I'm glad you're doing Devon next because the biggest mystery about Ricken is Devon. Why is such a charming, no BS type lady doing with a guy like him? Either she has skeletons or a mega blindspot. Don't make no sense!
I've very sure Ricken (and his "followers") are severed. Severance cannot work 100% of the time and there had to have been test subjects. Devon probably married Rick N before his severance and afterward, he was housed in the severed town, permanently trapped as an Innie. She stays with him, because of a fierce loyalty, which Mark shares.
Could it be that Devon may have known more about the Severance procedure before Mark and that she either knows more about Ricken and him being possibly being an Eagan? Perhaps Devon could have avoided any procedure due to the chance that if Ricken is in fact an Eagan, then their child would be the only other direct descendant of the Eagan's who isn't (at least according to the show so far) - hence why Harmony doubles as a nanny and a spy to monitor Mark's outie. It would make sense that her role as an outie was created by Ricken if that were the case too.
I think Ricken = Rick N. is almost certain. And I'm intrigued by the idea of the whole town being severed as an experiment. Maybe to find the ideal or safe amount of time a person can be split into this separate identity (just at work, all the time, etc).
A lot of people have these really out there sinister theories about Ricken and Devon but honestly I think they're just safe characters. Comfort characters who are gonna be pulled into the whole thing because of Mark. Ricken is just quirky and Devon really seems to genuinely care for Mark and is close to him.
Yeah. I dont think there is anything wrong with them. Mainly because Devon is horrified by the thought that the wife of the senator could be severed and Cobel is worried when she thinks someone from the outside could get such ideas. I also get the impression that Lumon is still in its early stages in relation to their goals. The mysterious expansion hasnt happened yet and there is still a battle going on about making sure that the country recognizes them. So I dont think that literally everyone in Marks life is in on it.
I agree. I could see his fans as being severed though, and that he is unintentionally profiting off of a procedure that he’s against. It would be quite funny because he believes he’s a profound thinker, and his fanbase validates his belief and boosts his ego, when in reality his fan base is only a bunch of severed ppl (Mark included! Dylan too!) who are only drawn to him because literally everything to them seems novel and profound. But in this scenario, all his friends/fans would be ‘innies’ functioning in the outside world. Which we know is possible (the senator’s wife), but it raises a lot more questions.
@@nicholasleemarksthis has been my suspicion too. And in that scenario, I feel like there has to be more to Ricken. Why would they write in one single couple surrounded by innies? Because these people have little world skills, so it’s almost like his friends have been curated FOR him
Ricken Hale is an anagram of Rick Helena, and then Helly R (HR) is opposite initials of Ricken Hale (RH). Yeah, I am desperate here ;) On the other hand, the waffle party had a very weird theatrical vibe to it, with the four tempers "interpretive dance". I could totally see Ricken's parents somehow creating or being associated with that. I think it is time for a re-watch :)
This is a great theory, I wonder how long the Waffle Party has been in the office. Where did the information of the 9 month stage presentation come from?
I think Ricken & the other naive characters are all severed but in reverse to the workers we know. Their 'job' is to populate that community around Mark & the others. They're out when we don't see them, maybe living a luxurious life & being board members of Lumen. That could also explain the dinner-less dinner, they've already dined, probably lavishly.
@@aroha9090 I think the dinner guests are certainly severed. Their lack of awareness of common knowledge stuff plus- that lady fussing over her procedure scar and attributing it to a bird attack. They are unaware of their severed condition. So yes, the whole area around Lumen’s people is populated with severed people who have another purpose. Of course, we do see seemingly unsevered people in the city, when Mark goes on his date. It will be fascinating to see how they put this all in place.
Ricken is my favourite character on the show. The casting of Michael Chernus is just spot on and he plays it perfect. My question would also be why he and Devon are together. Discussing it with my own girlfriend, I’m thinking that Devon - being this nihilistic and sarcastic in her way of speaking - is attracted to Ricken’s sometime gullible but ultimately sweet nature. So an “opposite’s attract”-scenario.
Y'all keep acting like Ricken can't have a mate just cus he's goofy That's the most realistic thing I seen in this show cus every single girl I know in a long term relationship has a boyfriend whose a bumbling idiot irl
Yes and yes. He's one of my favorite characters. His "mold" is too intentional not to be meaningful. I'm glad you mentioned his little following - especially Rebeck. She' odd and the mention of her scar from her bird - yep. Devon is also up there but in a great way. She'll do anything for her brother but there must be a deeper reason why she married Ricken. He might be more than we know.
I hate tv crazy fan theories, except you always have compelling evidence and rational logically thought out ideas. Love all your videos. And Ricken as Eagan reborn and trying to change his past and I never thought of all Ricken's friends being severed but make so much sense immediately.
I'll add to this that a sheep was the first animal that was fully cloned, so maybe a similar one - a goat, has something to do with something similar to cloning.
Wait where are we getting this background information? Cause that’s a great backstory and I absolutely love the idea of some stern, dark hair, rimmed glasses lady telling an eleven year old kid that his work is pedestrian. I’ve met that woman. All she wants to do is talk about Chloe in the Afternoon. She’s the worst.
