What is the Break Room in Severance? Mysteries of the Lumon Industries' department, revisited

The Break Room in Severance is a place that's both mysterious and unnerving. You might think it is just a spot for employees to unwind, but it is a scary part of the show. This is where Lumon Industries, the company in the show, punishes workers who don't follow the rules. These workers are called "innies," and they only live in the company's world.

The first season of Severance shows us how nasty the Break Room can be through Helly's terrible time there. It is where they mess with people's minds and might hurt them physically. The series doesn't hold back when it shows how mean the company can get to those who don't do as they are told. This makes the Break Room one of the most disturbing places in the whole show.

Helly (Helena Eagan's innie) is forced to repeat a scary mantra over and over, experiencing intense pain, as if her mind is being controlled.

This mantra is a clear example of forced mental conditioning:

"Forgive me for the harm I have caused this world. None may atone for my actions but me, and only in me shall their stain live on. I am thankful to have been caught, my fall cut short by those with wizened hands. All I can be is sorry, and that is all that I am.”

The process at Lumon isn't just about punishing employees. It is also about making them submit, as Mark's bruised knuckles show after his experience.

In Severance Season 2, a new Break Room looks like a real-world one. But it still feels like it's pushing down on everyone. This room fits the show's main ideas about controlling others and going too far in business.

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Lumon’s Break Room functions as psychological torture

The Break Room serves a purpose beyond punishment, an instrument for brainwashing. It works like the methods seen in George Orwell's 1984, where employees must repeat self-critical statements until they accept them as truth. It is as if they are told to say "2+2=5" over and over until they actually believe it.

This mental anguish is heightened by the sense of timelessness during the sessions, making the experience feel endless to the employees, known as "innies." Moreover, the Break Room on Severance might manipulate memories.

People report hearing various voices, such as an "angry mumbly guy" or a "crying baby." Some Reddit users in the Severance community think these voices could be echoes of their outside selves' (or "outies") past traumas, causing them to re-experience the painful moments without knowing their reason.

This tailored form of torment not only makes the employees obey Lumon's rules but also takes away their freedom. The company uses these techniques to ensure compliance and control. However, for the employees, the experience is marked by suffering and confusion. Breaking down their thoughts and memories helps the company mold them into perfect, obedient workers.

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The Break Room looks rebranded in Severance Season 2

In Severance Season 2 Episode 1, Lumon introduces a redesigned Break Room that is made to seem like a regular office break area. It has a TV and comfortable chairs. This happened after people complained about how Lumon treated their severed employees. Milchick did this to make things better after the complaints.

But, this change is just on the outside. The Break Room is still the same old place that controls people's minds. It is like a fake makeover to hide the bad stuff. As we dive into Season 2, we might learn more about its purpose. But for now, Lumon is still really powerful.

The Break Room symbolizes how companies can control people without their awareness. Milchick keeps making the workers do what he wants, even while pretending to make things better. This is what the show Severance is all about - showing the not-so-nice ways companies have power over their employees.

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You can now watch Severance only on Apple TV+.