Severance Season 2 Episode 2 recap: Everything we know about Lumon's 5X branch

Severance Season 2 dives back into the mysteries of Lumon Industries and introduces fans to new employees like Ms. Huang. As seen in the latest episode 2, the story expands beyond the company’s walls and teases hints of Lumon's other branches.

The mysterious term "5X" has sparked curiosity among fans as it hints at the branch of Lumon that was shut down. While the beach no longer remains active, some laid-off workers were reassigned to other departments.

In Severance Season 2 Episode 2, Mr. Milchick can be heard mentioning the 5X branch of the company while discussing replacements for Mark S’s former Macrodata Refinement (MDR) team.

Milchick says

"I've got a floater from overseas and a pair who were laid off from 5X"

This suggests there's more to uncover about Lumon. Interestingly, this wasn't the first time when the 5X branch was mentioned.

In the Severance Season 2 premiere, the new employee Mark W. explained that he worked in the MDR department of 5X before its closure. He thought that retirement was a new chapter in his life, but Lumon reassigned him to another branch.

Mr. Milchick replaced Mark's team members with the newly resigned workers from 5X, but Mark cleverly managed to get them out. So, does that mean the 5X branch shut down due to risky experiments? Or, has Lumon now started facing budget issues?

While the latest episode didn't dive deep into what happened at the 5X branch, its mentions hint at more secrets to be exposed in coming episodes. Continue reading for a complete recap of the episode.

Severance Season 2 Episode 2 recap: Mark continues to struggle

Mark S. will continue his quest (Image Source: Apple TV+ Press)

The second episode kicks off with Mark left confused after hearing "She's alive" in the previous episode. He's unable to piece things together after his Outie (his regular self outside of work) takes over and can't recall why his Innie (his severed work self) said those words.

His confusion deepens as Mark is holding a picture of his late wife Gemma, and doesn't know the reason behind it either. Looking at Mark's situation, Ricken suggests that this could be about the baby and later realizes she is safe.

While it seems logical, Ricken's speculation doesn't explain why Mark was holding the picture of Gemma. Since Mark hasn't solved the problem yet, it continues to bother him.

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Mr. Milchick shows up at Mark's house in Severance Season 2 Episode 2

Mr. Milchick knows about the Cold Harbor project (Image Source: Apple TV+ Press)

Unlike Irving, Dylan, and Helly, Mark is considered a key employee in Lumon, and this is why Mr. Milchick shows up at his house to convince him. Since Mark is determined not to return to the company, Milchick offers him a 20% pay raise, regular wellness checks, and even a full investigation into Mark's Innie's claims.

Not only this, Mr. Milchick even brought up Gemma's death to convince Mark, as it took an emotional toll on him. Milchick reminds Mark of the time when he chose to have the severance procedure, saying that every day without his wife feels like a year.

He even states that after joining Lumon, Mark's Innie seems to have found peace, though he doesn't mention the person whom the Innie loves. Mr. Milchick's manipulation worked as Mark agreed to return to Lumon.

Also Read: How did they shoot the Severance Season 2 opening scene? Explained

Lumon wants Mark S. to complete the "Cold Harbor" project

Mark S will work on a big project (Image Source: Apple TV+ Press)

After watching Mr. Milchick doing his best to convince Mark, many might wonder about the urgency of Lumon, as to why they cannot lose Mark. Turns out, the company requires him for the "Cold Harbor" tasks.

In Severance Season 1, Mark S. was seen working on an encrypted file that is related to the Cold Harbor. While the episode didn't clearly explain the meaning behind Cold Harbor, it could be an experiment on reintegrating people, possibly involving clones.

So why is Mark S. the key player in the Cold Harbor task? As seen in the TV series, Mark S. excels in refining encrypted data at Lumon’s MDR department, and this makes him a valuable asset for Lumon. Not only this, Mark’s connection to both Gemma and Ms. Casey will also play a key role in this mysterious project.

What else happened in Severance Season 2 Episode 2?

Season 2 brought all major characters (Image Source: Apple TV+ Press)

Now that Mark S. has returned to Lumon, he wants his friends and old team members back. Luckily, the Board listens to Mark’s Innie and agrees to bring back his friends including Helly. Mr. Milchick re-hired Irving and Dylan, and the friends finally reunite.

Additionally, Helena, the daughter of the company’s founder, Kier Eagan had a tense moment with her father. She then tells Mr. Milchick to find out what the Outies of the employees previously said, and if the Innies have any information about it.

Helena's conversation reflects her habit of relying on her father's decisions, even if he's not directly involved.