It's strange that the only naïve people we see outside of Lumen are in the house of Ricken. The lady, that was helping Davon with her birth was pretty normal, and Piti's daughter also seemed normal and they seem to somehow live in the same city.
i bet any amount of money ben stiller came up with those titles! the guy is out of this world hilarious. ricken actually feels like a ben stiller style character to me. think “gaylord m focker” or tropic thunder
Had to look up petard in the dictionary: 1: a case containing an explosive to break down a door or gate or breach a wall 2: a firework that explodes with a loud report
Hence the phrase : (From Wikipedia) "Hoist with his own petard" is a phrase from a speech in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet that has become proverbial. The phrase's meaning is that a bomb-maker is blown ("hoist", the past tense of "hoise") off the ground by his own bomb ("petard"), and indicates an ironic reversal or poetic justice. So maybe Ricken's bomb-throwing books will ironically come back to bite him.
Ricken has always been one of the more fascinating characters in my tinfoil theorizing for Severance. The combination of being a side character and how weird he is makes him such a fascinating character to think about. The Eagan theory is interesting, and has plausibility, but that has never resonated with me. What resonates with me the most is the theory that certain people we see in the outside world is severed, expanding our idea of when and how severance is implemented. Ricken's friends are so incredibly odd it needs to connect back into the themes of the show somehow. Could it be that these people are not severed but act as naïve as innies as a point of comparison? I can see that being more likely, but I still love the idea that they may be severed and living in the outside world as an 'innie' in some elaborate Lumon experiment.
oh wow. its been awhile since i've watched the series but you're going to have me looking at picture frames, knic-knacs, and the feng shui of people's houses lol
I think Ricken Hale is part of the Board. Let me explain this theory: 1) He has a Ph.D. Obviously he's educated and I think he writes these silly books and acts this way as just a cover up. Also, the poetic book writing is very similar to the book writings used for Lumon. We also know that Lumon updates the writings. Perhaps he helped write, suggest, or implement new ideas for Lumon? If you've ever watched Naruto, he's basically the dumb Tobi before revealing he's the mastermind of the Akatsuki group. 2) He's wealthy. He lives in a moderately large size home and was able to afford a birthing cabin. (The same place a top senator chose). It seems like he has a lot stability in his life with only 5 self-help books. Can anybody clarify if he states what he does beyond writing books? 3) In the last episode, we see him struggle with his speech with stage fright or saying the wrong word during his book gathering (which is very cult like btw). Strangely enough, the "board" never presents themselves in person. When the Board IS on, it's a machine that is used to communicate through. Perhaps Ricken uses this machine to avoid that stage fright. 4) Ricken "Hale". The word "Hell" is a literal callout used in several shots of the show. There's also a lot of metaphors representing hell as well. It's an interesting coincidence. 5) It's worth noting that Harmony Cobel got fired only after visiting the sister about private nursing lessons with Ricken Hale's wife. The "Board" somehow knew she was there and fired her for overstepping boundaries. Out of all the bad things she's done that the board knew about, this is what got her fired. 6) It's strange that Ricken is able to grab quite a bit of "followers". This aligns well with the overall Lumon's mission and the ability to brainwash individuals through it's cult-like scriptures and ideologies. I think that last episode sealed the deal for me especially if you pay closer attention to what some of the book gathering people say. Let me know what you think.
I think Devon knew Rick before he was severed and that’s the weird look she gives at 9:50. She knows Ricken and her brother are both severed and is doing her best to navigate a climate where the people she loves are both unaware of the danger and situation they’re in.
@@tonyboyer9732 oh man, that's a tough question to answer... I guess I'm most excited to find out what happens next in regards to Gemma. Why is she at Lumon? How do they have her there? Will Mark go forward with reintegration? What is the deal with Ms. Cobell??? These are my biggest questions. But I have so many more! Lol
I understand your frustration. I wish we could feed our television hunger this calendar year but oh well! Anyway, I'm most excited for a new season overall. Based on the teaser trailer, I hope season 2 makes sense because the trailer certainly does not in regards to how season 1 ended on a cliffhanger.
What's weird is that Ricken friend claim credit for finding the baby and he scream it too when it was Mark who found the baby. That's really odd, it's like Ricken's friends are like groupies or like a mild cult.
Your videos are fantastic! This series has become one of my favorites in recent years and your series and character break downs just bring me so much joy. Thank you!!
Ricken is definitely an Egan. I always felt that "and I don't know why I feel this" that he is hellys older brother and was shunted out of the way for some reason, and kobell knows who he is.
Voice evidence was strong evidence Rickan is main guy in lumen, love that conspiracy theory. Or maybe voice similarity is evidence Rickey is in Eagan family
Great video! There’s def some things Devon does that look mighty sus when looked at with our tinfoil hats on imo. Although there’s just as much stuff that casts doubt on that too.
The name thing drives me crazy. Danice, Rebeck, Patton, and Ricken are all one letter off from a common name, but Devon isn’t. Nor is Eleanor, depending on how it’s spelled.
