117 Fun Facts About Severance

What is the name of the fictional biotechnology company in Severance that employs the severed workers?

Lumon Industries is the sinister biotechnology corporation that pioneered the severance procedure.

Where did Mark Scout teach World War I history before he joined Lumon?

He lost the job after coming to work drunk while grieving, and had been at Lumon for two years when the series opens.

Which Lumon perk is Dylan G. famously obsessed with?

Dylan G. is devoted to finger traps, the cheap toy perk he collects and brandishes throughout season one, valuing them above Lumon's other rewards.

Who created the television series "Severance"?

Erickson conceived the show while working an office job at a door factory, and his pilot script made the 2016 Blood List of best unproduced genre screenplays.

Which department do Mark, Dylan, Irving, and Helly work in at Lumon Industries?

The main characters, Mark, Dylan, Irving, and Helly, are all part of the Macrodata Refinement (MDR) department, where they sort mysterious numbers.

What is the purpose of the "Break Room" on the severed floor of Lumon Industries?

Offenders must read an apology aloud until Milchick judges it sincere; Helly once needed 1,072 attempts.

Who portrays Seth Milchick, the cheerful yet intimidating supervisor on the severed floor?

Tramell Tillman plays Seth Milchick, a key figure on the severed floor who enforces Lumon's rules and manages the employees.

What is the full name of Mark S.'s best friend who mysteriously left Lumon and sought out Mark's outie?

Peter 'Petey' Kilmer was Mark's closest friend in Macrodata Refinement; after secretly reintegrating he tracked down Mark's outie, and his daughter June later fronts a band that plays an anti-Lumon song.

What is the name of Mark S.'s sister, who worries about his choice to be severed?

Jen Tullock plays Devon Scout-Hale, Mark's sister, who is a vocal critic of the severance procedure and worries about Mark's well-being.

In Severance, what is the term for the personality that exists only on Lumon's severed floor?

The Innie knows only the office; the 'outie' lives the personal life with no knowledge of the job.

Who is the wellness counselor on the severed floor?

Ms. Casey, portrayed by Dichen Lachman, serves as the wellness counselor at Lumon, conducting often unsettling "wellness checks" with the innies.

Who is Helly R.'s outie revealed to be?

Her father thanks her for agreeing to be severed and reveals that Lumon intends to sever the entire human population.

Who is the primary director and executive producer of "Severance"?

Ben Stiller directed six of season one's nine episodes, including the pilot, and serves as an executive producer; Aoife McArdle directed the other three.

What is the name of the self-help book written by Mark's brother-in-law, Ricken?

Ricken Hale's self-help book is The You You Are; Apple released it as a real book in 2022, with an audiobook narrated by Michael Chernus in character as Ricken.

What is the name of Irving's outie's dog?

Irving's outie lives alone with a dog named Radar, his only companion at home between shifts on the severed floor.

In Severance, under what false identity does Harmony Cobel live next door to Mark's outie?

Mrs. Selvig is the cover for Cobel, who manages the severed floor by day and then goes home next door to Mark.

Irving finds at least seven employees toiling in which department's hidden back room?

Irving discovers a hidden back room in Optics & Design crowded with workers, proving Burt's department is far larger than the two employees, Burt and Felicia, that Lumon admitted to.

In Severance, which reward does Dylan receive at the end of season one, complete with a mask and dancers?

A waffle party, in which Dylan dons a Kier Eagan mask in a replica of Kier's bedroom; Dan Erickson said the idea began as a writers' room joke.

Who founded Lumon Industries in Severance, and is worshipped with cult-like devotion within the company?

Kier Eagan appears in sculptures, paintings and audio recordings, and a life-sized replica of his home sits inside the office.

What drove Mark Scout to have himself severed?

Mark had himself severed to forget a personal tragedy: his wife was reported killed in a car crash, and the severed floor gave him eight hours a day free of that grief.

What is the term for the procedure Petey underwent to reverse his severance?

