Warning: Spoilers ahead.
The “Severance” season two finale has finally aired but there are still plenty of questions to be answered.
While season three has now officially been confirmed, some may still be wondering what it all means; in particular what exactly is Cold Harbor?
As shown in the finale, Mark S.’ (Adam Scott) completion of the Cold Harbor file opens the door to the room which Gemma (Dichen Lachman) enters and begins emotionlessly dismantling a baby’s crib in the same clothes she wore on the night of her disappearance. The crib itself appears to be the exact one she and Mark purchased while attempting to have a child.
As Lachman told Variety Australia, viewers may have different points of view on exactly what it all means, but she believes Cold Harbor is about testing the barrier between a person’s Innie and Outie and removing painful experiences altogether.
“It’s taking one of her most painful memories, taking it into that room, to test if the barrier holds,” Lachman said.
“We’ve seen Mark make the tree out of clay in the Wellness Center. And that’s obviously because Gemma’s car hit a tree the night that she died, and that’s what Outie Mark believes.
“Cobel (Patricia Arquette) in season one is sort of doing to Mark S. in the Wellness Center what they’re doing to Gemma on the testing floor. The candle from their basement that Ms. Casey lights, she’s constantly testing to see if Mark’s barrier is holding, and then underneath they’re testing to see if Gemma’s barrier is holding when they expose her to things from her Outie self.”
Ultimately, Cold Harbor is attempting to remove a human’s pain and grief entirely.
The finale also sees Mark and Gemma escape to the severed floor, only for Mark’s Innie to choose Helly (Britt Lower) and leave Gemma behind, presumably setting the season for season three.
The final scene has been debated online by many fans, and for Lachman, it’s just as heartbreaking.
“I really do love the Mark/Helly relationship so much, but at the same time, like the history and the pain that he’s gone through with Gemma – their joys, their ups and downs – you want them to be together as well,” she said.
“They have this relationship that’s grounded in real pain that they experience together. They were building a life together. Maybe it didn’t turn out the way they wanted to, but they had a really deep love.
“So while Innie Mark and Helly are building this beautiful relationship, it’s really hard to ignore that he has this lovely relationship as Outie Mark too. So I feel pulled.
“Maybe I’m biased, but I think the feeling should be that you’re having a conundrum because you want him to enjoy both lives.”
“Severance” season two is available to watch on Apple TV+ now.