What The Glasgow Block Is In Severance
Warning! This article contains spoilers for Severance season 2.Severance season 2, episode 4 introduces the Glasgow Block, leading many to wonder what the new Lumon protocol does. Since Severance season 1's ending, the exploration of Lumon's control techniques has only grown. Be it Severance's Overtime Contingency Protocol that allows the company to awaken its severed workers outside of the office or the more manipulative tactics such as Dylan's Outie Visitation Suite, the ways in which Lumon coerces its employees have only grown.
In Severance season 2, episode 4, this list continues to grow with the Glasgow Block. The lives of Severance's Innies and Outies have become blurred of late, from Mark's attempt at Reintegration to the huge reveals of episode 4. One of these reveals links to a major Severance season 2 theory about Helly/Helena, which ushered in the introduction of the Glasgow Block. With that in mind, it is worth exploring what exactly this protocol is, what it is used for, and how it has always been a part of Lumon's plans for absolute control.
Lumon's Glasgow Block Keeps The Innies From Switching On
The Opposite Of The Overtime Contingency
In Severance season 2, episode 4, it was confirmed that Helly has actually been Helena Eagan the entire time, which the show's fans have theorized since episode 1. Irving discovered this also, leading him to threaten Helena's life as leverage to bring Helly back. Milchick then orders an unseen person on the end of a radio to disable the Glasgow Block, allowing Helly to return, thus removing the member of the Eagan family from the severed floor's camping trip to Woe's Hollow.
Concerning what the Glasgow Block is, it simply keeps the Innies from being activated at work. Much like how the Overtime Contingency allows Lumon to activate the Innies outside of work, the Glasgow Block allows the company to "activate" the Outies inside of work. This means that Helly has actually been Helena the whole time, with the Glasgow Block stopping her Innie from being awakened upon riding the elevator to Lumon's severed floor.
Severance's Glasgow Block Was Teased Back In Season 1
Lumon Has Always Had The Glasgow Block Prepared
What makes the Glasgow Block more intriguing is that Lumon has always had the means to use it. This was teased in Severance season 1 when Dylan was enacting the Overtime Contingency in the security room. As he searched to activate the Overtime Contingency, a screen showed a list of different severed functions. These functions include Beehive, Branch Transfer, Clean Slate, Elephant, Freeze Frame, Goldfish, Lullaby, Open House, Overtime, and, finally, Glasgow.
Although none of these are explained further, some of them are self-explanatory. For example, Clean Slate likely wipes the memories of an Innie, whereas Branch Transfer links to the switching of offices hinted at by Mark's new MDR team in Severance season 2, episode 1. The Overtime Contingency was highlighted in season 1, and now the Glasgow function has been proven as a way to block the Innie from waking up. Thanks to this reveal, a major Severance season 2 theory was confirmed, marking a difficult path ahead for the Innies and revealing a new method of control for Lumon.
Severance
- Release Date
- February 18, 2022
- Showrunner
- Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman
- Directors
- Ben Stiller
- Writers
- Dan Erickson
Cast
Mark Scout
Helly Riggs
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