Reintegration is the illicit reversal of severance; Petey's chip was surgically altered so his innie and outie memories bled together, something Lumon insists is impossible.

What happens to Petey while showering in Mark's basement?

In the shower Petey hallucinates that he is back on Lumon's severed floor and collapses; his reintegrating memories blur past and present, and he later collapses again at a gas station.

What does Petey show Mark's outie in the abandoned greenhouse?

In the greenhouse Petey unrolls a hand-drawn map of the severed floor he sketched from memory, proof that reintegration gave his outie access to his innie's knowledge.

What is the name of the Lumon security chief on the severed floor?

Doug Graner is the head of security on Lumon's severed floor, a key figure in enforcing the company's protocols.

What does Milchick gift the MDR team after Helly hits a refinement threshold?

The Music Dance Experience, with Milchick's cart of instruments and Helly's pick of 'Defiant Jazz', sours when Dylan attacks Milchick, enraged that he cannot know anything about his son.

What is the "Overtime Contingency" protocol, as revealed to the MDR team?

The MDR team learns of it after obtaining a security access card, and uses it to wake three innies at once.

How does Helly's innie try to escape Lumon for good in "The You You Are"?

Security cuts the cord in time; she survives, and her outie refuses to let her quit.

Which ex-Lumon surgeon secretly reintegrates Petey?

Asal Reghabi, played by Karen Aldridge, is the former Lumon surgeon who performs reintegrations off the books, operating on Petey and later on Mark.

Which real building stood in for the exterior of Lumon's headquarters?

The Bell Labs Holmdel Complex in New Jersey, a 1962 glass-walled research campus, stood in for Lumon's headquarters exterior and lobby in season one.

Which head of another department becomes Irving's love interest?

Burt Goodman, head of Optics & Design, becomes Irving's love interest; they bond over the Kier paintings in Burt's office before Burt is pushed into retirement late in season one.

In the security office, what does Dylan have to do to keep his coworkers awake in the outside world?

The switches were placed to need two people, so Dylan contorts himself to reach both until Milchick tackles him.

What is the name of the Lumon-backed state senator who supports legalizing the severance procedure?

Senator Angelo Arteta is a politician supported by Lumon Industries who advocates for the widespread legalization of the severance procedure.

What is the name of the final file Mark S. must refine in season two?

Cold Harbor is Mark's final file; Cobel reveals that each file he completes creates a new innie for the woman held on Lumon's testing floor.

What is the name of the Lumon PR representative and speaker for the mysterious Board?

Natalie Kalen serves as Lumon's PR representative and speaks on behalf of the company's mysterious Board.

What does Irving's outie repeatedly paint at home?

Irving's outie obsessively paints a dark corridor ending in a door, later revealed as the hallway to the testing-floor elevator; he works with Motörhead's 'Ace of Spades' blasting.

What is the name of the town where Lumon Industries headquarters is located?

Lumon's headquarters sits in the town of Kier, named for founder Kier Eagan; addresses and licence plates in the show give the fictional state as 'PE'.

How many readings of the break room apology did it take Helly to finally pass?

Her first session had already run 259 readings without satisfying Milchick.

At Ricken's party, what slip by Mark tips off his boss that the overtime contingency is running?

She races to Lumon and phones Milchick, who breaks into the security room and tackles Dylan to end it.

What becomes of Petey after he hides out in Mark's basement?

He collapses at a convenience store; Mark follows the ambulance and watches him carried away by paramedics.

Which actor, known for roles in comedies, portrays the dramatic lead Mark Scout?

Adam Scott, widely recognized for his comedic roles in shows like "Parks and Recreation," takes on the lead dramatic role of Mark Scout in "Severance."

What did the set designers deliberately leave off the innies' computer keyboards?

The innies' keyboards have no escape key, a deliberate omission the designers meant as a metaphor for workers who cannot escape; the rest of the tech mixes 1960s to 1980s corporate design.

What is the name of Dylan's wife, who is briefly seen during an outie family visitation?

