Severance has been slow-playing the investigation into certainly one of its most climactic reveals: Mark’s spouse is alive. His innie discovered this out in the course of the first season finale, and, earlier than he had time to totally talk it, he received minimize off. A handful of episodes into the brand new season, Outie-Mark has found (on his personal) that his spouse remains to be alive, someplace inside Lumon. Innie-Mark tried to move out lacking posters and received momentarily hampered by Mammalians Nurturable staff, who stated in addition they took to Ms. Casey and wouldn’t impede his search. Innie-Irv has even pieced collectively that the elevator we final noticed her go down is known as the “exports corridor.”
This isn’t nothing! However it has not happy my curiosity — largely as a result of I wish to watch Dichen Lachman actually flex her appearing muscle groups once more.
I first noticed her in Dollhouse, a present the place persons are rented out to rich purchasers with briefly uploaded personalities. The “engagements” for the dolls vary from what you’d count on (intercourse and romance) to the extra imaginative (utilizing a serial killer profile to trace down an energetic serial killer; turning into a protecting backup dancer to a singer who’s being stalked) and the extra nefarious (sleeper brokers who don’t even know they’re dolls who will be activated on the behest of highly effective individuals).
That is all to say: Dollhouse requested quite a lot of the actors who performed the dolls. And Lachman all the time delivered. In her palms, the doll codenamed “Sierra” may remarkably and convincingly be something. What’s extra, as Dollhouse began layering on lore — this may shock you, a fan of Severance, nevertheless it seems the mind-wiping process won’t be absolutely impermeable — Lachman as soon as once more excelled, easily infusing even Sierra’s clean state with character and character. In a present stuffed with robust performances and loads of switching modes and even characters on a dime, Lachman stood out.
Lachman appeared to excel at small, refined nods. You didn’t must overwrite a scene for her as a result of she may talk depth and sophisticated (even scientific) inside machinations with only a tilt of her head. It doesn’t matter what position Sierra was pressured into, Lachman appeared to fluidly shift gears. I actually believed she could possibly be something.
However when Dollhouse ended, she by no means fairly received the identical sort of meaty showcase her efficiency as Sierra ought to have paved the way in which for. She popped up right here and there, sometimes as a visitor or restricted most important position in TV, or beating up Bryce Dallas Howard. However none of those roles fairly translated into the highlight she so deserved. Then she appeared on Severance and I, as soon as once more, thought, Nicely, I’m glad to see her, however this looks like a waste of her. However when the reveal of her being Mark’s spouse got here, it felt like we had been actually, lastly cooking!
No matter is occurring with Gemma/Ms. Casey is clearly tied up within the a lot bigger, way more nefarious and byzantine recreation of Severance. I do know it’s naive to count on solutions any sooner. However largely what I need is to observe Lachman go off once more. Even because the composed Ms. Casey, Lachman held the Lumon line, directly seeming like a coiled snake who may activate you at any second and in addition just like the soothing softness of a spa remedy. It’s the kind of efficiency the present must quietly pivot round, a straightforward calm you could fully consider individuals really feel drawn to.
However that’s however one gear in a really versatile wheelhouse. Gemma is alive, and Ms. Casey is someplace, and Lachman is marvelous. Now present me what her deal is, dammit.
