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DJ Davis wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025 08:04 am I have to admit, this is the first time the show has lost me a bit. A severed marching band and drum line? That’s a job down there?

In the end, Cold Harbor was about Gemma completely forgetting the trauma of losing the baby? And are Mark and Helly just going to live on the severed floor forever? Where were they running to?

3dender wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025 08:20 am

DJ Davis wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025 08:04 am I have to admit, this is the first time the show has lost me a bit. A severed marching band and drum line? That’s a job down there?

In the end, Cold Harbor was about Gemma completely forgetting the trauma of losing the baby? And are Mark and Helly just going to live on the severed floor forever? Where were they running to?

There are certainly magical elements of this show... I mean the whole thing takes place in a nonexistent municipality in an unspecified North American country at the same time that a place like Delaware exists, so... in any case the marching band didn't bother me.

We still don't know exactly what Cold Harbor was about... forgetting her trauma is a part of it but my understanding is that it's only to serve as proof that she is truly severed from her outie... i.e. that was the single most painful memory she would have ever had so if she could not recall it while severed then this was the final test that severance 100% works. I'm still not sure what that says about their next steps, but I'm pretty confident the writers know where they're taking it so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

Normally the after-credits discussion don't add too much, but in this episode I highly recommend watching it. Stiller specifically says that it doesn't really matter where MarkHelly are going to or for how long, if they have 10 more seconds or 10 more minutes together... the point is that they want to be together. I actually couldn't stop thinking of the ending of "The Graduate" while I was watching it... their love is "triumphing" but it seems like a very Pyrrhic victory, and they seem kind of doomed by their choice. They're not even smiling that much as they run, it's more desperate than joyful. Not a very emotionally satisfying ending but one that I think is quite consistent with the themes and storyline, and even brave in embracing that dissatisfaction.

Obviously iMark will leave the severed floor at some point, and you can only hope that Gemma will have escaped the building by then so she and oMark can be reunited. What happens after that is anyone's guess but based on the conversation they have with themselves at the beginning of the episode I wouldn't be surprised if oMark makes some arrangement to give iMark as much of a life as he can have... the trickiest part will be what happens to Helly.

George Zipp wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025 08:28 am

3dender wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025 08:20 am

DJ Davis wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025 08:04 am I have to admit, this is the first time the show has lost me a bit. A severed marching band and drum line? That’s a job down there?

In the end, Cold Harbor was about Gemma completely forgetting the trauma of losing the baby? And are Mark and Helly just going to live on the severed floor forever? Where were they running to?

There are certainly magical elements of this show... I mean the whole thing takes place in a nonexistent municipality in an unspecified North American country at the same time that a place like Delaware exists, so... in any case the marching band didn't bother me.

We still don't know exactly what Cold Harbor was about... forgetting her trauma is a part of it but my understanding is that it's only to serve as proof that she is truly severed from her outie... i.e. that was the single most painful memory she would have ever had so if she could not recall it while severed then this was the final test that severance 100% works. I'm still not sure what that says about their next steps, but I'm pretty confident the writers know where they're taking it so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

Normally the after-credits discussion don't add too much, but in this episode I highly recommend watching it. Stiller specifically says that it doesn't really matter where MarkHelly are going to or for how long, if they have 10 more seconds or 10 more minutes together... the point is that they want to be together. I actually couldn't stop thinking of the ending of "The Graduate" while I was watching it... their love is "triumphing" but it seems like a very Pyrrhic victory, and they seem kind of doomed by their choice. They're not even smiling that much as they run, it's more desperate than joyful. Not a very emotionally satisfying ending but one that I think is quite consistent with the themes and storyline, and even brave in embracing that dissatisfaction.

Obviously iMark will leave the severed floor at some point, and you can only hope that Gemma will have escaped the building by then so she and oMark can be reunited. What happens after that is anyone's guess but based on the conversation they have with themselves at the beginning of the episode I wouldn't be surprised if oMark makes some arrangement to give iMark as much of a life as he can have... the trickiest part will be what happens to Helly.

