‘Severance’ Season 2 Hints at Real-World Conspiracy

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Spoiler Alert: Spoilers for Severance through Season 2, Episode 4

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  • What Is the Montauk Project in ‘Severance’?
  • What Does The Montauk Project Mean for ‘Severance’?

The second season of “Severance” is moving at a swift pace, and episode “Woe’s Hollow” stands out even among this impressive run. It not only deepens the enigma surrounding Lumon Industries’ past but also addresses questions we didn’t realize needed answering. Acting powerhouses Britt Lower and particularly John Turturro (we hope Irving will return) delivered exceptional performances in this episode. Despite the ongoing mystery about Lumon’s final objective, the show avoids the pitfall of deliberately withholding information or circling aimlessly.

This week may have subtly pointed us towards where things could develop, and many viewers likely missed it. During the MDR team’s corporate retreat, Irving, growing more paranoid, acted out in defiance against Milchick by venturing into the woods. He got lost, dozed off, and had a dream filled with unsettling imagery reminiscent of David Lynch. However, for those with keen eyes, the most intriguing Easter egg in that scene was a text message on a computer monitor, which read “Montauk: 3% Complete.

What Is the Montauk Project in ‘Severance’?

The TV series “Severance” has frequently woven mysteries into its narrative, and it’s evident that the projects of the MDR team serve a broader purpose at Lumon. Moreover, Mark seems to be a crucial figure in a nearly-concluded undertaking called “Cold Harbor,” an interesting title as it echoes a historical battle from 1864, predating Lumon’s establishment in the show’s timeline.

It’s unlikely that the reference to Montauk was made by mistake. Instead, it might be connected to the Montauk Project, a theory from the 1980s-90s claiming secret government activities took place at a base in Montauk, NY. Proponents of this conspiracy claim that these activities encompassed various areas such as psychological warfare, mind control, teleportation, time travel, and even extraterrestrials.

In the ’80s, there were whispers of this intriguing conspiracy theory. However, it wasn’t until the ’90s that these murmurs gained traction and became more widely known to the public. This was largely due to author Preston Nichols who started publishing his Montauk Project book series. He allegedly unearthed repressed memories of being taken and subjected to experiments at a tender age. Although he didn’t explicitly state whether these books were based on fact or fiction, they resonated strongly with conspiracy enthusiasts.

Though largely considered works of fiction, Nichols’ books have nonetheless left a significant mark on popular culture. The 1984 film “The Philadelphia Experiment” originated from an alleged event that followers of Montauk believe was linked to the project’s early stages. Notably, the concept of the Montauk Project served as a major influence for the hit series “Stranger Things”, even if it wasn’t directly incorporated into the show, with the original working title being “Montauk”.

What Does The Montauk Project Mean for ‘Severance’?

If we consider this shoutout as a hint for future events, what might it indicate about where the series “Severance” is heading? There are numerous possibilities. One interpretation could be that the mention of Montauk, seen on an MDR computer monitor in the scene, is yet another secret project by Lumon Industries. It’s plausible that Montauk might be another name for “Cold Harbor,” the task assigned to the MDR team to accomplish.

However, the hints we’ve received about “Cold Harbor” suggest it will mainly revolve around Ms. Casey/Gemma. Contrarily, the Montauk Project theory implies a vast, worldwide influence, leading us to believe that in Severance, “Montauk” may represent one of Lumon’s largest-scale projects, or perhaps even its largest. It’s yet unclear whether this also encompasses actual abductions and experiments, or if it refers to a broader application of the severance process.

In the opening scenes of “Woe’s Hollow”, there might have been a hint added to future events. In what could be described as the most bizarre scene in that episode, the MDR team stumbles upon a decaying seal corpse, and in a moment of desperation, Irving proposes they consume it. This scene bears striking resemblance to an incident in 2008, where an animal carcass (most assumed it was a seal) was discovered in Montauk, close to the Air Force base. Those who support the Montauk Project theory frequently cite this as evidence of a conspiracy, and the creature became known as the “Montauk Monster.

It’s possible that the shoutouts in Severance are merely coincidental, as suggested by Ben Stiller, who has directed many of its episodes and mentioned Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as an influence on the show. The frequent references to Montauk could be a nod to the movie’s tragic ending. However, the recurring allusions to the Montauk Project seem too overt to be mere coincidence. Although we don’t know where these references will take us (if anywhere), Severance has kept us captivated and eagerly anticipating each new episode. Right now, we can’t wait for Season 2, which is currently streaming on Apple TV, with a fresh episode released every Friday.

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2025-02-11 05:02