SEVERANCE: The Horrifying Truth About Macrodata Refinement & The Secrets It Holds

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In the show “Severance,” one of the major mysteries from season one revolved around the tasks performed by the macrodata refiners at Lumon. The employees are aware that their work is enigmatic and crucial, but odd. Their responsibilities seem to involve separating specific, time-sensitive documents into five digital containers based on seemingly random numbers, which for some reason trigger genuine emotions. With the start of season two, we may have uncovered what they’ve been doing all along – and it’s as disturbing as viewers anticipated. In the “Severance” season two premiere, it is revealed that Mark’s current file is linked to his “deceased” wife Gemma.

Towards the end of “Goodbye, Ms. Cobel”, Mark was seen working on a new file titled “Cold Harbor”. This file appears to be related to none other than Ms. Casey herself. He inserted a set of numbers that gave him a sense of comfort into one of the five containers beneath, smiling as he did so. The exact meaning behind these different buckets remains unclear, but we do know that they are connected in some way to Kier Eagan’s Four Temperaments.

When Mark added the data set to the file, it moved from 67% complete to 68%. Meanwhile, without his knowledge, a corresponding file on another computer that displayed Gemma’s picture also increased by the same percentage. However, her part of the document held significantly more information than his. The details visible on her screen included her latest body temperature and heart rate.

It seems that macrodata refiners might be dealing with authentic human experiences, or at least it appears so in some instances. Given how these “random” numbers can stir genuine emotions, I suspect they could be the true feelings of real people, a theory many entertained during season one. However, what’s intriguing is why such human sentiments are emerging within a digital document? Given who confirmed this possibility and the file name, the potential explanations are quite unsettling, to say the least. Could it be that these emotions have been somehow integrated into this digital record, perhaps even frozen in time?

Earlier, we encountered macrodata files labeled with names such as “Tumwater,” “Culpepper,” “Dranesville,” and “Cairns.” On their own, these names didn’t hold much significance for us, despite knowing they carry significant weight on the show Severance. However, when we consider “Cold Harbor” in relation to a woman presumed dead who suddenly reappeared as one of the most peculiar severed humans ever encountered, it certainly tells a compelling story.

Is it accurate to say that Ms. Casey/Gemma, who was last spotted heading towards the enigmatic Testing Floor, is currently in a state of suspended animation, perhaps even surrounded by ice? Could her display showing “PCKT” rate and time be referring to the fact that she’s being stored or contained somehow? If she isn’t undergoing some kind of stasis, why would there be continuous monitoring of her health vitals? If she’s simply living a normal life outside the system, why is anyone keeping tabs on her health status? Lastly, does this file definitively confirm that Gemma has indeed perished and is being kept alive through an unspecified digital means?

If what I’ve learned is correct, it implies that others might exist in this way too, even if they don’t have physical bodies like Ms. Casey. This could also explain why she was only active for 107 hours and behaves differently from other Innies. Could it be possible that Lumon isn’t just connecting human bodies but rather linking brains to computers? And are the macrodata refiners used to partition the emotions they experience? Perhaps this is why we never see Lumon’s board; because everyone connected is “alive” without being alive in a traditional sense.

Despite our understanding being limited regarding the tasks performed by macrodata refiners after their separation from the main system, there are several unknown factors. Although some theories may hold true, we remain uncertain as to what these digital containers symbolize. We’re also unaware of why most projects never reach completion and vanish without a trace, along with the underlying mechanisms that govern them. However, the discovery about Mark’s work file has sparked speculation that Kier Eagan, Lumon’s founder, might still be alive in some form and actively managing the company. This could shed light on why this specific department’s tasks are shrouded in mystery yet deemed crucial by Lumon. The nature of their work remains a secret known only to them, but it seems that this is the only aspect that truly captures Lumon’s attention.

Mark Scout’s eagerness to return to Lumon could possibly not stem from what one would typically expect. Instead, it seems that he yearns to return for a unique reason – a hope to keep his wife alive. It appears that the company’s deepest basement, where they supposedly have his wife, might be the last chance for her revival. This theory could be further supported by the idea of Macrodata refinement being the key to this extraordinary endeavor.

Mikey Walsh serves as a staff writer for TopMob, uncertain about the role of his position, often found on Bluesky under the handle @burgermike, and frequently engaged in discussions where the Targaryen kings are being ranked.

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2025-01-17 22:32