Ah, Severance. The show that single-handedly made us question our work-life balance, office friendships, and whether that awkward guy from HR is secretly a corporate experiment. Ever since its mind-bending first season, this Apple TV+ sci-fi thriller has held us captive with its eerie fluorescent lighting, unnerving office politics, and an existential dread that somehow feels… oddly relatable?
Season 2 promised answers, more conspiracies, and an even deeper dive into the rabbit hole of Lumon Industries. And boy, has it delivered. Just when we thought we had a grasp on what was happening in this unsettling universe, the show pulls the rug from under us again, this time with Episode 7, titled Chikhai Bardo.
Sounds cryptic, right? Don’t worry, we’ve done the existential homework for you. Let’s break down what it means and why it adds a whole new layer of heartbreak to Gemma’s story.
What does Chikhai Bardo mean?
First things first, let’s tackle the title because Chikhai Bardo is not just some random sci-fi jargon. It’s actually rooted in Tibetan Buddhism and refers to one of the six Bardos, or transitional states of existence.
Specifically, Chikhai Bardo represents the moment of death, the phase where consciousness separates from the body, encountering a bright light that either leads to enlightenment or another cycle of reincarnation.
Now, this is where things get really interesting. In Episode 7, we finally get an update on Gemma, who has been MIA since Season 1. Turns out, she’s trapped on Lumon’s testing floor, being subjected to some truly bizarre experiments.
And here’s the kicker, in each room she enters, she takes on a completely different innie persona. Every time she moves forward, she essentially dies and is reborn into a new self, mirroring the concept of Chikhai Bardo in a very unsettling way.
So, is Lumon playing God? Are they testing how many versions of an identity can exist within one body? And more importantly, does Gemma even have a real self left anymore? The title alone suggests that she’s trapped in a never-ending cycle of rebirth without truly reaching an escape, much like a soul caught between life and death.
Has Severance adapted a new editing style?
Aside from the brain-melting lore, something else stands out in this episode, the editing. If you’ve been following Severance closely, you’ll notice that most episodes are marked by jarring cuts, flickering transitions, and an overall sense of disorientation. But Episode 7? Completely different ball game.
Rather than the usual abrupt scene changes, the transitions in this episode are soft, almost like they’re dissolving into one another, giving the whole thing a dreamlike, almost hypnotic quality. It’s like watching reality slip through your fingers, much like what Gemma is experiencing.
And honestly? Wow. It’s a brilliant choice because it reinforces the idea that she’s not just being experimented on, she’s losing herself. One moment she’s one person, the next she’s another, and before she even has time to process it, she’s moved again.
So, what does all of this mean for Gemma? Is there hope for her to break free? Or is she doomed to be caught in Lumon’s version of Chikhai Bardo forever? If one thing’s for sure, Severance Season 2 is not holding back, and we’re both terrified and absolutely here for it.
Severance can be streamed on Apple TV+.
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