Dylan's wife is Gretchen George; Milchick arranges a supervised visit so Dylan's innie can meet her, and across season two the innie and Gretchen grow unexpectedly close.

Disguised as Mrs Selvig, what does Harmony Cobel lift from Petey’s corpse at his funeral?

She has security analyse the chip afterwards, confirming that Petey's memories had been merged.

What was the production designer's inspiration for the wax figures of the Eagan dynasty?

The replica of the founder's house in the same exhibit was modelled on the Temple of Dendur, an Egyptian temple rebuilt inside the Met.

What type of animal is briefly seen by Mark and Helly in a mysterious, isolated room?

Mark and Helly stumble on a man bottle-feeding baby goats, who insists 'they're not ready'; the goats' purpose is only explained in season two.

Which former president was offered a voice cameo in season two but declined?

Ben Stiller said he asked Barack Obama to take a voice role in season two and was politely turned down; Stiller himself voices the Kier Eagan animatronic in season one.

What is the museum-like area of the severed floor that details Lumon's history called?

The Perpetuity Wing is Lumon's in-house museum, with wax figures of every Eagan CEO and a full-size replica of Kier Eagan's home that innies tour as a reward.

What does Irving's innie hallucinate on his desk?

Irving's innie frequently experiences unsettling hallucinations of a black, oily liquid covering his desk.

On which streaming service does Severance air?

Severance streams on Apple TV+, which ordered the series straight to series in November 2019 as one of its early original dramas.

In which year did the first season premiere?

Season one premiered on February 18, 2022; the long-delayed second season did not arrive until January 2025.

Besides New York and New Jersey, filming has taken place in which Canadian province?

Season two's wintry wilderness scenes were shot in Newfoundland and Labrador, whose snowbound coast stood in for the forest retreat where the MDR team camps.

Which production company of Ben Stiller's co-produces Severance?

Severance is produced by Ben Stiller's Red Hour Productions together with Fifth Season, the studio formerly known as Endeavor Content; Stiller directs and executive produces through Red Hour.

Which cast member won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama for season two?

Britt Lower won the 2025 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for playing Helly R. and Helena Eagan, the show's first win in that category.

Who plays Dylan G., the perk-loving member of Macrodata Refinement in Severance?

Zach Cherry earned an Emmy nomination for season two.

Who plays Irving B., the stickler for company policy?

John Turturro plays Irving B., the Kier-quoting veteran refiner; he received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the first season.

In Severance, who plays Burt G., the head of Optics and Design?

Christopher Walken got the part on John Turturro's recommendation; Turturro said he did not have to act like they were friends.

Who plays severed-floor manager Harmony Cobel?

Patricia Arquette plays Harmony Cobel, the severed-floor manager; she received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the first season.

Who plays wellness counsellor Ms. Casey?

Dichen Lachman plays Ms. Casey, the wellness counsellor whose serene sessions with the innies conceal that she is also Lumon's most important test subject.

In Severance season two, Sarah Bock plays which surprisingly young deputy manager of the severed floor?

Eustice Huang is the severed floor's new deputy manager in season two, a child filling Milchick's old post; her first name is revealed only when she is sent away late in the season.

Michael Siberry plays which Lumon figure?

Michael Siberry plays Jame Eagan, Lumon's CEO and Helena's father, who appears at the season-one gala and later visits Helly's innie at night on the severed floor.

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson plays which intimidating Lumon enforcer?

Mr. Drummond meets his end from a cattle stunner in the season two finale.

Which actress won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama for season two?

Merritt Wever won the 2025 Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for playing Gretchen, Dylan's wife; it was her third Emmy win.

Robby Benson plays which doctor on Lumon's testing floor?

Robby Benson plays Dr. Mauer, who runs Gemma's testing-floor sessions and appears inside her rooms playing different characters, including a husband writing Christmas cards.

Gwendoline Christie's Lorne runs which Lumon department?

Mammalians Nurturable is the department behind the mysterious goats.

Sandra Bernhard plays Cecily, who does what job on the testing floor?

