I'm Really Disappointed In Severance Season 2 Episode 3's Major Mark Twist & How It'll Change The Show Forever

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Severance season 2, episode 3.

Severance season 2, episode 3 ended with a major twist for Mark's character that I worry could change the show forever. Since I first watched the show, Severance's cast of characters has always stood out to me as one of its biggest strengths. While the mystery box and thriller elements make Severance a truly unique experience, it is the characters and their fates that I often find myself thinking about. This remains the case with season 2, with Severance's Innies and Outies combining to form an ensemble that I deeply care about.

This was proven even more so by the time of Severance season 2, episode 2's ending. The two episodes that began season 2 explored the aftermath of Severance season 1's ending, with both the Innies and Outies facing obstacles after Mark, Helly, Irving, and Dylan blew the whistle about Lumon's true nature. For Mark, this fallout has centered around the possibility that his wife, Gemma, is alive, previously confirmed to the audience as Ms. Casey. Mark discovers the truth in Severance season 2, episode 3, committing to a choice that has the potential to change the show completely.

Mark’s Big Reintegration Twist In Severance Season 2, Episode 3 Explained

Mark Is Following In Petey's Footsteps

At the end of Severance season 2, episode 3, Mark is confronted by Reghabi, the mysterious former doctor of Lumon who is able to perform a procedure called Reintegration. Reintegration is the blending of a severed person's Innie and Outie personalities, something that Mark's former colleague Petey underwent in Severance season 1. After learning from Reghabi that Gemma is - or, at least, was - alive when the former last saw her, Mark decides to commit to Reintegration as a way to enter the severed floor and search for her with his own memories intact.

The final sequence of Severance season 2, episode 3 saw Mark undergoing Reintegration. How Severance's Reintegration works is complicated, with a trippy sequence being shown that edits together Mark's first memories from Lumon and his Outie memories, indicating that Mark could be changed forever going forward. Conceptually, Reintegration is simply the aligning of one's Innie and Outie personalities. While this caused a sickness for Petey, Reghabi tells Mark that she is better at it now, explaining why he made the decision to undergo the process in Severance season 2, episode 3.

Mark’s Reintegration Decision Will Change The Severance Character Forever

The Show Could Be Entirely Different Where Mark Is Concerned

As I have alluded to, my initial reaction to Mark's decision was one of disappointment. Admittedly, though, this disappointment only stems from how strong the show and its characters are. That said, my initial reaction was due to the way it could change Mark's entire Severance future, with the character up to now having two distinct, unique, different sides to him. The entire concept of the show is someone undergoing the titular Severance procedure to become two different people, one for work life and one for home life. Now that Mark has been Reintegrated, this split could be gone forever.

Innie Mark and Helly R's relationship could also be changed forever now that Mark will remember his relationship with Gemma once taking the elevator to Lumon's severed floor.

The character that I, and many others, have come to know and love as Innie Mark may now be gone, replaced solely by Outie Mark, who will infiltrate Lumon to find Gemma. Although I admit this storyline sounds incredibly exciting, and I have full faith in Severance's writing team to pull it off, I cannot mask my disappointment at the potential implications it has for Innie Mark. The split between Mark's two versions was so well-defined, well-written, and excellently performed by Adam Scott that the possibility of one being gone has me somewhat mourning for them.

My Disappointment Proves How Good Severance’s Premise & Characters Truly Are

At the risk of sounding too negative, I would like to point out that my disappointment with this plot point only goes to show how excellent Severance has been at conveying its central premise. Similarly, the split characters that have resulted from this concept are just as well portrayed. The fact that I am almost mourning a character who was simply one half of another as if they are two different people is a testament to the show's overall concept, writing team, and performances.

I do not want Innie Mark to go, or even be blended with Outie Mark, but a show that challenges what I want and gives a compelling story regardless is always welcome. This typifies how strong Severance truly is, and I cannot wait to see how Mark's Reintegration decision is handled going forward. The split between the Outie and Innies of Severance was so defined that the respective storylines often felt like two different shows wrapped into one. With the line between both now being blurred after Severance season 2, episode 3's ending, I am still more ecstatic than disappointed to see how it pans out.