Severance: What Reghabi Means By Cobel Was "Raised" By Lumon
Cobelâ??s indoctrination goes deep.
Warning! This article contains spoilers for Severance season 2, episode 7.
Severance Season 2, episode 7 has Reghabi tell Devon that Ms. Cobel was "raised" by Lumon, with this phrase linking to the latter's indoctrination. The ending of Severance season 2, episode 6 featured Mark suffering a seizure after Reghabi flooded his chip. This was intended to speed up Severance's lengthy Reintegration process, yet Mark ignored Reghabi's welfare warnings and did not rest. This triggered a seizure once Devon was in Mark's house, with episode 7 picking up almost exactly from there.
Given her brother's condition, Devon is shown to be naturally panicked. Reghabi insists Mark will be okay, but Devon is not so sure Reintegration is as safe as the former states, potentially raising the possibility of calling Severance's Cobel/Selvig. Devon wants Selvig to help Mark get into Damona Birthing Retreat so that his Innie will awaken and they can speak to him about Gemma, rather than undergo the dangers of Reintegration. However, Reghabi vehemently opposes this idea, insisting that Cobel is one of the few Severance characters who was raised by Lumon completely, begging the question of what this means.
Cobel Grew Up Going To The Myrtle Eagan School For Girls (Where She Was Taught Kier's Vision)She Was Folded Into Lumon's Beliefs From A Young Age
Reghabi's comment about Ms. Cobel in Severance season 2, episode 7 is fairly simple and links to the latter's past. Reghabi also states Cobel is Lumon through and through and that she is a soldier of the company, linking to its cult-like depiction in the show. Cobel is like this due to her upbringing, with Reghabi's comment about her being raised by Lumon being entirely true. It has been revealed that Cobel grew up in a school that was run by Lumon.
This school was called the Myrtle Eagan School for Girls and is where Cobel learned everything about her life. Not only did she learn the typical things that children learn during school, but Kier's vision and the beliefs that Lumon holds so strongly were drilled into Cobel from this young age. This was the start of Cobel's indoctrination that continued into adulthood before she became the severed floor's manager. As such, it is logical that Reghabi does not want to contact Cobel at all, as this indoctrination would mean she is more inclined to help Lumon than Devon or Mark.
What Happened To Cobel's Family In Severance?Why Was Cobel Not Raised By Her Parents?
With Reghabi's comment and Cobel's past in mind, the question turns to what happened to the latter's family. Admittedly, the references to Cobel's family life have been extremely minimal in Severance. The only reference to one of her relatives came in season 1 after she destroyed the shrine she held to commemorate Kier Eagan in her basement. Cobel was seen clutching a hospital wristband and breathing apparatus, with the name Charlotte Cobel written on it.
Given that the date on the wristband was 1944, it is safe to assume Charlotte was Harmony Cobel's mother or grandmother/carer. Regardless, that relative being lost at a young age likely led to Harmony being enrolled in the Myrtle Eagan school, further contributing to her indoctrination as she had no one else to raise her. Whether Severance season 2 will reveal more about Cobel's family, such as her father or siblings, remains to be seen, but until it does, Reghabi's comment that she was raised by Lumon makes more sense than ever.
Your RatingSeverance
Release Date
February 18, 2022
Showrunner
Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman
Directors
Ben Stiller
Writers
Dan Erickson