The Severance Season 2 Finale, titled Cold Harbor, delivered an exciting and emotional ending, which left the audience with more questions than it did answers. While many fans may be frustrated at this, it should have been expected, as the show itself centers on the uncertainty and chaos of the Innies’ hidden and sinister work lives.
The final episode saw many developments that fans had been waiting for, including the conclusion of Mark’s attempt to rescue his wife Gemma from Lumon’s menacing intentions; to run inhumane tests on her until she’s no use to them anymore. The shocking twist in the last seconds of the episode deepens the story of exploring the different identities of one’s self, as Mark struggles with his conflicting desires.
Cold Harbor also showed the audience the unsettling true behind the scenes operations going on in Lumon that they had been waiting for through both seasons, including the true reason for the Cold Harbor room, and the psychological exams and tests of Gemma. Meanwhile, Mr. Milchik worries about his ability to keep control over his subject Ms. Wong and his ability to keep his job in the intimidating face of Mr. Drummond. Moreover, Cobel’s motivations to “help” Mark and bring down Lumon remain contradictory and uncertain. The final seconds of the episode see Gemma left on the outside of the Severed Floor while Mark and Helly turn around and run into the show’s uncharted territory, leaving high anticipations and possibilities for Season 3.
I found the highlights of the episode to be its skilled storytelling and sudden intense character development, specifically Adam Scott’s exceptional acting as both versions of Mark, becoming more obvious than ever in the sequence of going back and forth between innie and outie in the cabin retreat with Cobel. Critics also mentioned the cinematic direction and underlying eerie tone that has defined the series making a climax in the finale, coupled with a continued ethical dilemma about the severance process continuing in the writing. However, there are critics that agree that the episode creates too many unanswered questions without resolving other crucial points brought up throughout the show, which makes the wait for Season 3 even more tormenting for viewers.
Overall, Cold Harbor was a gripping and compelling conclusion to the second season, once again underlining Severance as one of the most intriguing and unique sci-fi dramas on TV. Whether you thought that it left too much unanswered or not, you can’t deny that it left a lasting impact on viewers forcing you to wait for the next season.
