7 Best Theories About Lumon's Board In Severance

Severanceis a show full of mysteries, and viewers still have no idea who is on The Board. In Severance season 1, Mark, Helly, Irving, and Dylan have constant communication with Harmony Cobel, the former manager of the severed floor, and Milchick. The severed employees are also aware that The Board listens through a speaker in the manager's office. However, the severed employees have no idea who is on The Board. Even Cobel and Milchick seemingly don't know who is on the other end of the speaker.

After the dramatic ending of Severance season 1, Mark, Helly, Irving, and Dylan all returned to work for Lumon Industries. Cobel was previously fired in season 1, so Milchick is the new manager of the severed floor in Severance season 2. The Board have not yet spoken in Severance season 2, but Mark did speak to them in the premiere episode. The Board granted Mark's wish to bring Helly, Irving, and Dylan back to work, but nothing else about The Board has been revealed. Therefore, here are the seven best theories about The Board in Severance:

7 Lumon CEO James Eagan Also Controls The Board

James Eagan Is A Mysterious Character In Severance

Current Lumon CEO James Eagan is clearly one of the most powerful figures at Lumon Industries, if not the most powerful. Therefore, it has been theorized that he also controls The Board. It is not typical for CEOs to be members of the boards of their own companies, but Lumon Industries is definitely not a typical company. Therefore, it's possible that James Eagan is also the primary member of The Board, and controls everything that happens on the severed floor.

James Eagan has now appeared multiple times in Severance to interact with Helena Eagan and her innie, and has proven himself to be a creepy and mysterious character. However, this theory is ranked last on this list since James Eagan is already known to be a powerful person at Lumon. It would be much more interesting if The Board consisted of people who potentially have more control than the current CEO.

6 Milchick Is A Member Of The Board

Milchick Is A Loyal Lumon Employee In Severance

Milchick from Severance reading Ricken's book.

Milchick has proven himself to be a dedicated Lumon employee and worked under Cobel for a long time. However, it has been theorized that Milchick only served Cobel to make her think she was in control. Milchick disagrees with Cobel several times in Severance season 1, and was seemingly never worried about making her mad. Therefore, it's possible that Milchick is not actually who he claims to be in Severance.

The first few episodes of Severance season 2 definitely work against this theory, as Milchick is forced to work hard to do damage control after the severed employees enacted the Overtime Contingency Protocol. In Severance season 2, episode 2, he takes orders from Helena Eagan, which a member of The Board likely wouldn't need to do. However, it would still be shocking if Milchick was a member of The Board in Severance.

5 The Board Consists Of Senior Members Of Lumon Industries

It's Possible Audiences Haven't Met The Members Of The Board Yet

The Board consisting of senior members of Lumon Industries is definitely the theory that would make the most sense. This theory suggests that The Board is comprised of a group loyal to Lumon who have the power to override James Eagan's decisions. These senior members would be the ones who are actually deciding the future direction of the company. This theory also suggests that these senior members were probably present at Helena's party during the Severance season 1 finale.

It's likely that Severance's writers have more tricks up their sleeves, and that a major twist will reveal the true identities of Lumon's Board members.

Helly did interact with a few people at the party in season 1, so it's possible that audiences have already met some members of The Board. While this theory is realistic, it's likely that Severance's writers have more tricks up their sleeves, and that a major twist will reveal the true identities of Lumon's Board members. Overall, it would be less interesting if The Board consisted of people that haven't been mentioned in the series yet.

4 The Senator & His Wife From Severance Season 1 Have Connections To The Board

The Senator & His Wife Are Part Of An Unresolved Plotline From Severance Season 1

In Severance season 2, Mark's sister, Devon, seems to be more suspicious of Lumon Industries than ever before. In the show's first season, Devon met Gabby, the wife of U.S. Senator Angelo Arteta, who was a leading figure in the legalization of the severance procedure. Through her conversations with Gabby, Devon begins to suspect that Lumon is using the severance chip for more than just splitting someone's work life and personal life.

Upon their second meeting in Severance season 1, Gabby doesn't even remember who Devon is. This suggests that she previously spoke with Gabby's innie. Seeing an innie in the real world raised many questions for Devon and the viewers of the series. It seems like Senator Arteta and his wife know more than they let on, and could very well have connections to The Board in Severance.

3 The Board Is An AI That Controls The Company

Lumon Could Be Trying To Control Humanity

Adam Scott as Mark, Joh turturro as Irving, Britt Lower as Helly, and Zach Cherry as Dylan in Severance season 2's episode 1.

Another Severance theory suggests that The Board is actually an artificial intelligence program that controls all of Lumon Industries. A major Severance theory suggests that Lumon's ultimate goal is to control all of humanity using severance chips. Therefore, it would make sense that an AI program is the main force that is driving Lumon in this direction.

An AI wanting to control all the humans in the world through the severance procedure would be a really interesting direction for the show to head in. It would also be very timely, since AI is a major worry for many industries in the real world today. The Board being an AI program would also explain why its members have never actually been shown in the series. Therefore, it seems likely that The Board, and by extension, Lumon Industries, is actually controlled by an AI program.

2 Ricken & His Friends Are Members Of The Board

Ricken May Be Hiding Something In Severance

Ricken is very close with Mark's outie, but has always been treated as a comedic relief character. Characters like Mark, and even his own wife, Devon, recognize how ridiculous Ricken can be. This has caused many to think that there is more going on with Ricken than it initially seems. Ricken's friends have also been featured multiple times in the series, and they appear to be just as strange as him.

Therefore, this theory suggests that Ricken and his friends are actually members of The Board in Severance. This would mean that Mark's outie and Devon are being completely lied to in Severance. So far in season 2, Ricken has been very defensive of Lumon Industries and is seemingly not worried about Mark's innie at all. This further proves that Ricken may actually secretly be loyal to Lumon, and could actually be one of the most powerful people at the company.

1 The Board Is A Collective Consciousness Of Past Eagans

The Eagans Are A Powerful Family In Severance

This final theory is undoubtedly the most bizarre theory about The Board in Severance. This theory suggests that The Board is a collective consciousness of previous members of the Eagan family. This theory suggests that previous Lumon CEOs uploaded or transferred their consciousnesses out of their bodies so that they could be part of a group of Eagan's who make up The Board.

It's possible that previous CEOs, such as Myrtle, Gerhardt, and Leonora Eagan, are still influential figures in the company.

It's possible that technology progressed enough over the years that previous Eagan CEOs whose physical bodies were going to die decided they wanted to continue to preside over the company. Therefore, it's possible that previous CEOs, such as Myrtle, Gerhardt, and Leonora Eagan, are still influential figures in the company. This theory may sound crazy, but a plot point like this would fit perfectly in a show like Severance, and would make the Eagans more important than ever.