Good write up. Thanks.

There are a lot of moments in this show where something happens it totally triggers a thought about a prior movie or TV show moment. I wish I had been better at tracking them.

At the very end last night, when they froze Helly/Marks pics on the screen, it reminded me of the very end of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, when Newman and Redfords mugs froze. I'm sure that was not Stiller's intention but this is hardly the first time I've seen something on camera and thought "oh, that's just like Hans Landa in Basterds" (making that one up but you get my point I hope). Seems to me there is an homage component to some of what is happening on the show. Then again, I could be out of my mind.

Also, has anyone closely paid attention to the opening credits? Are they identical each week or do they change. My daughter and I think they change up a sliver. This will be an easy riddle to solve without looking it up. I plan on comparing a couple later today just for fun.

3dender wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025 08:31 am

George Zipp wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025 08:28 am

3dender wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025 08:20 am

DJ Davis wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025 08:04 am I have to admit, this is the first time the show has lost me a bit. A severed marching band and drum line? That’s a job down there?

In the end, Cold Harbor was about Gemma completely forgetting the trauma of losing the baby? And are Mark and Helly just going to live on the severed floor forever? Where were they running to?

There are certainly magical elements of this show... I mean the whole thing takes place in a nonexistent municipality in an unspecified North American country at the same time that a place like Delaware exists, so... in any case the marching band didn't bother me.

We still don't know exactly what Cold Harbor was about... forgetting her trauma is a part of it but my understanding is that it's only to serve as proof that she is truly severed from her outie... i.e. that was the single most painful memory she would have ever had so if she could not recall it while severed then this was the final test that severance 100% works. I'm still not sure what that says about their next steps, but I'm pretty confident the writers know where they're taking it so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

Normally the after-credits discussion don't add too much, but in this episode I highly recommend watching it. Stiller specifically says that it doesn't really matter where MarkHelly are going to or for how long, if they have 10 more seconds or 10 more minutes together... the point is that they want to be together. I actually couldn't stop thinking of the ending of "The Graduate" while I was watching it... their love is "triumphing" but it seems like a very Pyrrhic victory, and they seem kind of doomed by their choice. They're not even smiling that much as they run, it's more desperate than joyful. Not a very emotionally satisfying ending but one that I think is quite consistent with the themes and storyline, and even brave in embracing that dissatisfaction.

Obviously iMark will leave the severed floor at some point, and you can only hope that Gemma will have escaped the building by then so she and oMark can be reunited. What happens after that is anyone's guess but based on the conversation they have with themselves at the beginning of the episode I wouldn't be surprised if oMark makes some arrangement to give iMark as much of a life as he can have... the trickiest part will be what happens to Helly.

Good write up. Thanks.

There are a lot of moments in this show where something happens it totally triggers a thought about a prior movie or TV show moment. I wish I had been better at tracking them.

At the very end last night, when they froze Helly/Marks pics on the screen, it reminded me of the very end of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, when Newman and Redfords mugs froze. I'm sure that was not Stiller's intention but this is hardly the first time I've seen something on camera and thought "oh, that's just like Hans Landa in Basterds" (making that one up but you get my point I hope). Seems to me there is an homage component to some of what is happening on the show. Then again, I could be out of my mind.

Also, has anyone closely paid attention to the opening credits? Are they identical each week or do they change. My daughter and I think they change up a sliver. This will be an easy riddle to solve without looking it up. I plan on comparing a couple later today just for fun.

Good call on Butch/Sundance. I think that could definitely be in play too, and both film references are supported by the 60s/70s style end credits they had, which was a first afaict.

I did not notice a change in any of the S2 opening credits, but I skipped them except for S1 and S10 so I wasn't paying that close of attention.

(Innie Mark's decision is) going to drive a hell of a wedge between him and outie Mark, I’ll tell you that much, because while innie Mark did get her to safety, he didn’t follow her and so he has robbed his outie of that reunion, which is what he’s been wanting the entire series, is to be back with his wife who he lost. I would imagine that to outie Mark, that feels like an extreme betrayal.

