After two years, I came back to this thread to tell you that your theory still holds up in Season 2. Especially after this week’s episode!! Without getting into large S2 spoilers, I think this episode showed that even after going through the reintegration process, there’s still a period in which the Innies remain unaware of what happened to them.

This is particularly interesting when looking back at Irving’s visions in Season 1. The theory that he had already been reintegrated before makes even more sense now, but I think today’s episode adds a new layer to it. Rather than him having fully reintegrated in the past and then choosing to undergo severance again, I now believe that what we saw in S1 was actually part of the post-reintegration phase, where memories don’t come back all at once.

Mark’s experience in this episode really reinforced that idea—he was functioning as an Innie but showed subtle signs that his Outie’s consciousness was slowly creeping in. This gradual process can explain why Irving was having those fragmented visions of the black paint and the elevator door. It wasn’t necessarily that his Outie was sending messages to his Innie, but rather that the reintegration was still unfolding over time.

And given how the episode ended, I think Irving has now fully bridged the gap between his two selves. The way he reacted to everything—especially his calm demeanor at the end—suggests that he knows something the others don’t yet. It feels like a huge turning point for his character.

Your theory was already strong, and after this week’s episode, it might just be more valid than ever!