I find Ricken quite funny in many cases (like the book at the door), but always in an unsettling way. He is so captivating to watch, and I was really invested in him while watching the show. Like other people have said here, I am looking forward to a video on Devon because other than Mark and Dylan and Irving's outies (who we don't know much about), she is the only normal person on the show. I think she's going to play a much larger part in the next season than this one.
@@nautilusfilesI’ve been planning 2 wait for s2 to drop before I reactivate Apple TV+, but this is killin’ meh! Time for a rewatch, I guess! Also, do you know when s2 IS being released? It’s REALLY killin’ meh that there’s no announcement, with the new teaser out!😪😫🤷♀️
its been a while since iv watched the show, so i dont recall well. does the Eagen mythos extend outside of the innies world? i know there are eagens out in the public, but do they play up there mythos to the outside world as much as they do to the innies?
The book was brought in Ms. Cobel. I was left in that conference room by Milchick. That's the weird part because Milchick is the authoritarian, disciplined, midlevel management type in between the departments at least in the severance floor.
I don’t think ricken is kier. In the severed pod, they did an interview with the actor that actually voices kier and explained more about that. I don’t think it’s the same guy
Ricken is painfully, painfully mediocre in every sense. He is every seemingly gifted and creative kid who has never done anything profound or significant. I believe he is genuinely sweet and guileless, empathetic and utterly clueless. Ricken is what happens when a total lack of talent bumps up against practiced skill. His myopic and simplistic "memoirs" are a joke of puddle-deep musings. He is, in fact, no one special. He is not talented. He would be no one of significance if his writing hadn't accidentally ended up in the hands of people who have all the existential dread but none of the larger reference of the wider world that the Innies have. I love him for how genuine he is, and it would be a disservice to how well he was written to undercut that by making him a secret genius.
I have a hard time buying the Ricken is an Eagan theory, or if he is it's a total secret that neither he, Cobel/Selvig or Milcheck know. Milcheck is a company man through & through, if Ricken was an Eagan Milcheck would've already been all over knowing that Ricken had a new book coming out and wouldn't need to casually flip through it in privacy, he'd know the contents. We also know Ben Stiller voiced Kier, at least on the computer celebration screen.
Idk about that... Milcheck and Cobel both seemed to regard Ricken as a non-threat to Lumon in general, and Milcheck seems to really only concern himself with Lumon business. If he is an Eagan, he's seems estranged from the family business and doesn't have any insider knowledge of Lumon, so there might not be a need to keep tabs on Ricken so closely. Cobel is the one with the weird fixation on the family...and she managed to integrate herself into Ricken and Devon's family. But I also think that he's an Eagan because he and Helly are the only ones who wear red during season 1, which could indicate Eagan blood.
That book literally unlocked the main characters mind and motivated him to escape what if that book is like a code and when you read it undoes the severance Just a theory i kno it's a reach
Some people really don’t think concepts all the way through. (Regarding the WW1 reference.) People frequently asked if my twin brother and sister are identical or not. (My sister now says: yes, she’s identical to her brother.) Also, people regularly make up crazy theories: like god is in magnetic fields (because we don’t understand magnetic fields), etc. Then I had to explain that magnetic are pretty well understood and there wasn’t room for god there. And these people aren’t necessarily stupid, they are usually skipping steps in the reasoning process. You think about twins and the next question is always if they are identical regardless of the actual facts. So some people not realizing the WW1 wasn’t called that until later is completely in line with my experience. So I didn’t find the situation odd, I’ve been in these sorts of situations before. Usually with someone trying to pass off that they are more knowledgeable than they actually are. The same guest who brought up the WW1 thing, he also took create for finding baby Eleanor in the final episode. He seems to want recognition in some way. But I’m also a professor (in the physical sciences, not history), so I’m not sure how much of that colors my experience and impression of the world. Perhaps those of you outside of academia could comment on this. However, I also expect the Severance audience to not accurately represent humanity. It’s a self-selected group and not a random sampling. So are the dinner guests really different from the normal range of humanity (maybe there are humans who didn’t take history or don’t remember it and also want to look knowledgeable to others) or just different from the audience of the show? Am I reading too much into this?
Yeah, I don’t know… I grew up with hippie intellectuals in Portland so that whole non-dinner party conversation struck me as overwhelmingly daft! 😂 That OR they were stoned as all hell!🫨🍃🚬💨
There may be too much focus may be on the comment in isolation, when really it might be intended to be viewed in a larger context. The "dinner" party guests are definitely different from the audience of the show, and I think that's meant to be highlighted, but I don't think they're meant to represent the normal range of general WWI knowledge within the human pop. I think Ricken and his friends are meant to be viewed as odd. "Normal" upon first glance, but with further engagement...odd. Yea, the WWI comment indicates ignorance on the topic, and if this show was based in a more typical setting, would be inconspicuous, but this is based in an isolated, company town where the corporation is conducting experimental, mind-altering procedures. They seem a bit juvenile (like taking credit for finding a baby), similar to the innies at Lumon, which leads me to think that maybe its not just ignorance we're seeing, but naiveté. I think it intentionally gives more credence to the possibility that the employees of Lumon may not be the only individuals who are being experimented on.
