The long-awaited backstory of Gemma has finally surfaced in Severance Season 2, Episode 7. Titled Chikhai Bardo, this episode dives into the past and present of the woman formerly known as Ms. Casey. With revelations about her connection to Lumon Industries and a glimpse into Mark’s fractured memories, this episode brings some answers—but raises even more questions.
A Love Story Cut Short
Before the events at Lumon, Gemma and Mark had a life filled with love, books, and an enviable home with excellent southern exposure. Their story included a meet-cute at a blood drive, a wedding, and even an unconventional gift of ants. The emotional pain of a loss and IVF difficulties, however, clouded their bliss and apparently sparked Gemma’s interest in Lumon.
Gemma shows Mark a set of chikhai bardo cards, which are strikingly identical to the one Dylan took in Season 1, and says, “I think I got onto the mailing list at the clinic,” as she reminisces about earlier incidents. The state that exists right after death is symbolized as chikhai bardo in Buddhist traditions, which is a direct reference to Gemma’s purported passing.
Gemma’s Connection to Lumon
As Mark’s reintegration-induced flashbacks unfold, we revisit the night of Gemma’s alleged fatal car crash. The lingering look she gives Mark before leaving suggests that she knew she wasn’t coming back in the way he expected. Fast forward to Lumon HQ, where Gemma is revealed to be an in-house experiment, subjected to a series of bizarre tests in rooms named Cairns, Dranesville, Loveland, and Lucknow. These experiments range from turbulence simulations to endless thank-you card writing in a surreal holiday setting.
The most disturbing revelation? Gemma’s reality is composed entirely of these experimental rooms. Each session activates a severed state, but not the same one that made her Ms. Casey. Instead, she experiences various fragmented realities designed to test the severance process. The Wellington room, featuring hours in a dental chair, might be the most unsettling of all.
Testing the Severance Barriers
Drummond’s ominous question during a flashback—“Are the severance barriers working?”—confirms Lumon’s ongoing experimentation with severance technology. During Ms. Casey’s stint monitoring Helly in MDR, she and Mark failed to recognize each other. This suggests that severance is far more intricate than previously believed, possibly allowing for multiple personalities within a single subject.
Mark’s Growing Despair
In pre-Lumon times, Mark dismissed Gemma’s interest in severance. “Why are you wasting your time with this?” he asked. The irony is devastating—his grief eventually drove him to undergo severance himself, despite knowing about Lumon’s questionable reputation. This adds a tragic layer to his story, as he unknowingly subjected himself to the very institution that took his wife.As Severance Season 2, Episode 7 peels back layers of mystery, the lines between identity, memory, and reality blur even further. With just a few episodes left, fans are left wondering: How much deeper does Lumon’s control go? And will Mark ever uncover the full truth about Gemma?
Source: The Ringer