Sandra Bernhard's Cecily is the testing-floor nurse who escorts Gemma between her rooms and checks on her in her cell.

Sarah Sherman voices what in a season-two Lumon industrial film?

In season two's stop-motion Lumon industrial film, Sarah Sherman voices the water tower, a chatty sidekick to the Lumon headquarters building itself.

John Noble plays Fields, who is whose husband?

He blurts out that Burt has been with Lumon for twenty years.

Jane Alexander plays Cobel's reclusive aunt, called what?

Jane Alexander plays Sissy, Cobel's reclusive aunt and a devout Kier Eagan worshipper; Cobel confronts her when she returns to her hometown in season two.

Keanu Reeves has an uncredited voice cameo as what?

Keanu Reeves gives uncredited voice to the animated Lumon headquarters building in the stop-motion industrial film shown to the returning MDR team in the season two premiere.

Which House of Cards creator joined as an executive producer and writer for season two?

Beau Willimon, who created the American House of Cards, joined Severance as an executive producer and writer for season two.

Who composed the score for Severance?

Theodore Shapiro composed the score; his main title theme won the 2022 Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music.

Which 2013 video game is cited as an influence on the show?

The Backrooms creepypasta and Office Space were influences too.

Which Black Mirror episode is named as an influence on Severance?

Sartre's No Exit and Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four are older influences.

The director and star had previously worked together on which 2013 film?

Ben Stiller directed and starred in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013), in which Adam Scott played Ted Hendricks, the bearded corporate hatchet man overseeing Life magazine's shutdown.

Which modernist architect did production designer Jeremy Hindle cite for the building design?

His John Deere headquarters and Bell Labs Holmdel were both models.

In which New York borough were the main soundstage sets built?

The main sets were built on soundstages at York Studios in the Bronx, including the MDR office and the maze of white hallways that could be rearranged between scenes.

Why was the MDR office given green carpet?

Hindle saw the room as a playroom for Lumon's newest hires.

Which German industrial designer's objects and aesthetic pervade Lumon's spaces?

Hindle described the show as having 'a Dieter Rams look'.

What does Milchick ride to work?

Mark drives a Volvo, Cobel a VW Rabbit and Helena a Lincoln.

Under what working title did season one begin filming in November 2020?

Season one shot under the working title 'Tumwater', a name that hid the project while it filmed in New York and New Jersey from November 2020.

The homes of Mark and Cobel were filmed in which New York town?

Kingston and Beacon hosted other scenes.

Who is the show's primary cinematographer, who also directed 'Chikhai Bardo'?

Jessica Lee Gagné, the series' cinematographer, made her directorial debut with the season-two episode 'Chikhai Bardo', the Gemma-centred flashback hour.

What milestone did Severance reach on Apple TV+ in 2025?

Season two was its breakout moment.

What is the title of the epistolary tie-in novel released by Apple Books?

Severance: The Lexington Letter, a free e-book on Apple Books in 2022, is framed as a tell-all from Peg Kincaid, a former severed Lumon employee.

Where did Apple recreate the MDR office in a glass box before season two?

In January 2025 Apple built a glass-walled replica of the MDR office inside New York's Grand Central Terminal, where Adam Scott, Britt Lower and other cast members sat 'working' as commuters watched.

What fake product did Apple list on its website ahead of the season two premiere?

Apple added the 'Lumon Terminal Pro', complete with a trackball and blue-grey keyboard, to the Mac lineup on its website in January 2025 to promote season two.

How long does Milchick say it has been since the innies' revolt when Mark returns in season two?

Milchick tells Mark's innie that five months have passed since the overtime revolt, greeting him with balloons bearing his face and a new MDR team.

What pay rise does Milchick offer Mark's outie to return to Lumon?

Milchick offers Mark's outie a 20% pay rise to return to Lumon, assuring him that his innie is content and that reforms are coming to the severed floor.

How does Helena publicly explain her outburst at the Lumon gala?

She records an apology while her father Jame berates her.

Where does Dylan's outie interview for a job, only to be turned down for being severed?

