This ‘Severance’ Fan Theory Might Finally Reveal Lumon’s True Agenda

What If 'Severance' Was Never About Work?

What if Severance isn’t just about splitting work from personal life?

Episode 7, Chikhai Bardo, threw fans into a whirlwind of new questions—especially with Gemma’s disturbing journey through various “pain rooms.”

A new theory is emerging that changes everything we thought we knew.

Let’s break it down.

The Game-Changing Idea

Many theories have surfaced, but one, in particular, stands out.

It suggests that Lumon’s ultimate goal is to market Severance as a way to eliminate pain, trauma, and even boredom—not just at work, but in all aspects of life.

This would mean the severance process isn’t just about work-life balance. It’s about skipping any part of life you don’t want to experience.

And it’s far more sinister than we ever imagined.

The Key Clues From Episode 7

Here’s what led to this mind-blowing theory:

The “Pain Rooms” – We see Gemma repeatedly experiencing discomfort, like dental procedures, writing Christmas thank-you cards, and extreme plane turbulence. These are all common, unpleasant experiences people wish they could avoid.
The “Birthing Cabin” – First introduced in Season 1, it allows the wealthy to skip the pain of childbirth through severance.
Multiple Severed Personalities – Gemma appears to have different versions of herself handling different tasks. Could this be Lumon’s way of spreading out the burden of pain, so no single “innie” is overwhelmed?
The Dentist’s Sinister Role – Fans pointed out how the dentist appears to enjoy torturing Gemma. He dresses in different costumes, engages in different “scenarios” with her, and treats her like a doll to be played with. This raises the terrifying possibility that some severed workers exist purely to be abused.
The Lumon Symbol on Medical Documents – The Lumon logo appears on blood bags and fertility clinic forms, suggesting that Mark and Gemma were specifically chosen due to their shared trauma of losing a child.

These elements suggest Lumon isn’t just interested in workplace severance, but in expanding it to eliminate pain from life entirely.

Expanding the Theory

A deeper version of this idea, first posted by u/Dry-Consideration, takes things even further:

Tracking Through Medical Procedures – Lumon is monitoring people through blood collection, fertility treatments, and more. It’s even hinted that Mark and Gemma’s personal tragedy may have been orchestrated by Lumon.
Mark and Gemma Were Specifically Chosen – The theory suggests they were targeted due to the trauma of losing a child, making them ideal candidates for Lumon’s experiment.
Cold Harbor & Drowning – This phrase is thought to symbolize drowning, possibly Gemma’s biggest fear. Could Lumon be using these extreme fears as a final test?
Ms. Casey’s Role – She’s there to see if Mark and Gemma can co-exist without recognizing each other, proving the system works. Some fans speculate Lumon wants them to remember each other, but without the traumatic memories.
Severance as an Escape for the Wealthy – If this is true, the endgame is clear: offering severance to the rich as a way to avoid any pain, trauma, or even an unpleasant death.
The Ultimate Mind Control? – A chilling final possibility is that Lumon can force-switch personalities at will, creating obedient, worshipful innies whenever they want. If true, severance isn’t just about avoiding pain—it’s about total control.

The Big Question: Can You Truly Experience Joy Without Pain?

If this theory is correct, Severance isn’t just about avoiding pain—it’s about eliminating all of life’s struggles.

But here’s the catch: Can you truly feel happiness if you’ve never experienced suffering?

Is this utopia—or a nightmare?

With only a few episodes left, we may soon find out if Lumon’s true goal is to create a world where people never feel pain—or never feel anything at all.