The hit Apple TV series “Severance” continues to capture the imagination of its audience, particularly with some of the more humorous and imaginative theories circulating among fans. Another such fan theory that has really taken off lately argues that Ricken, the protagonist Mark’s brother-in-law, is in fact a goat. That hilarious premise has captured the imagination of one of the series’ stars, actress Dichen Lachman, who plays Ms. Casey in the show. The theory is based on Ricken’s love for goat-themed decor, his mountain-climbing trips, and his famous cowbell alarm.
Dichen Lachman said that she loves the weird theories that fans come up with about the show. She discussed the phenomenon of the fandom, which has created an overwhelming amount of memes and theories on TikTok, Twitter and every other social media platform. “I didn’t know it was going to take on such an enormous life in season two with the fanbase,” Lachman remarked, highlighting the unexpected connection between viewers and the narrative.
“Severance” has now firmly established itself as Apple TV’s breakout hit, even bigger than the platform’s flagship series “Ted Lasso.” The show explores the personal lives of underlings, or “severed” employees, at the mysterious Lumon Industries. They experience a severance treatment that forensically excises their memories of labor from their domestic spheres. This dark premise results in the production of “innies” for their work identities and “outies” for their personal lives.
Mark, one of the main protagonists in the series, chooses to go through the severance procedure. He hopes to get away from the paralyzing sorrow of losing his wife. On a daily basis, he is able to temporarily forget his pain for eight hours of work, enabling him to operate in this emotionally disconnected, albeit productive, manner. The season two finale left fans on the edge of an emotional precipice. Previously, Mark’s innie, Ricken, had 1) run off with Mark’s wife Gemma, 2) not only cheated on her, but left her for Helly R. There too, in an ironic turn of fate, Mark’s innie rescues Gemma from the basement of the Lumon building.
Lachman had much to say about her character’s emotional arc over the course of the series. Then executive producer Ben Stiller called her directly to tell her about the role. When she found out that her character would turn out to be Mark’s long-dead wife, she began to reel. We asked her to grapple with this emotional depth, which was difficult for her, especially since the story was developing in such a powerful way.
“She very quickly realised that he is not Mark, it’s Mark’s innie. She is calling and banging to break through that barrier or even convince the innie to come back to her on the other side,” said Lachman regarding Ms. Casey’s realization about Mark’s severed state.
Looking ahead, Lachman noted that while a third season has been announced following the season two finale, she is uncertain about where her character will go next. Unlike many shows, she finds comfort in that unknown and confidence in the show’s creator, Dan Erickson. “Look, I trust Dan, I don’t want to raise expectations, I just want to see the best possible output, short and long-term that’s in-line with Dan’s vision and goals. He’s such a brilliant writer and a brilliant human being,” she said.
Whether you love or hate its world-building, narrative structure or character development, “Severance” has undeniably captured viewers’ attention. It ignites creativity as well, as fans plunge into speculation and debate. The unexpected popularity of such ideas, including the lighthearted goat theory surrounding Ricken, reflects a vibrant community eager to explore deeper into the show’s themes and characters.