After a long break, it’s finally time to return to work at Lumon Industries, as Severance has returned for Season 2. The show has built a reputation for creating an intense and suspenseful work environment that no other show has quite achieved.
This is due to the unique and strange work dynamics at Lumon, which include the severance procedure. One important aspect of the show is the Overtime Contingency Protocol, a dangerous and mysterious measure that the innies from the Macrodata Refinement team discover at the end of Season 1.
This discovery leaves viewers with a cliffhanger that sets up possible disastrous consequences for the company.
What is the Overtime Contingency Protocol?
In Severance, the severance procedure is a process where a chip is implanted in a new hire’s brain. This chip creates two separate personas: one called the “outie” and the other called the “innie.” The outie is the original version of the person, living their life without having to deal with the workday hours.
The innie is a persona created by the procedure that only experiences life while at work. The severance chip works in such a way that when the person enters the Lumon office, the outie’s consciousness is replaced with the innie’s consciousness, and vice versa when they leave. This means that the innie doesn’t remember anything about the outie’s life and the outie doesn’t experience the innie’s work life.
The shift from outie to innie and back happens only at the Lumon building. However, the Overtime Contingency Protocol (OTC) is different. It is the only known procedure that can cause the innie to be activated even outside the Lumon building.
Typically, the severance procedure requires two people working together, and it is activated by specific commands at the security office on the severed floor.
Once the right commands are entered into the system, two switches across the doorway must be held down by either one person or two people working together. Additionally, at least one other person must supervise the activation process to monitor the effect on the innies.
When the OTC is activated, the innie can be brought to life even outside Lumon’s premises, which presents a massive risk.
This procedure must only be done with a great deal of caution, as it can lead to serious problems, especially since it involves the innies being exposed to the outside world without any supervision from the severed floor’s supervisor, Ms. Cobel (played by Patricia Arquette). However, as shown in Season 1, things don’t go as planned when the OTC is activated.
The Dangers of the Overtime Contingency Protocol
The OTC is a dangerous measure that should only be activated in emergencies when no other options are available. In Season 1, the OTC is triggered twice.
The first time is in Episode 6, titled “Hide and Seek.” In this episode, Seth Milchick (played by Tramell Tillman) activates the protocol at the home of Dylan G. (played by Zach Cherry), who is an outie.
Milchick is trying to retrieve an ideographic card that Dylan took from the Optics & Design department. Unfortunately, things go wrong when Dylan’s son enters the room, unknowingly revealing that Dylan is a father.
Milchick gets help from another unknown Lumon employee to trigger the OTC, but the plan goes ahead without Ms. Cobel’s knowledge, which adds more complications.
The second time the OTC is triggered is after Ms. Cobel is fired from Lumon. This leaves Milchick temporarily in charge of managing the severed floor. The Macrodata Refinement team comes up with a risky plan to activate the OTC.
Dylan locks himself in the security office and presses both switches at once. Meanwhile, Mark S. (played by Adam Scott), Helly R. (played by Britt Lower), and Irving B. (played by John Turturro) have their innies activated outside. Dylan struggles to keep the switches held down, and eventually, Milchick discovers what is happening. However, by the time Milchick arrives, the damage has already been done.
This event demonstrates just how dangerous the OTC is. It should only be used as a last resort. Milchick’s failure to properly manage the situation results in the innies learning sensitive information about the outies, including the fact that Dylan is a father and the existence of the OTC itself.
It also shows just how easily the security office can be accessed, a major problem for the safety of the entire procedure. If an innie, such as Mark or Helly, stumbles upon the security office, they could inadvertently activate the OTC and cause unintended consequences.
Why the Overtime Contingency Protocol Is So Risky
The OTC is an emergency measure, and it reveals a lot of crucial information to both the outies and innies involved. For instance, when the OTC is triggered, the innies are exposed to parts of the outside world, including personal details that they were never supposed to know.
In the case of Dylan, his innie learns that he has a son, which is information that should not have been accessible. The exposure of this kind of information is a serious breach of privacy, as it violates the strict separation between outie and innie worlds.
Additionally, there is a growing sense of chaos within the company when the OTC is activated improperly. Milchick’s mishandling of the situation in Season 1 sets the stage for what could be even more severe consequences in the future.
This is especially concerning since Milchick’s actions seem to have sparked a movement for what he calls “severance reform.” This reform could mean that the OTC, as it was previously accessed, may be locked away and harder for any innie to trigger again.
The security office is so easy to access only adds to the risk. In the finale, when Mark and Helly discover the strange goat room, it becomes clear that Lumon’s security systems are not as secure as they should be.
The fact that innies can access these systems with relative ease means that something catastrophic could occur at any time. If Lumon does not take steps to secure its systems, the damage from future OTC activations could be even worse than what we have seen so far.
The Future of the Overtime Contingency Protocol in Season 2
As Severance moves into its second season, it is clear that the consequences of the OTC being triggered are far-reaching. The events at the end of Season 1 have set the stage for even more chaos, and the risk of a disastrous outcome is higher than ever.
The characters involved in the OTC’s activation will likely face serious consequences for their actions, and the future of Lumon Industries is uncertain.
The Overtime Contingency Protocol will likely continue to play a major role in the plot of Season 2. The fallout from its activation in Season 1 could have lasting effects on the company, its employees, and the way the severance procedure is handled.
Given how dangerous the OTC is, it is safe to assume that it will be triggered again, possibly with even more severe consequences. With new episodes airing every Friday on Apple TV+, fans of the show can expect more twists and turns as the mystery of Lumon Industries deepens.
Conclusion
In Season 1 of Severance, the Overtime Contingency Protocol is revealed to be a dangerous and highly risky measure that only exists for emergencies. It has been activated twice, with serious consequences for both the outies and innies involved.
The security of the severed floor is called into question, and the OTC will continue to play a central role in the show’s future. As we head into Season 2, the stakes are higher than ever, and the mystery surrounding Lumon Industries is far from over.