Ricken is the secret leader of the anti Lumon underground as embodied in the first season by Reghabi, hiding his Machiavellian chessmaster tendencies in plain sight as an out of touch goofball self help guru spouting new age cliches-patiently aligning all the pieces in place to destroy Lumon once and for all.
Of all the characters on this show, Ricken is my fav. If I met him IRL, I would find him annoying, weird, and likeable. I find it hard to believe his an Eagan but it's not impossible. Clearly, "Severance" is a controversial procedure and even a clandestine criminal element actively working to dismantle it by an ex-Lumon employee. The whole town being "severed" is too much.
I’m sure someone must’ve talked about this, but surely Milcheck left Ricken’s book for them to find on purpose. It seems to obvious a mistake to make for him
Ricken and his whole book club have to severed (and they might not know they are ) Everyone at the book club seemed very child like and spongy to information, as in they all thought rickens words in his book were amazing and life changing. Notice how mark and Dylan also felt the same when they read the book. Ricken has to be a play on Rick N .
I think Ricken has to be severed. In his book he has "An Acrostic Poem Experience." Devon knows, because she is in on all of this. She is somehow responsible for what happened to Marks wife, or knows what happened.
I would suggest not adding so much bass to the commentary, it’s giving me a headache listening through my headphones. Shouldn’t be vibrating my eardrum 😂
Ricken is wildly intent on getting mark that book. The writings in the book literally advocate common struggle against the boss. Ricken wants Mark to get out. Thats why he was so weird about the severance. ricken is NOT kier. Ricken is literally rallying workers around a common struggle against capitalism :3 Also Mark is literally named Mark. S which sounds like marx> Maybe ricken is more of an Engels type character? Narratively he is revolutionary. One thing for sure Ricken cares about Mark and wants him to rebel against Lumen.
I'm glad you're doing Devon next because the biggest mystery about Ricken is Devon. Why is such a charming, no BS type lady doing with a guy like him? Either she has skeletons or a mega blindspot. Don't make no sense!
Yeah I could NEVER see Devon wanting to be around Ricken let alone having sex and making a baby with him.
Absolutely 💯 agree! Several times she’s shown mild annoyance or just kinda ignored his buffoonery & that’s when she seems more authentic to me🤣
MAKE IT MAKE SENSE NAUTILUS FILES!
I've very sure Ricken (and his "followers") are severed. Severance cannot work 100% of the time and there had to have been test subjects. Devon probably married Rick N before his severance and afterward, he was housed in the severed town, permanently trapped as an Innie. She stays with him, because of a fierce loyalty, which Mark shares.
Could it be that Devon may have known more about the Severance procedure before Mark and that she either knows more about Ricken and him being possibly being an Eagan? Perhaps Devon could have avoided any procedure due to the chance that if Ricken is in fact an Eagan, then their child would be the only other direct descendant of the Eagan's who isn't (at least according to the show so far) - hence why Harmony doubles as a nanny and a spy to monitor Mark's outie. It would make sense that her role as an outie was created by Ricken if that were the case too.
Ricken may be the very best character per minute of screen time
"A collab between L Ron Hubbard and Dr Seuss" my own petard, illustrated
Yeah that’s goated 😂
It’s interesting (but I’m sure a coincidence) that his initials are the same as well, just in a different order. Ricken Laszlo Hale, RLH.
I think I peed a little.
I think Ricken = Rick N. is almost certain. And I'm intrigued by the idea of the whole town being severed as an experiment. Maybe to find the ideal or safe amount of time a person can be split into this separate identity (just at work, all the time, etc).
A lot of people have these really out there sinister theories about Ricken and Devon but honestly I think they're just safe characters. Comfort characters who are gonna be pulled into the whole thing because of Mark. Ricken is just quirky and Devon really seems to genuinely care for Mark and is close to him.
Yeah. I dont think there is anything wrong with them. Mainly because Devon is horrified by the thought that the wife of the senator could be severed and Cobel is worried when she thinks someone from the outside could get such ideas.
I also get the impression that Lumon is still in its early stages in relation to their goals. The mysterious expansion hasnt happened yet and there is still a battle going on about making sure that the country recognizes them. So I dont think that literally everyone in Marks life is in on it.
I agree. I could see his fans as being severed though, and that he is unintentionally profiting off of a procedure that he’s against. It would be quite funny because he believes he’s a profound thinker, and his fanbase validates his belief and boosts his ego, when in reality his fan base is only a bunch of severed ppl (Mark included! Dylan too!) who are only drawn to him because literally everything to them seems novel and profound.
But in this scenario, all his friends/fans would be ‘innies’ functioning in the outside world. Which we know is possible (the senator’s wife), but it raises a lot more questions.
@@nicholasleemarks Oh that's an amazing thought...