3dender wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025 08:20 am

DJ Davis wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025 08:04 am I have to admit, this is the first time the show has lost me a bit. A severed marching band and drum line? That’s a job down there?

In the end, Cold Harbor was about Gemma completely forgetting the trauma of losing the baby? And are Mark and Helly just going to live on the severed floor forever? Where were they running to?

There are certainly magical elements of this show... I mean the whole thing takes place in a nonexistent municipality in an unspecified North American country at the same time that a place like Delaware exists, so... in any case the marching band didn't bother me.

DJ Davis wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025 21:04 pm

3dender wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025 08:20 am

DJ Davis wrote: ↑21 Mar 2025 08:04 am I have to admit, this is the first time the show has lost me a bit. A severed marching band and drum line? That’s a job down there?

In the end, Cold Harbor was about Gemma completely forgetting the trauma of losing the baby? And are Mark and Helly just going to live on the severed floor forever? Where were they running to?

There are certainly magical elements of this show... I mean the whole thing takes place in a nonexistent municipality in an unspecified North American country at the same time that a place like Delaware exists, so... in any case the marching band didn't bother me.

IDK, seemed out of place to me. It didn’t have the feel of the high-class, cultish atmosphere that is Lumon. I know the had the dance experience before, but this was more off than that. Maybe part of it is the logistics, these 50 people had brain surgery just to come in every day to dress up and practice their pieces, to play hardly ever.

And based on the post credit interviews, a random choice. Like someone just shouted it out when they were plying charades. Again, not a big deal, the show is one of my top favorites and the finale was excellent. But it’s just the first thing in the show, imo, that seemed forced.

George Zipp wrote: ↑22 Mar 2025 08:43 am https://www.theringer.com/2025/03/20/se ... ll-tillman

Tramell Tillman is an interesting dude. I love his input on Milchick in this interview. I hope this guy wins Emmy's (yes acting awards are stupid and there is no rhyme or reason.....see Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seahorn lack of winning anything ever, just ridiculous but I digress) and whatever other awards and that he has a long and prosperous career in TV, movies, streaming, theater, whatever. I want to see much more of this guy acting.

We got some confirmation of the suspicions we have about Cold Harbor, although nothing specific enough to fully satisfy... i.e. WHY does it mean the death of Gemma? What specifically are they going to do? (My money's still on transferring consciousness somehow). And is a goat actually necessary for this in some magical way or is it just a satanic ritual these lunatics have?

Most importantly we got Gemma freed in a simultaneously extremely cathartic and extremely frustrating/painful way, all of it totally earned by the demands of the story. The very end is going to (bleep) a lot of people off but it is pretty perfect from a story perspective, and was explicitly foreshadowed in the conversation Mark had with himself at the beginning of the episode. iMark fulfills the favor that oMark asked of him, yet retains his own agency as he demanded. That convo btw was a brilliant scene on its own, something that unfolded in a totally unpredictable way but which made absolute sense from both of the characters' perspectives.

Some other great bits: obviously Drummond in the elevator (absolutely hilarious imagining what must be going through oMark's mind as he comes to); Dylan comes back and reads a kick-(donkey) letter to himself; and of course more Milchick dance moves.

Oh, and something I didn't think of but which the writer mentioned in the post-credits analysis was that the Gemma/Mark reunion was actually 4 different meetings of the characters: oMark/iGemma, oMark/oGemma, iMark/MsCasey, iMark/Gemma... ran the gamut of most possible combinations of those characters, truly great writing!

I hope this guy wins Emmy's (yes acting awards are stupid and there is no rhyme or reason.....see Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seahorn lack of winning anything ever, just ridiculous but I digress).

3dender wrote: ↑24 Mar 2025 18:21 pm I will be disappointed if the whole point is just so they can sell more severance globally to help people avoid their discomfort. That would seem like a really petty goal for all of the "most important day in the history of the world" chatter they've been giving.

It would also seem to be mutually exclusive with the more magical goal of reincarnation/immortality, which I find a lot more compelling.