17 Key Details from 'Severance' Season 1 You Must Remember Before Season 2 Starts

After a two-year wait, 'Severance' returns for Season 2 on January 17, exclusively on Apple TV+.

The 10-episode second season has generated significant excitement among fans, already earning glowing reviews from critics. Both 'Variety' and 'Vulture' have praised it as 'worth the wait.'

If you're like me and watched Season 1 when it first aired in 2022, you might realize that you’ve forgotten some of the important details you need to recall before Season 2 begins.

Here are 17 things you absolutely need to know about 'Severance' Season 1 before diving into Season 2:

WARNING: MAJOR SEASON 1 SPOILERS AHEAD!

This post includes references to suicide.

1. To start, it's essential to remember that 'Severance' kicks off with Helly R. (Britt Lower) joining Lumon Industries and undergoing the severance procedure. While Mark (Adam Scott) is the central character, Helly's decision to participate in the severance program sparks the events that drive the story forward.

2. Helly, a somewhat rebellious newcomer, pushes Mark to begin questioning the secrets of Lumon's daily operations and the severance program, joined by Dylan G. (Zach Cherry) and Irving B. (John Turturro).

3. It's revealed that Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman) is actually Gemma, Mark's wife, who tragically died in a car accident.

4. After Mark and Ms. Casey's final wellness session, she is sent back down to the 'testing floor,' which has the same entrance and hallway depicted in Irving's outie paintings.

5. Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette), the manager of the severed floor at Lumon — and also Mrs. Selvig, Mark's neighbor outside of work — is fired from Lumon after it is revealed that Helly attempted suicide.

6. Mark's sister Devon (Jen Tullock) meets Senator Angelo Arteta, who she later realizes is a key figure in the severance debate. She comes across an article detailing his stance on 'defending corporations like Lumon and their use of the controversial severance procedure.'

7. Now, the Season 1 finale is where you need to remember a lot of crucial details. It starts with Dylan staying behind at Lumon to set off the overtime contingency, which allows Mark, Helly, and Irving's innie personalities to take over their outie lives.

8. Helly wakes up to find herself at a Lumon gala, only to discover that her outie is Helena Eagan, the daughter of Lumon's CEO. She underwent the severance procedure to help gain public support for the legalization of the procedure.

9. Mark discovers he's at a party with Ricken (Michael Chernus), who turns out to be his brother-in-law. Earlier in the season, Mark's innie was reading Ricken's book after finding it at Lumon. This is when Mark's innie realizes he underwent the severance procedure after Gemma's death.

10. At the party, Mark accidentally refers to Cobel as 'Cobel' instead of 'Mrs. Selvig,' causing her to flee and head to Lumon, knowing the overtime contingency is active. She then contacts Milchick (Tramell Tillman), who rushes to stop Dylan and shut it down.

11. Irving wakes up to find out that his outie has been gathering intel on severed Lumon employees, including himself and Burt (Christopher Walken). He locates Burt's address and uses a map to track him down.

12. At the gala, Helly speaks with her father, who praises her for surviving what her 'innie tried to do,' alluding to her suicide attempt. He also discloses that because of her participation in the severance program, everyone could eventually have a severance chip.

13. While his innie controls his outie's persona, Mark confides in Devon, urging her to thoroughly inspect every part of the Lumon facility. He also reveals that Mrs. Selvig is actually Cobel, his boss at Lumon.

14. Just before her speech at the Lumon gala, Cobel faces off with Helly. On stage, Helly introduces herself and boldly declares that 'everything they've told you about severance is a lie,' revealing that none of the innies are content and that they endure torture.

15. Milchick tries to bribe Dylan by mentioning his three children to stop the overtime contingency. However, he barges into the room and tackles Dylan, preventing him from holding the two levers and halting the procedure.

16. Eventually, Irving tracks down Burt and discovers that he is living with another man. Despite this, Irving approaches Burt's front door, calling out to him, but the overtime contingency is deactivated before they can meet.

17. In the final moments of the season, while searching the house for baby Eleanor, Mark stumbles upon a wedding photo featuring himself with Gemma/Ms. Casey. He cries out, 'She's alive,' just as the season comes to a close.

Are you excited for Severance Season 2? What mysteries are you hoping to be revealed? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!