@@nicholasleemarksthis has been my suspicion too. And in that scenario, I feel like there has to be more to Ricken. Why would they write in one single couple surrounded by innies? Because these people have little world skills, so it’s almost like his friends have been curated FOR him
Ricken Hale is an anagram of Rick Helena, and then Helly R (HR) is opposite initials of Ricken Hale (RH). Yeah, I am desperate here ;)
On the other hand, the waffle party had a very weird theatrical vibe to it, with the four tempers "interpretive dance". I could totally see Ricken's parents somehow creating or being associated with that.
I think it is time for a re-watch :)
I do think that the name is a clue. The name "Ricken" contains the name "Keir"
This is a great theory, I wonder how long the Waffle Party has been in the office. Where did the information of the 9 month stage presentation come from?
Love the crazy theories
@@mattgilbert7347I find it interesting that Ricken sounds like Rick N.
I think Ricken & the other naive characters are all severed but in reverse to the workers we know. Their 'job' is to populate that community around Mark & the others. They're out when we don't see them, maybe living a luxurious life & being board members of Lumen. That could also explain the dinner-less dinner, they've already dined, probably lavishly.
Oh you are so right! That explains their almost like childish behavior
@@aroha9090 I think the dinner guests are certainly severed. Their lack of awareness of common knowledge stuff plus- that lady fussing over her procedure scar and attributing it to a bird attack. They are unaware of their severed condition. So yes, the whole area around Lumen’s people is populated with severed people who have another purpose. Of course, we do see seemingly unsevered people in the city, when Mark goes on his date. It will be fascinating to see how they put this all in place.
Ricken is my favourite character on the show. The casting of Michael Chernus is just spot on and he plays it perfect.
My question would also be why he and Devon are together.
Discussing it with my own girlfriend, I’m thinking that Devon - being this nihilistic and sarcastic in her way of speaking - is attracted to Ricken’s sometime gullible but ultimately sweet nature. So an “opposite’s attract”-scenario.
Y'all keep acting like Ricken can't have a mate just cus he's goofy That's the most realistic thing I seen in this show cus every single girl I know in a long term relationship has a boyfriend whose a bumbling idiot irl
Yes and yes. He's one of my favorite characters. His "mold" is too intentional not to be meaningful. I'm glad you mentioned his little following - especially Rebeck. She' odd and the mention of her scar from her bird - yep. Devon is also up there but in a great way. She'll do anything for her brother but there must be a deeper reason why she married Ricken. He might be more than we know.
totally want to hear more about severance-ville.
Oh god. Unchipped Riken is a stoic scary old man inside. That is going to be terrorfying if he busts out all cold and calculated.
Woah….yeah, gonna see my mouth drop open 😲if that happens!
Good one
The actor playing Ricken is doing such a great job! Thank you for the video and your interesting insights into the character
I hate tv crazy fan theories, except you always have compelling evidence and rational logically thought out ideas. Love all your videos. And Ricken as Eagan reborn and trying to change his past and I never thought of all Ricken's friends being severed but make so much sense immediately.
I'll add to this that a sheep was the first animal that was fully cloned, so maybe a similar one - a goat, has something to do with something similar to cloning.
Godlike status among innies esp page 187 which slaps
I would totally watch a Ricken’s Goof Troop spinoff.
I didn't know how much I wanted that until you mentioned it lol
That would be great! Maybe they could end up in situations where they're so close to finding out secrets about Lumon but are too stupid to notice it.
Wait where are we getting this background information? Cause that’s a great backstory and I absolutely love the idea of some stern, dark hair, rimmed glasses lady telling an eleven year old kid that his work is pedestrian. I’ve met that woman. All she wants to do is talk about Chloe in the Afternoon. She’s the worst.
It's strange that the only naïve people we see outside of Lumen are in the house of Ricken. The lady, that was helping Davon with her birth was pretty normal, and Piti's daughter also seemed normal and they seem to somehow live in the same city.
i bet any amount of money ben stiller came up with those titles! the guy is out of this world hilarious. ricken actually feels like a ben stiller style character to me. think “gaylord m focker” or tropic thunder
I've been binging all these Severence videos today so it was great to see a new one pop up 😂 This is a great channel keep up the good work!
Had to look up petard in the dictionary:
1: a case containing an explosive to break down a door or gate or breach a wall
2: a firework that explodes with a loud report
Hence the phrase : (From Wikipedia)
"Hoist with his own petard" is a phrase from a speech in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet that has become proverbial. The phrase's meaning is that a bomb-maker is blown ("hoist", the past tense of "hoise") off the ground by his own bomb ("petard"), and indicates an ironic reversal or poetic justice.
So maybe Ricken's bomb-throwing books will ironically come back to bite him.
@@SuburbanSlave I mean, you know there are no accidents with the writing in this show.
