Severance consistently invites viewers into a labyrinth of mystery and corporate intrigue, and one of the most compelling enigmas is the Board Members, the shadowy council that wields unseen power behind Lumon’s eerie facade. Their presence challenges the very boundaries between life, death, and control, making them a pivotal element in understanding Lumon’s dystopian grip.
Who or What is The Board in Severance?
The Board in Severance is rumoured to be composed of former CEOs of Lumon, each of whom should be long deceased. Yet, their influence permeates every decision, suggesting a reality that defies conventional understanding. The haunting question remains: how can these past leaders continue to govern if they are no longer alive?
Natalie, the company’s enigmatic intermediary, is the only character who can communicate directly with The Board, serving as a cryptic bridge between the employees and the company’s true power brokers. This raises further questions about the nature of her connection. Is she simply a messenger, or does she possess a deeper link to the lingering consciousness of these former CEOs? She is almost in a traumatised Hermes role.
Theories abound that the CEOs have been implanted into the current CEO - or others employees - via severance chips introduced at a mysterious event known as “the revolving.” This could mean the CEO becomes a vessel for every prior Lumon leader, consolidating decades of control into one individual.
The “Revolving” CEO and the Perpetuity Wing
The concept of the “revolving” CEO hints at more than a mere change in leadership. It implies a cyclical, almost ritualistic passage of power, where the CEO chip - possibly embedded with the consciousness or directives of former CEOs - is passed down like a twisted family heirloom. Given Helly’s blood ties to the Eagan family, speculation arises about her potential grooming to assume this role, continuing the lineage of control.
Adding to the mystery is the idea of the “Perpetuity Wing,” a part of Lumon that visually houses and preserves these past leaders in some form, blurring the boundaries between life and death. Are the CEOs truly gone, or are they sustained by technology or severance processes designed to keep them in a perpetual state of influence? This notion redefines The Board as something far more than a corporate leadership group - it’s a chilling symbol of immortality intertwined with corporate domination.
The concept of the “revolving” CEO hints at more than a mere change in leadership. It implies a cyclical, almost ritualistic passage of power, where the CEO chip - possibly embedded with the consciousness or directives of former CEOs - is passed down like a twisted family heirloom.
Blurring the Lines Between Life, Death, and Power
The possibility that Lumon’s CEOs never fully die but instead continue exerting control through implanted severance chips introduces profound philosophical questions. What does it mean for free will and autonomy when the minds of former leaders live on, potentially overriding the current CEO’s own consciousness? Is Lumon’s leadership a collective consciousness spread over decades, carefully managing not just a company but a covert experiment in perpetuity?
By weaving these questions into Severance, the show masterfully challenges viewers to consider the nature of identity and power within a corporate dystopia. The Board isn’t just a character device - it’s a haunting metaphor for the corrosive grip of legacy, dictatorship, and the desire to transcend mortality through technology.
Severance invites us to peer behind the corporate curtain, revealing The Board as a complex, unsettling force that embodies the dark heart of Lumon. Will it truly be as horrifying as we think, or will we meet the Wizard? Understanding The Board Severance means confronting the uncomfortable possibility that, at Lumon, death is no escape from control, it’s merely another layer of it.
