Cobel is probably Mark's last hope to get reintegrated (& Severance Season 3 will likely hold the answers)

Mark Scout's path in Severance has been relentless in his pursuit to reclaim his shattered life. With Lumon Industries closing in tighter and the status of his wife, Gemma, still in question, his final hope for reintegration might lie with the assistance of an unexpected friend — Harmony Cobel.

While Season 2 raised more questions than it answered, it is increasingly obvious that Cobel, who was once a hardline enforcer of Lumon's doctrine, is now the key to unlocking the company's darkest secrets.

What could her motivations be? And can Mark trust her?

The latest discussions on Reddit point to increasing speculation regarding Cobel's endgame. Cobel is plainly on the warpath now. She might no longer be completely loyal to Lumon. Nevertheless, some theorize she might still be staging a coup instead of planning to destroy the company entirely.

Ben Stiller reinforced the uncertainty of Cobel's allegiance, telling Variety:

“Her motivations are always unclear.”

With Severance Season 3 looks all set to bring long-sought answers, Mark's return seems to depend on what Cobel decides to make an open secret.

---

Severance: Is Cobel a savior or a master manipulator?

Throughout Severance, Cobel has been mysterious. She has had moments where she has seemed to genuinely care for Mark, and others where she has callously enforced Lumon's totalitarian regime.

This ambivalence creates an important question: Is she plotting a rebellion against Lumon, or is she simply playing a game to consolidate her position?

One hypothesis is that Cobel could have been the one behind Gemma's dismissal all along. She may be the mastermind behind Gemma's circumstances, which would mean she might know more about the Cold Harbor test that was integral to Lumon's agenda.

If so, she has information that could specifically benefit Mark's reintroduction, but whether she will cooperate is unknown.

Cobel's unpredictability is exactly what makes her such a crucial character in Mark's battle. Devon, who has been deeply manipulated by Cobel in the past, still thinks there is something genuine about her.

Severance creator Dan Erickson told Variety Devon's faith in Cobel is a "calculated decision," implying that even those who have been betrayed by her perceive a glimmer of authenticity behind her facades.

---

Why and how is Cobel needed for reintegration?

If Cobel does possess the information required to reverse severance, why hasn't she done it yet? Perhaps the reason can be found in the need-to-know framework of Lumon. Lumon operates on a need-to-know basis, meaning even those at the higher levels might not have complete knowledge about the goals.

This might be the reason why the reintegration effort eludes her — if Cobel lacks all the pieces, she might be attempting to collect them before she makes a move.

In addition, Cobel is one of the only high-ranking Lumon officials still in play following the death of Drummond. She finds herself uniquely positioned to affect what will happen next on Mark's journey.

Reintegration has already been shown difficult even for someone with the limited understanding of Reghabi, as regards the severance procedure as opposed to the entirety of Lumon's research — it only makes sense that Cobel's inside information is crucial. How much she decides to use it to help Mark (or as an instrument of control) will also be a seminal conflict in Season 3.

With Severance Season 3 previewing the second half of Lumon's manipulative experiment, Cobel's decisions will secure the destiny of Mark, Gemma, and all severed colleagues. Will she be the breakthrough to freedom or lock the corporation's hold down tighter? That remains to be seen.

---

Severance can be streamed on Apple TV+.