Ricken has always been one of the more fascinating characters in my tinfoil theorizing for Severance. The combination of being a side character and how weird he is makes him such a fascinating character to think about. The Eagan theory is interesting, and has plausibility, but that has never resonated with me. What resonates with me the most is the theory that certain people we see in the outside world is severed, expanding our idea of when and how severance is implemented. Ricken's friends are so incredibly odd it needs to connect back into the themes of the show somehow. Could it be that these people are not severed but act as naïve as innies as a point of comparison? I can see that being more likely, but I still love the idea that they may be severed and living in the outside world as an 'innie' in some elaborate Lumon experiment.
be interesting if he was somehow a 'rival' and made a cult more 'naturally' than Lumon did
oh wow. its been awhile since i've watched the series but you're going to have me looking at picture frames, knic-knacs, and the feng shui of people's houses lol
I think Ricken Hale is part of the Board. Let me explain this theory:
1) He has a Ph.D. Obviously he's educated and I think he writes these silly books and acts this way as just a cover up. Also, the poetic book writing is very similar to the book writings used for Lumon. We also know that Lumon updates the writings. Perhaps he helped write, suggest, or implement new ideas for Lumon? If you've ever watched Naruto, he's basically the dumb Tobi before revealing he's the mastermind of the Akatsuki group.
2) He's wealthy. He lives in a moderately large size home and was able to afford a birthing cabin. (The same place a top senator chose). It seems like he has a lot stability in his life with only 5 self-help books. Can anybody clarify if he states what he does beyond writing books?
3) In the last episode, we see him struggle with his speech with stage fright or saying the wrong word during his book gathering (which is very cult like btw). Strangely enough, the "board" never presents themselves in person. When the Board IS on, it's a machine that is used to communicate through. Perhaps Ricken uses this machine to avoid that stage fright.
4) Ricken "Hale". The word "Hell" is a literal callout used in several shots of the show. There's also a lot of metaphors representing hell as well. It's an interesting coincidence.
5) It's worth noting that Harmony Cobel got fired only after visiting the sister about private nursing lessons with Ricken Hale's wife. The "Board" somehow knew she was there and fired her for overstepping boundaries. Out of all the bad things she's done that the board knew about, this is what got her fired.
6) It's strange that Ricken is able to grab quite a bit of "followers". This aligns well with the overall Lumon's mission and the ability to brainwash individuals through it's cult-like scriptures and ideologies. I think that last episode sealed the deal for me especially if you pay closer attention to what some of the book gathering people say.
Let me know what you think.
"Innies".....my new favorite word.
I think Devon knew Rick before he was severed and that’s the weird look she gives at 9:50. She knows Ricken and her brother are both severed and is doing her best to navigate a climate where the people she loves are both unaware of the danger and situation they’re in.
Season 2 cannot come soon enough!
Same here, I'm so excited. Which part of the story are you excited about the most?
@@tonyboyer9732 oh man, that's a tough question to answer... I guess I'm most excited to find out what happens next in regards to Gemma. Why is she at Lumon? How do they have her there? Will Mark go forward with reintegration? What is the deal with Ms. Cobell??? These are my biggest questions. But I have so many more! Lol
I understand your frustration. I wish we could feed our television hunger this calendar year but oh well! Anyway, I'm most excited for a new season overall. Based on the teaser trailer, I hope season 2 makes sense because the trailer certainly does not in regards to how season 1 ended on a cliffhanger.
@@tonyboyer9732 I'm sure it'll tie it all up nicely while still leaving enough mystery. I am so excited we finally have a date for season 2!!
@@Hollycb12 Agreed, January feels so long away though!
I think his role is to pacify outies that have been damaged in severance (if they didn't forget enough, or the switching wasn't working etc)
Never knew I wanted this theory video!
What's weird is that Ricken friend claim credit for finding the baby and he scream it too when it was Mark who found the baby.
That's really odd, it's like Ricken's friends are like groupies or like a mild cult.
I absolutely BEAMED when this hit my inbox.
Good to see you, Lyricbot!
Does nobody but me notice that the glimpse of the surgeon doing Helly’s procedure looks like Ricken?
Great video! Goats are also linked to satan.
I am excited to watch the rest of your Severance videos!!
Great video! So glad we know we get to hurry up and wait longer for season two! 😂 Take care Nautilus!
Your videos are fantastic! This series has become one of my favorites in recent years and your series and character break downs just bring me so much joy. Thank you!!
Ricken is definitely an Egan. I always felt that "and I don't know why I feel this" that he is hellys older brother and was shunted out of the way for some reason, and kobell knows who he is.
YESSSSS! Another severance video. Season 2 is supposed to release in 3-6 months, but the date hasn’t been announced yet…… weird.
It's interesting to me that "Ricken" contains "Keir" with the letters "cn" remaining.
Voice evidence was strong evidence Rickan is main guy in lumen, love that conspiracy theory. Or maybe voice similarity is evidence Rickey is in Eagan family
Mark and Ricken are what I hope to learn more about in season 2.
Oh, no! Please ramble ON!😂❤😎🙏Thx for more insightful & thought provoking content to keep triggering my Severance s2 jones! 😱
I think that Ricken actually looks a lot like
Gerhardt Eagan.
Great video! There’s def some things Devon does that look mighty sus when looked at with our tinfoil hats on imo. Although there’s just as much stuff that casts doubt on that too.
