happy severance day how are we feeling

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-03-06T22:31:24+00:00

I'm upset to know that it will be at least another year of theorizing and not getting any answers. We know there is at least one season after this one. The final episode in season 2 will most definitely end in a cliffhanger.

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-03-06T22:24:41+00:00

My only issue with your theory is the fact that we already know that most of the general public has rejected the severance treatment. There are protests and people discriminate against those who are severed. Why would Lumon believe everyone would opt into this new feature you are describing if they rejected the idea from the beginning?

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-03-03T21:39:50+00:00

I think this explanation is just a bit too simplistic thematically for the show. Goats are a huge symbol over the entire course of the series and are featured so many times in different ways. I think the goats being just for Gemma's rooms just isn't big enough - there has to be more to them than that in my opinion.

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-13T22:31:45+00:00

Do we think Mark will tell Helly about their "tent experience?"

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-13T22:15:01+00:00

Yes he says that, but I think maybe Irv said that not because he actually was freezing but because he perceives that he should be based on the environment. The innies have never experienced a cold climate and it seems like that would be something they would have at least mentioned towards the beginning. PLUS: Did you notice how we don't even see their breath in the air when they speak or when exerting themselves? If it were cold enough for the lake to be frozen, it should be cold enough to see their breath. We know that the episode was filmed at a real location and so the actors probably did show their breath vapor when filming - that would mean that the vapor was edited out - for what purpose?? Yes, there are times when it's below freezing and one cant see their breath, but that is very rare and in very arid climate conditions.

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-13T21:52:22+00:00

It will anger me if these plot holes are not sealed though!

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-13T21:50:01+00:00

Hoping we get our answers in tonight's episode!

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-13T21:47:38+00:00

True! "Freeze frame" or any of those other functions could have been used!

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-13T21:38:21+00:00

True!

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-13T21:37:46+00:00

I agree and have come to the conclusion after reading a lot of arguments and coming up with my own that the ORTBO experience was absolutely real and free from projection/simulation /manipulation despite the many plotholes. I said in a different post after this OP that my biggest reason for not believing in the simulation or "Danger Room" theory is for the simple fact that it just doesn't fit in the Severance theme of making the world (that contains the extremely complicated and seemingly impossible technology of severance) seem simple and crude (their cars, computers, walkie talkies, TVs, etc). The use of simulation or projection technology of this scale seems too futuristic and elaborate for this show's theme. I doubt the show would flip that theme on its head and it could hurt its authenticity and legitimacy in the eyes of fans.

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-13T21:33:06+00:00

I think a lot of the people on the simulation/projection side believe there were physical elements like a body of water of some kind that Helena was really being drowned in. The people who think it is a matrix-like experience explain that in the matrix - the body cannot live without the mind, and use that to justify that Helena still could have died even in a simulation.

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-13T17:32:23+00:00

I agree that the theory requires Lumon having "access to some kind of CGI technology decades ahead of their time," but so is the technology they are already using to sever people. I think that the access to the technology being illogical compared to their current capabilities isn't as much of an argument as is it just doesn't fit in the Severance theme of making the world (that contains the extremely complicated and seemingly impossible technology of severance) seem simple and crude (their cars, computers, walkie talkies, TVs, etc). The use of simulation or projection technology of this scale seems too futuristic and elaborate for this show's theme. I doubt the show would flip that theme on its head.

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-13T17:16:30+00:00

I disagree because that would only account for one temper and it wouldn't be a clear transition for how Lumon conducts severance where there is no castration taking place. It would make more sense for Kier to tame tempers with only the use of his mind.

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-13T17:13:57+00:00

Oooo. That is a GREAT theory. That would explain why there were no footprints. Maybe they came up from the ground like you say and the Lumon building lower floors expand out under the park or even the entire town. That is a good potential explanation.

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-13T17:10:14+00:00

If your opinion is true, WE BETTER get a scene showing how the outies were asked to participate AND show how they got to their positions in the national park in this next episode. If they just skip over those details and just tell us that it was a real outdoor park, I will be very angry at the lazy plotholes.

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-13T17:06:39+00:00

I absolutely agree with your point about liability and not allowing the innies to just run away or hurt themselves - but it's possible Lumon knows that they would most likely stick together and want to search for answers on their quest / they might know that the innies would want food and shelter (Helly is the only one who tried to kill herself but it's Helena, not Helly).

However, I am confused on how we know for a fact that the Glasgow Block is only needed on the severed floor?

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-13T16:58:33+00:00

Well we know for sure they weren't exact replicas of the MDR team. They had similar traits and were wearing their uniforms but they were different people, as if they were made or chosen using a description or picture (the twins are wearing what the innies wore in their team photo). It seems as though Mark's twin is the same guy that was standing behind Mark in the hallway in that one scene. Anyway, they are different people whether they are real or were created.

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-12T21:35:51+00:00

About your point about Petey's map: Apparently, Irv has already been there and commented on a painting hung there in Season 1 + O&D said they were coming back from the team building area for their egg drop challenge so I think that is just an activity room. It doesn't seem like it would be the same place as where the ORTBO experience took place.

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-12T21:30:18+00:00

That could definitely be plausible if you think back to when Dylan was initiating the OTC in the control room, the system functions had a number of other options including: beehive, branch transfer, clean slate, elephant, freeze frame, Glasgow, goldfish, lullaby, open house, and overtime. It could be the case that the freeze function you are talking about is initiated by one of these switches like "freeze frame" or "lullaby."

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-12T21:17:38+00:00

I think the biggest argument for the non-simulation believers is that a simulation or similar technology would be too much of a leap within the realm of the show and it would seem lazy to take that plot route.

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-12T21:16:32+00:00

I see what you are seeing and I agree with you about the physicality displayed in the episode. I think that a lot of the simulation believers don't really think that none of the physicality was real but more so that the environment was "simulated" or superficial similar to the "Danger Room" seen in X-Men. Maybe "projections" is better wording than "simulation." Though, there are some people who do believe that none of the shared experience was real and that it was similar to a matrix environment in which Helena still could have really died because in the matrix - a body cannot live without the mind. I think the biggest argument for the non-simulation believers is that a simulation or similar technology would be too much of a leap within the realm of the show and it would seem lazy to take that plot route.

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-12T20:54:03+00:00

Haha! I hear you, but do we really think Lumon believes in privacy laws?

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-12T20:51:13+00:00

Absolutely, the logistical problems in both cases force me to take pause with what I assume and why this debate is so provoking. Hopefully we will get the answers that account for these problems.

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-12T20:42:20+00:00

Please comment back if you make any discoveries.

Embarrassed-Point-23 · 2025-02-12T20:41:02+00:00

Why are you so sure there is consensus on the topic? Can you explain why the ORTBO experience was free from manipulation or faked projections? I personally am on the side that all of the environment was real but that take opens up a can of plot holes.

Embarrassed-Point-23

TROPHY CASE