Severance fans are eager to find out the real meaning of O&D and details about the confusing paintings hung up inside the Lumon building’s floors. The thriller series centers around Lumon Industries, the company that has the ability to divide one’s consciousness into two parts: one that caters strictly to their work and the other to their personal life. The severed employees do not know the real motivations of the firm behind their employment, which makes them work in a facade. Here are details on the series’ O&D department and paintings.
What does O&D stand for in Severance’s Lumon Industries?
O&D is short for Optics and Design. However, the employees’ work in this department at Lumon remains unclear.
Initially, this particular department appeared to be a small one until the series introduced the audience to its many employees. Although the series doesn’t present a specific number of its employees, it appears that at least eight are working in this department. Burt and Felicia are also a part of O&D. While not much is known about the operations of O&D, it’s mentioned that this department does have a feud with the MDR team.
What is the purpose of Lumon’s O&D department in Severance?
The purpose of Lumon’s O&D department in Severance is to look after the storage and maintenance of the company’s art collections.
While their job description seems a lot simpler, the audience remains unsure of what the employees do in this department. According to some observations, these employees wear blue lab coats and green-colored badges, confusing many about their uniforms not matching their departmental jobs. This particular team is led by Burt. When Irving once appears in the O&D department, the employees are found carrying several props. This instance further adds to a lot of queries on how is this department living up to its name.
O&D’s mysterious paintings in Severance explained
The bizarre paintings hung throughout Lumon’s building likely indicate the organization’s alleged history and secret agenda.
The strange paintings are harder to decode but some clues are given on what they are about. It seems like they capture significant events from Lumon’s founder, Kier Eagan’s life. They likely depict the company’s history, founder’s ideologies, and philosophies. A conflict between MDR and O&D is also depicted in some artworks, indicating that the organization’s infamous incidents are preserved in art form as well.