Ah i wish these theory videos were like 5x as long xD i love them n i love the theoriesss.
What if Ricken’s crowd are “re-integration” failures ….
Yes, this is what I was thinking!
Hey, the guy makes his own sheets! I thought it was odd when Mark called him Rick. Still trying to find the visceral meaning...
Goats are also resilient and good at clearing out weeds so it could be a sign that a portion of the puzzle is being presented to us somehow 👀👀
The name thing drives me crazy. Danice, Rebeck, Patton, and Ricken are all one letter off from a common name, but Devon isn’t. Nor is Eleanor, depending on how it’s spelled.
I find Ricken quite funny in many cases (like the book at the door), but always in an unsettling way. He is so captivating to watch, and I was really invested in him while watching the show. Like other people have said here, I am looking forward to a video on Devon because other than Mark and Dylan and Irving's outies (who we don't know much about), she is the only normal person on the show. I think she's going to play a much larger part in the next season than this one.
Imma have to watch the whole thing again....
I'm always looking for an excuse to rewatch an episode lol
@@nautilusfilesI’ve been planning 2 wait for s2 to drop before I reactivate Apple TV+, but this is killin’ meh! Time for a rewatch, I guess!
Also, do you know when s2 IS being released? It’s REALLY killin’ meh that there’s no announcement, with the new teaser out!😪😫🤷♀️
its been a while since iv watched the show, so i dont recall well. does the Eagen mythos extend outside of the innies world? i know there are eagens out in the public, but do they play up there mythos to the outside world as much as they do to the innies?
“Hale” because he hails from the Eagans.
The book was brought in Ms. Cobel. I was left in that conference room by Milchick. That's the weird part because Milchick is the authoritarian, disciplined, midlevel management type in between the departments at least in the severance floor.
I don’t think ricken is kier. In the severed pod, they did an interview with the actor that actually voices kier and explained more about that. I don’t think it’s the same guy
It's the only theory that I am willing to bet is not true. I'm very comfortable saying that there is more to him than meets the eye, though.
Wow, just noticed that Irving looks like the black sheep Eagan too. Come ON season 2.
@@nautilusfiles absolutely agreed. I’m a “ricken is an eagen” truther 100% though.
@@mollygodfrey2547 imagine there’s a whole family of covert Eagans working there
We are all Eagan now
Kier voice actor Ben Stiller?
I can't get a read on Devon or Ricken at all
Yo Nautilus, amazing work my friend! Have you given Mr. Inbetween a watch? It's an absolute gem. Cheers
Ricken is painfully, painfully mediocre in every sense. He is every seemingly gifted and creative kid who has never done anything profound or significant. I believe he is genuinely sweet and guileless, empathetic and utterly clueless. Ricken is what happens when a total lack of talent bumps up against practiced skill. His myopic and simplistic "memoirs" are a joke of puddle-deep musings.
He is, in fact, no one special. He is not talented. He would be no one of significance if his writing hadn't accidentally ended up in the hands of people who have all the existential dread but none of the larger reference of the wider world that the Innies have.
I love him for how genuine he is, and it would be a disservice to how well he was written to undercut that by making him a secret genius.
What if he’s a genius’s innie?
So hype!!
Rick vs. Ricken: Rick is an ordinary name. "Ricken" is a weird author name. He wants to be called Ricken to sound different and important.
I just wanna know what Ricken has a PhD in!
Aphorisms
DANG. I love this!
I have a hard time buying the Ricken is an Eagan theory, or if he is it's a total secret that neither he, Cobel/Selvig or Milcheck know. Milcheck is a company man through & through, if Ricken was an Eagan Milcheck would've already been all over knowing that Ricken had a new book coming out and wouldn't need to casually flip through it in privacy, he'd know the contents. We also know Ben Stiller voiced Kier, at least on the computer celebration screen.
Maybe Ricken is a 'super secret Eagan' and only a few ppl know?
@@d1ni1mueter that's the only way I'd see the theory working...but what does it add to the story?
Yeah, if he is indeed an Eagan, the writers will have a hell of a time making it make sense.
Idk about that... Milcheck and Cobel both seemed to regard Ricken as a non-threat to Lumon in general, and Milcheck seems to really only concern himself with Lumon business.
If he is an Eagan, he's seems estranged from the family business and doesn't have any insider knowledge of Lumon, so there might not be a need to keep tabs on Ricken so closely. Cobel is the one with the weird fixation on the family...and she managed to integrate herself into Ricken and Devon's family.
But I also think that he's an Eagan because he and Helly are the only ones who wear red during season 1, which could indicate Eagan blood.
That book literally unlocked the main characters mind and motivated him to escape what if that book is like a code and when you read it undoes the severance Just a theory i kno it's a reach
Some people really don’t think concepts all the way through. (Regarding the WW1 reference.) People frequently asked if my twin brother and sister are identical or not. (My sister now says: yes, she’s identical to her brother.) Also, people regularly make up crazy theories: like god is in magnetic fields (because we don’t understand magnetic fields), etc. Then I had to explain that magnetic are pretty well understood and there wasn’t room for god there. And these people aren’t necessarily stupid, they are usually skipping steps in the reasoning process. You think about twins and the next question is always if they are identical regardless of the actual facts.