Dylan's outie interviews at a door company, but the interviewer rejects him once he admits that his recent work experience was as a severed Lumon employee.

How long is Dylan's first supervised visitation with his outie's wife?

She shows him a photo of his three children.

What gift from the Board offends Milchick?

Natalie relays the Board's commendation along with the gallery.

What phrase do Devon and Mark glue together from cut-out letters?

It gives the episode its title.

The ORTBO takes place where?

The ORTBO, an Outdoor Retreat and Team-Building Occurrence, sends the MDR team into the snowy Dieter Eagan National Forest, where they camp overnight and hike to Woe's Hollow.

What relation to Kier was Dieter, revealed in the handbook's fourth appendix?

The innies find the appendix inside Scissor Cave.

What natural feature is Woe's Hollow?

Milchick awaits the team there with a campsite.

In Severance season two, why does Irving try to drown Helly at Woe's Hollow?

He suspects she is a mole, and he is right: it was Helena all along.

What complaint appears in Milchick's performance review?

Using too many big words is the complaint; Mr. Drummond also savages Milchick's 'kindness reforms'.

According to Irving, how many years ago was the severance procedure invented?

Irving says severance was invented twelve years ago, so Fields' remark that Burt has been at Lumon for twenty years means Burt worked there unsevered for years.

What does Reghabi suggest doing to Mark's severance chip to speed reintegration?

Reghabi proposes 'flooding' the chip to accelerate Mark's reintegration; he balks, then agrees, and the procedure leaves him convulsing at home.

Where did Gemma and Mark first meet?

Mark and Gemma met on neighbouring cots at a Lumon blood drive, shown in the flashback episode 'Chikhai Bardo', when both were still college professors.

How many rounds of IVF did Gemma and Mark try at the Lumon clinic?

All were unsuccessful, and ideographic cards began arriving in the mail.

The testing-floor rooms Gemma endures are named after what?

Each room awakens a separate innie for an unpleasant experience.

At what percentage was the final MDR file stuck because of Mark's nosebleed?

Drummond tells Mauer he must say goodbye to Gemma once it is done.

What is the name of Cobel's decaying hometown?

It once housed a Lumon ether factory where Kier met his wife Imogene.

Cobel's hometown was built around a Lumon factory making what?

Many locals are now addicted to it.

What does Cobel's old notebook, hidden in a trophy, prove?

Lumon had credited the invention to CEO Jame Eagan.

What is the name of the prestigious Lumon fellowship both Cobel and Miss Huang held?

The Wintertide Fellowship is Lumon's elite youth programme; Cobel joined it as a teenager, and Miss Huang is a fellow when she is placed on the severed floor.

Miss Huang is sent to 'steward global reforms' at an empathy centre where?

Miss Huang is dispatched to the Gunnel Eagan Empathy Center in Svalbard after finishing her fellowship; Milchick first makes her destroy her ring-toss game as a 'material sacrifice'.

What does Dylan use to make the ring he proposes to Gretchen with?

She tearfully turns him down.

What does Burt reveal his job at Lumon really was?

He claims not to know what became of them.

How do Mark's outie and innie communicate in the birthing cabin?

In the birthing cabin, Mark's outie and innie take turns recording camcorder messages to each other, walking in and out of the severed room to switch identities as Devon and Cobel watch.

Which department supplies the marching band Milchick performs with in the finale?

An animatronic Kier undercuts him by calling him 'Seth'.

What task is Gemma's final innie given in the last testing room?

Mark had built the crib for their baby.

With what does Mark accidentally kill the Lumon enforcer?

He then uses his blood-soaked tie to open the Cold Harbor room.

Why did Helena Eagan undergo severance, according to what Helly learns at the gala?

She was scheduled to give the keynote speech.

Severance's surreal main title sequences were animated by which designer, known as Extraweg?

Oliver Latta, the German animator known as Extraweg, created the title sequences with typographer Teddy Blanks; the season-one opening won the 2022 Emmy for Outstanding Main Title Design.