Severance pulls the curtain on the big reveal of what is happening to Gemma

In the television series Severance, workers at Lumon Industries undergo a process that divides their memories between their personal and professional lives. As a result, there are two separate identities, the outie for personal life and the innie for work.

The narrative revolves around Mark Scout (Adam Scott), who works for Lumon's Macrodata Refinement (MDR) division. In Season 2 Episode 7, Chikhai Bardo, it is revealed that Mark's wife, Gemma, is a part of frightening experiments at Lumon.

In the episode released on February 28, 2025, Gemma's mind has been divided into several personas, each subjected to terrible testing. The episode centers on Gemma's problems, shedding light on the company's sinister objectives and the ethical concerns they present.

The following article contains spoilers for Severance Season 2 Episode 7. Reader discretion is advised.

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More about Gemma’s storyline on Severance

The plot of Severance's most recent episode, Chikhai Bardo, takes a dramatic turn when the truth surrounding Gemma's disappearance comes to light. The long-missing Gemma, Mark's wife, is revealed to have disappeared in this episode.

On Lumon's lowest testing floors, it is found that Gemma is the object of disturbing experiments. The severance technology used in these studies divides her psyche into several personalities, each of which is sequestered in a different room within Lumon.

Through a series of flashbacks, viewers are given a peek of Mark and Gemma's lives before her abduction. This included their troubles with infertility. These scenes emphasize their emotional bond, and also include the terrible conditions they encountered. However, the episode's primary focus is on Gemma's current situation.

She is locked in numerous disconnected states, each one designed for a specific purpose, like undergoing painful dental operations or surviving a simulated plane crash. The rooms where these tests take place are labeled with titles such as Allentown and Cold Harbor, which appear to mirror the continuing work of Lumon's staff, including Mark's work on the MDR files.

Gemma makes an attempt to flee as the episode proceeds but Lumon's security catches her. Her separated personalities experience extreme mental and physical suffering. With this, her efforts expose the horrifying scope of the company's manipulation. This troubling circumstance highlights the dubious intentions of the firm sponsoring these tests.

The episode also highlights the relationship between the severance process and the Buddhist idea of the bardo, the transitional state between death and rebirth. This viewpoint provides a better understanding of the moral dilemmas raised by Lumon's actions, by reaffirming that Gemma's experiences are psychological as well as physical.

Read More: Severance Season 2: Release date, plot, cast, and more about the sci-fi thriller on Apple TV+