The “mysterious and important work” done by the team of macrodata refiners at Lumon has sprouted a plethora of fan theories online since Severance premiered in 2022. The fan theories go even beyond the main cast of the show, and some people in the fandom have a few ideas about the identity of a key side character in the series.
Severance follows Lumon employees, including Mark, Helly, Dylan, and Irving, played by Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Zach Cherry, and John Turturro, respectively. In Season 1, viewers are also introduced to Mark’s sister, Devon Scout-Hale (Jen Tullock), who is married to the eccentric author, Ricken Hale (Michael Chernus). In Season 1, Ricken’s book, titled “The You You Are,” is heavily featured as Mark S. finds it on the severed floor at Lumon and begins to consult it regularly.
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Who Exactly is Ricken?
Dichen Lachman, who plays Mark’s wife, Gemma, on the hit Apple TV+ series, said one fan theory in particular caught her attention more than the others – and that was the idea that Ricken is a goat. The theory is that Ricken could be a goat because, in Episode 7, he talks about scaling a mountain and throughout the series, his home is seen filled with goat-themed decor, and his phone alarm is a cowbell, which is also used in Lumon’s Department of Mammalian Nurturability, where goats are raised.
One fan, jepccy101, posted their reasoning behind the whole “Is Ricken a goat?” theory on Instagram on March 17 and so far, the post has more than 36,000 likes.
Lachman: I Love How Wild They Get
“I think that is absolutely hilarious,” Lachman said, per NBC News. “Could it be possible? Maybe. They have definitely backed up why they think he’s a goat and pulled all the reasons,” Lachman said. She did admit the theory is a bit far-fetched, but said, “It’s a silly one, but I love how wild they get. There’s so many out there, too many to list, but that’s the wildest one.”
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Dichen Lachman on Filming that Final Scene
The Season 2 finale of Severance aired on March 21 and ended with Mark S. running off with Helly, leaving Gemma, who had just been rescued from Lumon’s testing floor, screaming for her husband. In an interview with Variety, Lachman recalled filming the heartbreaking scene for the finale, revealing that it left her with a sore throat.
“Yes, my voice was very hoarse after that day,” Lachman admitted. “I can’t remember if it was a day or a day-and-a-half because, well, obviously they had to also shoot the other side of that door like Adam and Britt were on that side,” she said, adding that the scene was emotional for her to film.
“But then once we’re on the other side of the door, and all the emotions are there, it was very emotional. I had this thing happen to me where I just kept crying for a little bit even after cut. The screaming and the desperate cries to him got so deep, it was a little bit hard to let go afterwards,” Lachman said.
Severance is streaming on Apple TV+ and will return for a third season.
