Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the Apple TV show Severance.
Depending on their current roles in Lumon Industries and their innies’ general perspectives on the way things are, the storylines of the individual characters on Apple TV+s Severance can vary widely. Some narratives are more interesting than others, with a few significantly contributing to the overarching story being told in the sci-fi series.
The best story arcs on the show almost always come with jarring revelations about the characters, like in the case of Ms. Casey or Ms. Cobel, or they highlight important changes that happen to the individuals, like in Irving and Mark’s narratives. While there’s no telling precisely whose story arc will be considered the best before the first season ends, fans likely already have a pretty good idea based on what they have seen so far.
Seth Milchick
As the supervisor on Lumon’s severed floor, it’s Mr. Milchick’s job to keep the employees in check for Ms. Cobel. If he can resolve issues without escalating them to her, then he’s excelling in his role.
Fans don’t really see much of a change in Mr. Milchick throughout the first season, as he’s always been depicted as a slightly intimidating and untrustworthy manager who hides his bad intentions with a smile. His compliments and actions usually seem like veiled threats, but aside from these aspects, viewers haven’t really learned much about his motivations and personal life, which makes it difficult to feel invested in his storyline.
Devon
Devon tries her best to be there for Mark and to make sure he’s okay, as she knows that he needs that kind of support from his sister after Gemma’s (alleged) passing. Her main connection to Lumon is through Mark, which means she doesn’t really get involved in all of the messy things about the company.
The one aspect of her story arc that has stood out is her odd interaction with Gabby Arteta in the birthing lodge. This may be developing into a clue about the severance procedure being used outside of the company, but until she pursues it further, she’ll continue to remain in the background.
Ms. Casey (Gemma)
Ms. Casey has always had main character energy, and now fans finally know why. The resident wellness counselor has recently been the subject of a shocking revelation on the show, as she may be Mark’s dead wife. This raises a lot of questions about her story arc – why do Mark and his family think she’s dead? Is she stuck in Lumon? Why would they keep her there?
That said, these questions have so far been the most interesting parts of her narrative, and they haven’t been explored on the show just yet. Based on what viewers have seen of her, though, she’s been portrayed more like Mr. Milchick in the way she follows orders without question and gets the job done to keep Ms. Cobel happy.
Regabhi
Although she was only recently introduced in person, it’s already obvious to fans that Regabhi may be a powerful character in the series. According to her, she’s responsible for putting the chip in Mark (and Petey’s) head, and she’s the only one who can get it out.
She has presumably been working with Petey to find out exactly what Lumon is up to and put an end to it. Viewers haven’t seen what she has done so far, though. While her limited interactions with Mark have been riveting and intense, she’ll need some more screen time to prove to audiences that she’s everything she’s been hyped up to be.
Burt
Burt has one of the more attention-grabbing jobs on the show. As a member and even division head of Optics and Design, he gets to see the art and decor brought into the company before anyone else does. His team is also responsible for handling peculiar supplies like watering cans and hatchets.
Of course, what makes his individual narrative particularly absorbing is his budding romance with Irving. The pair are adorable to watch, and Burt often leads the way and encourages Irving to bend the rules a little bit. The only downside to his story arc is that it sometimes feels like it only serves to progress Irving’s.
Dylan George
Among all of the Macrodata Refinement workers, it was Dylan who was the most difficult to gauge. He can sometimes be subservient and even express how much he enjoys the company’s perks, but he has also encouraged Mark to be more rebellious and ask questions.
The confusion is cleared up for both him and audiences after he experiences “the overtime contingency,” though, as it motivates him unlike anything ever has. He finally accepts the fact that their current working conditions are cruel and twisted, and commits to using his skills to help Mark and Helly venture outside the walls. This shift has made him even more likable, and viewers are undoubtedly rooting for him and hoping he’ll one day meet his son again.
Helly Riggs
Helly is one of the best characters on the show, as it’s easy to fall in love with her because of how defiant and smart she is. It’s also through her story arc that fans learn exactly how terrifying it is to become an innie and survive those first few days of being forced to accept a new reality in Lumon.
There are other aspects of her individual narrative that have been sparking discussions among fans as well, including a potential romance with Mark, as well as the identity of her stubborn outtie. It’s worth noting that she has taken a backseat in the series during the last few episodes, which will hopefully change before the highly anticipated finale.
Harmony Cobel
Ms. Cobel has always been portrayed as cold and intimidating in the series. As the main antagonist and the big boss on the severed floor, she has to show that she’s capable and always striving to do what’s best for Lumon.
Throughout the first season, fans have seen how she also has an even darker, more unhinged side. Viewers won’t soon forget the creepy scene where she worships images of Kier Eagan arranged on a shrine in her home. It’s not clear exactly why she’s so obsessed with Kier and with Lumon as a whole – fans will have to wait and see the potentially strange backstory that could explain her actions.
Irving Bailiff
It’s not too far-fetched to say that Irving is now a fan-favorite LGBTQ+ sci-fi character, mostly thanks to his endearing relationship with Burt on the series. Irving goes against his own deeply instilled loyalty to Lumon and “the Eagan philosophy” to explore his potential romance with Burt, which is why it’s so disappointing that it has seemingly been cut short.
There are other aspects that make the senior Refiner’s story arc appealing as well, like the still-unexplained visions of dark goo Irving occasionally gets, and his outtie’s interesting personality as revealed during his wellness session. Fans are likely eager to see how Irving’s newfound motivation to rebel completely will affect his narrative in future episodes.
Mark Scout
Of course, the best story arc on the series so far has been none other than the protagonist’s, Mark. Fans see most of the events unfold through his eyes at first, and it’s through his heartbreaking story that they understand why some people willingly choose to be severed.
From his missing (and hopefully soon-to-be-found) wife to his newfound alliance with Regabhi, there’s more than one reason to feel invested in both his innie and outtie versions. It will be interesting to see if he makes the same decision Petey did and eventually merge his two personalities, as that could be the gamechanger that disrupts Lumon’s insidious operations.
