Severance
word of advice ! This clause contains spoilers for Severance season 2 ’s installment 7 .
The pernicious nod to a 139 - year - old story inSeveranceseason 2 ’s sequence 7 seems to hint at how Mark ’s story will eventually terminate . consider all the bizarre narration beatsSeverancehas introduced since season 1 , it was difficult not to be sceptical about whether the show intended to settle all its rudimentary tale beat . Since many similarmystery - box shows , likeLost , have previously get away with stick in one enigma after another without giving viewers a unmortgaged 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 physique of earnings - off media . While revealing raw detail about Lumon ’s role , Gemma ’s fate , and Mark ’s future , the series has amazingly been able to break up many mysteries from season 1 . owe to this , it seems like every subtle particular and news report progression inSeverancewill eventually signify something . Even the show ’s nod to a 139 - year - honest-to-god story in season 2 ’s episode 7 has to have a deeper significance and hidden significance that will potentially bind 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 murder Dr. Mauer with a chair and attempts to flee the examination floor inSeveranceseason 2 ’s episode 7 , Mauer notices a Leo Tolstoy book on her shelf and translate its deed of conveyance , " 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 signification in the show ’s narrative . The Tolstoy novella revolves around a world , Ivan Ilyich , who buries his unfulfillment and dissatisfaction with life by focusing on trivial thing like position , career , and social expectations .
Severance time of year 2 , instalment 7 introduces a disturbing new Lumon character , Doctor Mauer , who has dark crosstie to the central mystery of the show .
However , the emergence of a sudden unexplained illness and the possibility of close at hand death makes him more introverted . While the cerebration of death initially baffle him , making him inquire why he deserves a circumstances so brutal , he eventually receive substance in his hurt when it helps him understand the true purpose of his existence . InSeverance , Mark ’s innie and outie have had similar journey wherethey have face the possible action of a sure death before realizing the true function of their creation .
Custom Image by Dhruv Sharma.
Although the estimation of dying initially haunted both variants of the same character , both of them , like Ivan Ilyich , started a new phase of introspection , provide them to read what they unfeignedly want from their life .
While Mark ’s outie come across a part of himself exit when he learned about his married woman ’s demise and experience himself severed , his innie earn a new sense of deathrate when he teach that Lumon only " make " him and the other innies to crop continuously and benefit the fellowship . Both persona tried to distract themselves from their miseries either through workplace or drunkenness . Although the thought of death initially haunted both variant of the same lineament , both of them , like Ivan Ilyich , started a young phase angle of self-contemplation , allowing them to understand what they really require 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 severalise Reghabi how the mere thought of reuniting with a deceased screw one is enough to activate a massive change in an person . He add that while some people only change because the thought alone is enough to activate transformation , he has a solid reason to believe he will gather Gemma again . This scene perfectly spotlight how confronting Gemma ’s death and recovering from his brokenheartedness has aid Mark overcome his alcoholism and become a better individual overall .
Severance Key Facts Breakdown
make By
Image via Apple TV+
Dan Erickson
Rotten Tomatoes Critics ' grievance
97 %
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
83 %
Streaming On
Apple TV+
Like Ivan Ilyich from the Leo Tolstoy story , Mark ’s outie learns that the straight purpose of his existence is to experience with intention , rather than benumb his painful sensation with alcohol or completely ignoring it through the severing subroutine . Mark ’s innie gains similar insights when he finally sees beyond his work as an MDR employee and learns to squeeze the human experience by fall in lovemaking and standing up for himself . Both the innie and the outie ’s parallels with Ivan Ilyich ’s fib paint a picture that after hold out in the dark for quite some time , they are quick to look the light and be more fulfilling lives .
Mark’s Severance Ending May Not Be As Simple As Ivan Ilyich’s
Mark’s Innie & Outie Have A Different Purpose
Image via Apple TV+
Ivan Ilyich is free from the brat of destruction in the Leo Tolstoy story , which kills the idea of decease itself . Mark , too , could find a similar mother wit of exemption towards the remnant of hisSeverancejourney , but his pursuit of fulfillment would not be dewy-eyed . The beginning of Mark ’s outie ’s fulfilment marks the end of his innie ’s exemption . Similarly , his innie ’s freedom would come in at the cost of destroy his outie ’s life-time . Both Mark(s ) have ostensibly created separate lives and identity for themselves . They are in love with two unlike women .
break time of year 2 is scheduled to have a total of 10 episodes , with its final episode jell to be released on Mar 21 , 2025 .
Owing to this , if the innie wish to live a more use - driven aliveness as a human , he will have to shed his outie ’s desires because they do not dish him . Similarly , Mark ’s outie will have to be more selfish about his quest to determine Gemma while dismissing his innie ’s desire to have self-direction . The reintegration physical process might help oneself both attain an alignment in their goals inSeverance , but it seems unlikely that such a seamless rapprochement will fall out without a monumental price for either of them .
Severance is a psychological thriller series feature Adam Scott as Mark Scout , an employee at Lumon Industries who undergoes a " rift " function to split his work and personal memory . However , as work and life personas mysteriously begin to collide , it quick becomes clear that not all is as it seems . Created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle .
