Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for Severance Season 2 Episode 2.
In Dan Erickson and Ben Stiller‘s sci-fi drama Severance, Graner (Michael Cumpsty), the head of security for Lumon on the severed floor, was an intimidating presence that loomed over all the innies’ actions in Season 1 before he was killed by Dr. Reghabi (Karen Aldridge), the mysterious scientist helping Mark (Adam Scott) and Petey (Yul Vazquez).
It seemed like this would be a key turning point, with Lumon losing their best weapon of intimidation, but the company has already replaced him with someone even worse: Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson). What makes Drummond more intimidating than Graner is not just the actor’s blunt, unnerving performance, but his seemingly more invasive tactics coupled with a clear devotion to the cult of Kier Eagan that makes his role at Lumon feel more personal to the character — rather than Graner who, while horrible, seemed just to be doing his job.
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson’s Performance in ‘Severance’ Season 2 Proves That Less Is More
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson has previously collaborated with Stiller, having appeared in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. However, his earlier role in The Tourist, where he portrayed a similarly quiet yet imposing character who evokes fear just by being on the screen, serves as previous evidence for what makes Drummond so menacing. Ólafsson brings the same piercing, calm look in his eyes to the role of Drummond, and it feels like he is constantly sizing up everyone else in the room, including the scenes where he is sitting opposite Milchick (Travell Tillman) with Helena (Britt Lower), discussing innie Mark’s request to the Board.
Just by sitting in the room and listening, we feel the presence that he could walk over and deal with any situation that pops up, such as when Ms. Cobel (Patricia Arquette) and Helena speak. Drummond sits at the far end of the table, facing a different angle from the others. It not only keeps in line with the show’s overall unsettling tone, but portrays Drummond as an omnipresent specter. Rather than how we saw Graner act with far more urgency, such as running to stop Helly R. from committing suicide, Ólafsson plays his character with a sense of dismissal when it comes to dealing with the innies and outies conspiracy. When he describes Mark’s sister, Devon (Jen Tullock), as “more uppity,” he gives no hint of worry at all.
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To new horizons.
Drummond’s Security Methods Appear Far More Invasive Than Graner’s
In Season 1, we mostly saw Graner contained to the severed floor, and the only time he went out of his way to hunt or spy on Mark, he got murdered. In contrast, Drummond successfully and covertly spies on not just Mark but his sister, too. In the diner scene, when Mark leaves, Drummond stays, keeping an eye on Devon instead and seemingly confirming this shift in focus later when he describes her specifically in his meeting with Helena and Milchick. Such casual targeting of our protagonist’s loved ones makes Drummond a far greater threat and one that could potentially strike more fear into Mark S. and the other innies.
While dismissive of Mark and his friends as a threat, Drummond is already being portrayed as a seemingly devoted follower of Kier Eagan. When he is at the diner, he sips from his mug, and we see the word “frolic” tattooed on his hand. This is one of the four “Tempers” that Kier describes as the sins everyone is born with. This quick shot not only emphasizes Drummond’s devotion to Kier, but the choice of “frolic” (if that is the only Temper he has tattooed) fits perfectly with what Drummond stands against entirely. He certainly is not playful or cheerful, so we can see he truly lives his life through Kier’s words.
We may not have gotten tons of Drummond this episode, but he has already made an impact, and hopefully, we will only get to see more of him. While Graner had a certain air of coldness, Drummond’s looming presence silently permeates every scene he appears in, and Ólafsson plays the character with such a calm tone that it feels like he is ready and prepared for anything. As bad as Graner was, Drummond is already proving to be a more invasive threat, and one potentially committed to destroying our heroes’ plans by any means necessary.
New episodes of Severance Season 2 are released every Friday on Apple TV+
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Severance
- Release Date
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February 18, 2022
- Showrunner
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Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman
Stream
