The intricate departments within Lumon Industries serve as the backbone of the enigmas unfolding in Severance. The office complex is a sprawling labyrinth filled with unexpected revelations, especially on the elusive Severed Floor. Although Severance Season 2 has shed light on some of these departments, numerous questions linger, leaving viewers eager for deeper insights.
One of the most compelling mysteries surrounding Lumon Industries is the company’s actual purpose. Employees within the organization possess limited knowledge about their roles and the overarching goals of Lumon. However, the characters in Severance are afforded distinctive responsibilities tailored to their respective departments, each with its own share of secrets.
10 Macrodata Refinement
The Main Characters Have Monotonous But Mysterious Jobs As Refiners
The Macrodata Refinement (MDR) department, where Mark, Irving, Dylan, and Helly spend their working hours, is shrouded in ambiguity. Here, each Refiner is tasked with monitoring numerical data on their computer screens, sorting this information into five digital bins based on the emotions they provoke—categorized under Lumon’s Four Tempers: Woe, Frolic, Dread, and Malice.
Refiners are expected to maintain equilibrium in the number of entries across these bins. However, the purpose of the data and its implications for Lumon’s broader operational strategy remain a mystery. Their work is rewarded with peculiar incentives like Lumon erasers, finger traps, and even a Waffle Party, which includes a bizarre and erotic dance performance when their quarterly goals are met.
9 Break Room
This Is Where Some Of Lumon’s Dirty Work Is Done
Employees who misbehave on the Severed Floor are often sent to the ominous Break Room as a form of punishment, administered by the Administrators. In this dark, oppressive space, they are compelled to repeatedly recite a scripted apology under the watchful eye of Milchick:
“Forgive me for the harm I have caused this world. None may atone for my actions but me, and only in me shall their stain live on. I am thankful to have been caught, my fall cut short by those with wizened hands. All I can be is sorry, and that is all that I am.”
This disturbing psychological coercion reflects Lumon’s cult-like control over its staff. Characters like Helly and Mark have endured this torment, with Helly repeating the script excessively until she appeared genuinely contrite. Additionally, Mark’s physical bruises suggest that the punishments extend beyond psychological trauma.
8 Optics & Design
Optics & Design Are The Alleged Rivals Of The Refiners In Severance
Within Lumon, the Optics & Design (O&D) department stands as a competitor to the MDR, steeped in a tumultuous past filled with conflict and strife. Depictions of this violent history are reflected in the artwork scattered throughout Lumon’s corridors. However, the details surrounding these conflicts, including the motivations and outcomes, remain ambiguous.
Initially overseen by Burt, played by Christopher Walken, O&D was portrayed as a small group focused on managing art pieces within Lumon. Yet, its true scale and purpose were later revealed, suggesting that the department plays a more substantial role than previously thought, as evidenced by its extensive facilities and workforce.
7 Administration
The Severed Floor’s Oppressive Managers Work From This Department
The Administration department wields considerable power over the employees of the Severed Floor, primarily through its leaders, Harmony Cobel and Seth Milchick. This sector oversees employee compliance and maintains surveillance through hidden cameras strategically placed in cubicles.
Harmony was notorious for her oppressive leadership style until her dismissal, which followed her attempts to cover up Helly’s suicide. Following her exit, it remains ambiguous whether Milchick has assumed her former authority or if another individual will take on the role of head Administrator.
6 Wellness
The Wellness Center Goes Deep Into Severed Employees’ Minds
Recognizing the emotional strain placed on Severed employees like Irving, Lumon established a Wellness Center designed to provide comfort. Notably, the center was managed by Ms. Casey, who was later revealed to be Mark’s deceased wife, Gemma. However, their lack of recognition for their past relationship culminated in Ms. Casey’s reassignment to the enigmatic “Testing Floor.”
The Wellness Center’s sessions are closely monitored by Administration, perhaps to gather insights into how much Severed workers recall from their lives outside Lumon. Ms. Casey attempts to ease patient anxieties by relating to their “outie”experiences, while Surveillance ensures that every nuance is recorded.
5 Goat Wrangling
There Is A Lot Waiting To Be Said About The Goats In Severance
The Goat Wrangling department remains one of the series’ most perplexing elements. As the title suggests, it primarily involves a staff member tending to young goats, an activity that seems distinctly out of place given the nature of Lumon’s other departments. Yet, the significance of these goats remains enigmatic, potentially alluding to a larger role within the company’s operations.
The caretaker appears deeply bonded to the goats but is cautious when Mark and Helly stumble upon the room, implying that there’s a hidden agenda concerning the goats’ future once they mature.
4 Distribution Supply
Inventory Control Systems
The Distribution Supply department has yet to be fully explored within Severance, initially referenced by Ms. Casey during a scene involving a spilled notepad. Though it was not showcased in Season 1, it presumably manages the supply needs of the Severed employees.
Further hints suggest that this department could occupy a vast area similar to the expansive spaces found in O&D. However, no clear evidence indicates the presence of staff here, leaving audiences curious about how supplies are distributed and managed within Lumon.
3 Security Office
The Office Holds The Most Power Over The Severed Workers’ Minds
The Security Office functions as a central hub for monitoring the entire Severed Floor. Within its walls, personnel can track the activity of Severed employees, utilizing systems capable of interacting with their Severance chips. This office holds the keys to the Overtime Contingency Protocol, empowering two individuals to disrupt the Severance process and awaken an employee’s “innie.”
Access to this critical area is tightly controlled, with entry granted only by a special black key card. In Season 1, Mark acquires one belonging to Doug Graner, previously the Head of Security, before Graner’s untimely demise. This pivotal moment allows Dylan to exploit the technology within the Security Office to liberate Mark and his colleagues.
2 Perpetuity Wing
Lumon’s History Is On Full Display In This Location
The Perpetuity Wing of Lumon serves as a showcase for the company’s extensive and almost cult-like history. This section functions as a museum featuring animatronics dedicated to Lumon’s founder, Kier Eagan, as well as his lineage. The exhibits detail the history of the organization, including its seven subsequent CEOs.
Among the displays is the “Lumon Legacy of Joy,”featuring photographs highlighting the beneficial impact Lumon claims to have had on society. Additionally, a replica of Kier’s residence includes a notable recreation of his bedroom, which is transformed during Waffle Parties to accommodate special celebrations.
1 Other Departments And Floors
There Are Still Much To Be Explored On And Off The Severed Floor
As Severance continues to unveil the complexities of Lumon, numerous other departments and layers of the organization remain uncharted. A list of departments, displayed in the Security Office, hints at unexplored areas marked with abbreviations like D&R, which stands for Disposal and Reclamation.
The implications of these departments, as well as the existence of the mysterious Testing Floor—suggesting experimentation on Severed employees—add to the intrigue. Furthermore, various other floors await discovery, with the Testing Floor accessible via a shadowy corridor. As hints suggest, these areas may hold critical insights into Lumon’s operations and the fates of its Severed workforce.
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