Severance Season 2: Why Lumon Fired Irving & Dylan’s Outies, But Not Mark

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Severance season 2, episode 2.

Severance season 2, episode 2 saw Mark rejoin Lumon while Dylan and Irving were fired, begging the question of why this was the case. After Severance season 1's climactic ending, season 2's first two installments focused on the aftermath of events. Severance's Overtime Contingency was activated by Mark, Dylan, Helly, and Irving at the end of season 1, allowing their Innies to awaken in the outside world.

In Severance season 2, episode 1, the ramifications of this event from the perspective of the Innies were explored. Severance's usual cast of characters returned to work at Lumon after the company installed several reforms to make severed workers more comfortable. However, Severance season 2, episode 2 revealed some big lies from Lumon, detailing what happened outside of the office after the Overtime Contingency was activated. This resulted in Irving and Dylan being - temporarily - fired from the company while Mark continued to be employed, raising the question of why the latter did not face punishment when his colleagues did.

Irving & Dylan's Innies Didn't Interact With Anyone Else (As Far As Lumon Knows), So They Could Lie About Their Termination Reason

Covering Up The Overtime Contingency Activation Was Priority Number One For Lumon

John Turturro and Zach Cherry in Severance Season 2 Ep 1

After the Overtime Contingency was shut down by Milchick in Severance season 1's ending, the now-manager of Lumon was sent to visit the Outies of Irving, Mark, and Dylan to figure out the company's next move. Milchick decides to fire Irving and Dylan from Lumon, primarily because - as far as Milchick knows - neither character interacted with anyone on the outside. For one, Dylan was never activated outside of work, meaning a story for his termination could be fabricated with Outie Dylan none the wiser.

Upon visiting Irving's Outie, Milchick fires him also. While it is yet to be unveiled what exactly happened to Irving between Severance season 1's ending and the scenes with Milchick in season 2, episode 2, Irving's Outie likely does not know about the Overtime Contingency and, presumably, did not speak to anyone else during the time it was activated. Milchick fires Irving as his Outie is also unsure of the specific details of what his Innie did during the Overtime Contingency, thus tying up the loose ends Lumon has.

Mark's Innie Going To A Party Meant They Couldn't Lie About What Happened

Mark's Time During The Overtime Contingency Was Very Different

Where Mark is concerned, Lumon could not make up a scenario that resulted in Mark being fired due to his interaction with other people during Severance season 1's ending. Mark's Innie awakened at a party hosted by his sister Devon, eventually leading to him explaining a lot about life on Lumon's severed floor to her. When Milchick visits Mark in Severance season 2, episode 2, he cannot knowingly lie about what happened, as Mark's Innie had told Devon and her husband, Ricken, the truth.

Naturally, this led Milchick to handle the situation with Mark much differently. Rather than spin a web of lies, Milchick told Mark outright that the Overtime Contingency had been activated and asked Devon what Innie Mark told her. Milchick does not find his answers and leaves after telling Mark and his family that Ms. Cobel will not harm them inside or outside of Lumon any longer. Later, Milchick appears at Mark's house to convince him to come back to Lumon, using Mark's grief over Gemma and Innie Mark's relationship with Helly as leverage.

Lumon Still Needed Mark At Work To Finish The Cold Harbor File

Mark's Work Is Irreplaceable To Lumon

Gemma / Ms Casey on the Cold Harbor File screen in Severance season 2 episode 1

Milchick's attempts to convince Mark to come back to work in Severance season 2, episode 2 - including the return of Helly, Dylan, and Irving after "firing" them from season 2, episode 1 - actually reveal a deeper, darker reason why Lumon did not fire him. As stated by Helly's outie identity, Helena Eagan, Lumon needs Mark to complete his work on "Project Cold Harbor." It is not revealed exactly what Cold Harbor is, but some hints from Severance season 2, episode 1 provide clues as to what it could be.

The final flashes that ended Severance season 2, episode 1 revealed that Mark's Macrodata Refinement work centered around Cold Harbor. As Mark's numbers entered the bins as is the norm for MDR work, the screen flashed to Gemma/Ms. Casey for a moment. Again, it is not divulged what Mark's work is nor how it connects to Gemma, but it is clear that it cannot be completed without him. The close relationship Mark and Gemma once had is likely a reason for this, explaining why Lumon was unwilling to let Mark quit or be fired in Severanceseason 2.