Directed by Ben Stiller and written by Dan Erickson, the season finale of Severance, titled “Cold Harbor,” is receiving widespread acclaim and rightfully so. This episode takes viewers through a thrilling, emotional journey, leaving many questioning where the show will go in season 3.
The episode begins in the birthing cabin, where Mark’s outie and innie communicate through recorded messages, with Mark walking in and out of the severed room to respond. Mark’s outie, Devon, and Cobel explain their plan to rescue Gemma from the testing floor and use the evidence of her kidnapping to bring down Lumon. Meanwhile, Mark’s innie grows concerned that reintegration would result in losing his identity and autonomy. This concern deepens when he realizes that bringing down Lumon would effectively end Helly’s life, as Helena Eagan would never reintegrate with her innie, Helly.
The tension escalates when Dylan returns to find that his outie has deferred a decision on his resignation request, leaving him in limbo. Mark completes the Cold Harbor file on the severed floor with Helly by his side. The duo confronts Mr. Milchick and an animatronic statue of Kier Eagan, leading to a moment with Milchick performing with a marching band from the Choreography & Merriment department. Helly traps Milchick in the bathroom, allowing Mark to search for the elevator to the testing floor. Dylan arrives at MDR just in time to help Helly fend off Milchick by barricading the bathroom door with a vending machine.
Meanwhile, Gemma enters the Cold Harbor room, where her new innie is tasked with disassembling the crib Mark had built for their baby. To the pleasure of Dr. Mauer and Jame Eagan, this doesn’t trigger any emotional response in her innie. The complexity of the situation deepens when Lorne brings a goat into a secret room near the exports hallway, where Mr. Drummond explains that the goat will be sacrificed alongside Gemma. A chaotic struggle ensues when Lorne attempts to protect Mark from Drummond’s violent intentions, eventually subduing him with a cattle stunner.
Mark, holding Drummond hostage, takes him to the elevator to the testing floor. As Mark transitions to his outie, he accidentally activates the cattle stunner, killing Drummond in a violent explosion of blood. Mark’s outie locates the Cold Harbor room and frees Gemma. The two reunite tearfully as they escape, transitioning back to their severed identities.
Mark, now in his innie identity, decides not to follow Gemma. Instead, he returns to Helly, marking an interesting conclusion to the episode many didn’t expect.
Overall, “Cold Harbor” is an excellent season finale that balances emotional depth, tension, and humor. It was pleasing to see the goat mystery resolved. Looking ahead, Milchick might still turn on Lumon. The microaggressions toward him, such as the interactions with the Kier wax figure and the painting incident, hint he could be planning something bigger, possibly working toward undermining the system from within.
The finale left viewers on the edge of their seats, with an interesting resolution while setting the stage for the next season. Severance continues to prove itself as one of the best shows on streaming today.
Rating: 9/10