So some people not realizing the WW1 wasn’t called that until later is completely in line with my experience. So I didn’t find the situation odd, I’ve been in these sorts of situations before. Usually with someone trying to pass off that they are more knowledgeable than they actually are. The same guest who brought up the WW1 thing, he also took create for finding baby Eleanor in the final episode. He seems to want recognition in some way.
But I’m also a professor (in the physical sciences, not history), so I’m not sure how much of that colors my experience and impression of the world. Perhaps those of you outside of academia could comment on this.
However, I also expect the Severance audience to not accurately represent humanity. It’s a self-selected group and not a random sampling. So are the dinner guests really different from the normal range of humanity (maybe there are humans who didn’t take history or don’t remember it and also want to look knowledgeable to others) or just different from the audience of the show? Am I reading too much into this?
Yeah, I don’t know… I grew up with hippie intellectuals in Portland so that whole non-dinner party conversation struck me as overwhelmingly daft! 😂 That OR they were stoned as all hell!🫨🍃🚬💨
There may be too much focus may be on the comment in isolation, when really it might be intended to be viewed in a larger context. The "dinner" party guests are definitely different from the audience of the show, and I think that's meant to be highlighted, but I don't think they're meant to represent the normal range of general WWI knowledge within the human pop.
I think Ricken and his friends are meant to be viewed as odd. "Normal" upon first glance, but with further engagement...odd. Yea, the WWI comment indicates ignorance on the topic, and if this show was based in a more typical setting, would be inconspicuous, but this is based in an isolated, company town where the corporation is conducting experimental, mind-altering procedures.
They seem a bit juvenile (like taking credit for finding a baby), similar to the innies at Lumon, which leads me to think that maybe its not just ignorance we're seeing, but naiveté.
I think it intentionally gives more credence to the possibility that the employees of Lumon may not be the only individuals who are being experimented on.
That WW1 line is veeeery suspect
1st time I heard the name ricken was in GOT. Thought it was a nod to them... ricken sounds like Rick Eagan with the middle removed lol
My favorite
Ricken kinda has goat like physical qualities if I’m being honest.
Men who stare at goats
Ricken is the secret leader of the anti Lumon underground as embodied in the first season by Reghabi, hiding his Machiavellian chessmaster tendencies in plain sight as an out of touch goofball self help guru spouting new age cliches-patiently aligning all the pieces in place to destroy Lumon once and for all.
I’ve definitely thought of him as being tied to Reghabi’s group! All his mild-mannered antithetical rhetoric is consistent with that as well
Of all the characters on this show, Ricken is my fav. If I met him IRL, I would find him annoying, weird, and likeable. I find it hard to believe his an Eagan but it's not impossible. Clearly, "Severance" is a controversial procedure and even a clandestine criminal element actively working to dismantle it by an ex-Lumon employee. The whole town being "severed" is too much.
I’m sure someone must’ve talked about this, but surely Milcheck left Ricken’s book for them to find on purpose. It seems to obvious a mistake to make for him
Babe wake up
Ricken and his whole book club have to severed (and they might not know they are )
Everyone at the book club seemed very child like and spongy to information, as in they all thought rickens words in his book were amazing and life changing. Notice how mark and Dylan also felt the same when they read the book.
Ricken has to be a play on Rick N .
Did I miss the episode where they cover ricken?!
Do a collab with reel enigmas and theories please. I bet that would be fire
Unfortunately, Kier's voiceover in the Perpetuity Wing is done by Ben Stiller
You have a crush on the lady who plays marks sister.
So the meaning of the name Eagan is: Fiery; forceful
I think Ricken has to be severed. In his book he has "An Acrostic Poem Experience." Devon knows, because she is in on all of this. She is somehow responsible for what happened to Marks wife, or knows what happened.
This is the best theory I’ve seen by a long shot!!!
Rick Enhale
Ricken or Rick N? Just asking... ;)
portaRICKEN 🇵🇷
Jame too short Ricken too long. When you referred to him as RLH it made me think of scientology coz adherents refer to Hubbard as LRH
i mean you can literally spell kier with ricken so 🤭
I would suggest not adding so much bass to the commentary, it’s giving me a headache listening through my headphones. Shouldn’t be vibrating my eardrum 😂
Ricken is wildly intent on getting mark that book. The writings in the book literally advocate common struggle against the boss. Ricken wants Mark to get out. Thats why he was so weird about the severance. ricken is NOT kier. Ricken is literally rallying workers around a common struggle against capitalism :3 Also Mark is literally named Mark. S which sounds like marx> Maybe ricken is more of an Engels type character? Narratively he is revolutionary. One thing for sure Ricken cares about Mark and wants him to rebel against Lumen.
God I love when you drop a FUCKING video
ricken is akin to karl marx and kier is adam smith confirmed :3