Severance continues to unravel its psychological complexities in Season 2, Episode 3, titled “Who Is Alive?” This episode ramps up the tension and intrigue as the characters delve deeper into the mysteries surrounding Lumon Industries. Directed by Ben Stiller, who also helmed multiple episodes last season and one this season, and written by Wei-Ning Yu, the episode pushes the boundaries of the show’s dystopian premise while exploring the fractured identities of its central characters.
The episode opens with a hauntingly quiet scene: an aerial shot of a car parked in a vast, snowy landscape. Inside the car, Miss Cobel awakens to the sound of a passing truck honking, awakening her from sleep. After that, we cut to Mark, who is preparing for his day. We watch his mechanical routine, as he sets a timer on his phone and counts down the seconds until he enters the Lumon office.
Once Mark enters the severed floor, we see him begin the search for Miss Casey, whose disappearance becomes the central plot of this episode. Mark prints missing person posters of Ms. Casey and distributes them to his coworkers. Mark and Helly venture into the “Goat Department,” a strange and poorly understood part of Lumon that was introduced in Season 1. Helly is skeptical of Mark’s plan, and her snarky remark “seems like you have it all figured out” highlights the impracticality of Mark’s overly optimistic scheme. Mark’s unwavering belief that they could rescue Ms. Casey and escape seems naive, but it’s clear he’s trying to take back some control over his life in a world that has taken so much from him.
The episode also delves deeper into the complexities of the characters’ relationships. Mark and Helly share a quiet moment, almost as if they’re about to kiss, but Mark pulls away. The scene is brief but loaded with emotional tension, further emphasizing Mark’s inner turmoil and the blurred lines between his innie and outie selves. While their connection remains strong, it’s clear that their emotional bond is stifled by the restrictions of the severance process and Mark’s interest in Ms. Casey.
Meanwhile, Milchick stalks the halls of the severed floor with an almost predatory energy. Milchick stops in front of a cluster of blue balloons and violently rips them away, a minor action that further establishes his role as the enforcer of Lumon. Irving, still reeling from his dreams and his increasing awareness of Lumon’s darker secrets, is having a conversation with Dylan. Irving shares that he’s managed to recreate the paintings his outie created. He suggests to Dylan that these paintings may hold the key to understanding the strange visions he’s been having, including the mysterious “Hall.” Dylan remains dismissive, suggesting that Irving go look for it alone if it’s so important. Despite their time together, Dylan’s reluctance to fully join the group reveals his more solitary nature, possibly a hint at his outie’s true nature.
Miss Huang, the head of security, appears behind the two. She takes Dylan to a security room, where he’s shown a wall of images of his wife, Gretchen. Dylan’s reaction is a mix of confusion and wonder, as he’s granted an 18-minute visitation with his outie’s wife who begins to approach him from behind. The scene between Dylan and Gretchen is awkward. Despite being married in the outside world, the two seem to share no real connection. Gretchen’s distant demeanor and Dylan’s inability to remember her emphasize the emotional isolation caused by the severance process. The conversation culminates in Dylan asking if he’s a “fuck-up” and Gretchen, deflecting the question, starts showing Dylan a picture of him and his family dressed as cowboys, which Dylan mistakes for them being farmers, showing his character’s distance from the outside world.
Meanwhile, Mark and Helly, now deep within the Goat Department, encounter a woman named Lorne. The scene is surreal, with goats and people in animal skins roaming the room. She initially refuses to give the two any information until Mark points out that if they made Ms. Casey disappear, what’s stopping them from doing the same to her? Lorne then informs the two of Ms. Casey’s involvement in the department’s “husbandry tanks,” hinting at the department’s more ominous purpose.
Irving continues his search for meaning. He shares a brief, heartfelt moment with Felicia, a coworker in the art department, as they reminisce about their shared experiences with Burt. Irving’s sketchbook, filled with drawings of Burt, becomes a symbol of his longing for connection and his struggle to retain his humanity in the face of Lumon’s oppressive, machine-like system. However, when he shows Felicia a drawing of the exports hall, Felicia’s reaction shifts the mood from nostalgia to tension. Her cryptic remarks suggest that the hall might hold more secrets than the audience knows.
Cobel agrees to rejoin Lumon, but only if she’s reinstated as Severed Floor Manager to ensure Mark finishes the Cold Harbor file. Helena suggests a meeting with the board, but Cobel grows anxious and drives off. Natalie visits Ricken to discuss adapting his self-help book The You You Are for innies. Elsewhere, Mark and Devon attempt to communicate with Mark’s innie by placing “WHO IS ALIVE?” on a UV lamp, hoping to burn an afterimage into his retina. Mark tests it in his car, but Reghabi interrupts, explaining that the severance chip dilates the pupils, rendering the plan useless. She insists reintegration is the only way to send messages to and from Lumon. Mark is skeptical due to Petey’s fate, but Reghabi assures him the procedure is refined and gives him the news that Gemma is alive. Shocked, Mark agrees to reintegration. As the procedure unfolds in his basement, he flashes between his present reality and memories from the Severed Floor.
Overall, “Who Is Alive?” is a captivating episode that builds on the complex web of intrigue that Severance has carefully constructed. The emotional and psychological stakes continue to rise, with the characters grappling with their fractured identities and their relationships with one another. The episode expertly balances moments of dark absurdity with deeply human moments of vulnerability, making it one of the most compelling installments of the season so far.
Rating: 8/10