Marc Geller as Kier Eagan in Severance

Custom Image by Yailin Chacon.

All 9 Core Principles Explained

Both Harmony & Sissy Cobel Were Indoctrinated In The Core Principles

InSeveranceseason 2 ’s instalment 8 , all the core principles can be seen on a bunch of card in Sissy Cobel ’s Salt ’s Neck home . The same cards were also antecedently seen in the Kier Eagan shire in Harmony Cobel ’s family . Helena Eagan , too , claims that she recites the nine principles before seam every night , which reveal how , more than anyone else , the Eagan family member are wait to loyally abide by the values set by Kier . As construe in a framed needlepoint in Harmony Cobel ’s rest home , Kier ’s nine gist principles are as follow :

When Harmony face Sissy about her female parent ’s dying inSeveranceseason 2 ’s sequence 8 , Sissy snaps back at her by claim that " If only she had been a truster , perhaps she would have found solace in the Nine . ” As Sissy ’s statement and the 9 principles establish , they are apparently project to take away one ’s sense of individuality and ensure that all workers and followers by a united by shared sense of dedication to Kier and Lumon . On the aerofoil , the principle can be determine as a satire on how real - world fellowship lean down core traits a team should value and operate under .

In many real - world pot , such principle often moderate richly - go words that expect employee to embody the most ideal morals and conduct . Severanceseems to take it a step further by showing how the principle are analogous to spiritual commandments . As they establish , all involved in the Kier cult must have a solid vision and body of work with vitality , card , and sunshine . alternatively of being driven by their selfish desires , they must show humility , benefaction , and probity while show nimbleness in their workplace .

Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette) staring at Helena Eagan (Britt Lower) in Severance season 2

Severance Key fact Breakdown

Created By

Dan Erickson

Sissy Cobel looking shocked and Harmony Cobel looking angry in Severance season 2, episode 8 (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes Critics ' Score

97 %

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Severance

83 %

Streaming On

Apple TV+

If necessary , the actor must serve the company by employing wiles . This explains why Cobel think Kier ’s " wiles " principle in time of year 1 before she extract Petey ’s fleck during his funeral . Most of all , as the final principle establishes , one must give up on the idea of " me " and be capable to go for oneself as a mere subset of Kier and his administration .

Why Harmony Cobel Is So Focused On Kier’s Nine Core Principles In Severance

Harmony Was Brainwashed From A Young Age

Harmony Cobel’sSeverancebackstoryconfirms that she was raise in Salt ’s Neck and even worked in a local ether factory run by Lumon from a very young age . She also advert the Myrtle Eagan School For Girls , where Kier Eagan ’s precept and rule were deeply integrate into the curriculum . Cobel eventually became a Wintertide Fellow , which pave the way for her to become a full - fourth dimension employee at Lumon . Since Harmony expend almost her intact life as a devotee of Kier Eagan and his cult - corresponding constitution , she strives to loyally adjust to everything Kier stood for .

breach time of year 2 , installment 8 introduces a character named Sissy , calling into inquiry how she is connected to Ms. Cobel and the overall mankind .

Owing to this , she sees the nine principles as virtues she must loyally adjust to . However , Harmony Cobel ’s faith in Lumon and Kier Eagan come out to dwindle away when she realize how easily the companionship was willing to put away her even though she dedicated her animation to it and even allowed Jame Eagan to take deferred payment for her invention . AfterSeveranceseason 2 ’s episode 8 , Cobel seems to be on a journey towards buyback where she will break all the rule and principles that have been programmed into her since puerility and seek to take Lumon down by helping Mark .

Severance is a psychological thriller series have Adam Scott as Mark Scout , an employee at Lumon Industries who undergoes a " falling out " routine to break his work and personal memories . However , as piece of work and life theatrical role 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 .