Severance caused many theories to be concocted, with one suggesting Lumon’s plans are more wide-reaching than first thought. By the time of Severance season 1’s ending, the show had answered some questions in the minds of viewers but left others wide open. As a mystery box TV show, Severance has to keep raising new plot points to keep viewers engaged, leading to theories being crafted during, in between, and before each season of TV.

Naturally, many of these theories are being carried over into Severance season 2’s story. Lingering questions surround what will happen now that Mark knows his believed-dead wife is alive, and the fate of Helly R. who figured out her out-of-work personality is the heir to Lumon’s empire. Perhaps the biggest question, however, is what exactly Lumon’s motivations for severance are. One theory does not claim to answer this specifically but claims Lumon’s plans are more wide-reaching, and thus disturbing, than anyone thought.

Ricken & His Friends Have All Been Severed – Theory Explained

Mark’s Brother-In-Law Ricken Could Have Undertaken The Severance Procedure

The theory in question surrounds a previously unknown extension of Lumon’s plans. In Severance season 1, only those who work in Lumon’s offices during work hours were shown to have been severed. However, this theory claims that there are people living on the outside world who have had their work and home lives severed. The subject of this theory is Ricken, the husband of Mark’s wife, who may have been severed among his friends or simply had them severed.

This theory explores the possibility that Ricken, a relatively minor character in Severance season 1, actually ties closer to Lumon than first thought. While Ricken’s self-help book is integral to galvanizing Mark’s innie personality into taking action against Lumon, he is mostly removed from the plot of Severance. That said, if this theory turned out to be true, he and his friends would have already undergone severance and be mere pawns of Lumon.

Ricken & His Friends Being Severed Would Explain Their Odd Behavior

Ricken’s Friends Are Strangely Depicted In Severance Season 1

Not only would Ricken and his friends being severed link them closer to the plot of Severance going forward, but it would also explain their strange behavior throughout the show thus far. In several episodes of Severance season 1, especially one where Ricken hosts a book-reading party, his friends have some unnatural moments. For instance, one of Ricken’s friends is named Rebeck. In an episode, Rebeck mentions that she has sores on the back of her head, potentially from the severance procedure.

What is even stranger is that one of Rebeck’s friends mentions that they do not know which name she is currently using, hinting at two potential personalities. Another of Ricken’s friends states that they did not know that World War I went by that name. Finally, one of Ricken’s friends is immensely proud when he finds Ricken’s baby, despite Mark having found it. These are all immensely strange moments surrounding Ricken and his friends, which could be explained by them having innie personalities that are less used to being around people and unaware of a lot of details about the outside world.

Why Severance Is Likely Hiding Other Characters Who Have Been Severed

Severance Season 1 Teased Lumon’s Severance Plans

Finally, it is worth exploring why this theory would make sense within the world of Severance. As of the end of Severance season 1, it is still unclear exactly what Lumon’s wider plans are. However, what is clear is that Lumon is trying to make the public perception of severance more positive. The reason why Severance‘s Helena Eagan twist was included was to further this goal. As the heir to Lumon, Helena underwent severance to prove to the wider public that it was a feasible humane operation and that if she could do it, anyone could.

Lumon’s reasoning for increasing public perception was so that the severance procedure could become commonplace in American society. Ricken and his friends being severed, among other people who applied for it, on the outside world would make this easier for Lumon. If the company revealed that more people gave permission to be severed and that their outside lives had not been affected, and that people around them did not notice, it would make severance seem better to the public.

Secondly, it is clear Lumon has used severed people for their own means. Ricken and his friends could be severed as a means of spying on top workers like Mark. That way, Lumon could keep an even closer watch on Mark when Mrs. Selvig/Cobel is not around. All of this supports the theory of hidden severed workers in Severance, a theory that could come to fruition in season 2.