Britt Lower Faces Off Against Herself in a Mind-Bending ‘Severance’ Showdown!

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The question essentially asks if Helly R and Helena Eagan are the same person, and the answer is yes in terms of identity, but no when it comes to their spiritual state. This week’s episode of Severance, starring John Noble as Fields, has shown us that innies (employees who work within the company) have souls just like outies (employees who work outside the company). If an innie can go to heaven while an outie goes to hell, then it seems clear where Helly and Helena are headed.

So far, through six episodes of Severance season two, Britt Lower‘s character, Helly and Helena, has become the main antagonist. As a part of the Microdata Refinement team and seemingly in control of Lumon Industries, she spent the first half of the season spying on the revolutionaries leading the Microdat uprising, posing as an outsider (Helena) in Helly’s life. However, her cover was almost blown, leading to a near-fatal incident. After this, Helena allowed Helly to return to the severed floor, but not before expressing her disdain for the innies: “They aren’t people; they’re just animals.

Does Britt Lower’s portrayal of Helena truly reflect her feelings towards Mark, Dylan, and their fired coworker Irving? Or is it a coping mechanism for the potential successor of the Eagan empire? According to Lower, the truth might be a combination of both. In much the same way that the show’s central theme revolves around duality, a character can embody two contrasting aspects, just like Dan Erickson and Ben Stiller’s characters in their Apple TV+ thriller “Severance.” During her interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lower elaborates on this complexity and more about what led Helena to return to work.

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1. In regards to your initial thoughts about season two and portraying contrasting versions of the same character, it was fascinating to explore the intricacies of these dual aspects of one person, understanding their similarities, differences, and how they interact when switching perspectives. It was exhilarating to see Helena experience life from a revolutionary’s viewpoint, as she had previously only known Helly R’s world. The concept of these two halves of the same character engaging in internal conflict, which was introduced in season one, continued to develop in season two.

2. As for my growing understanding of Helena throughout season two, her actions were clear even in the first season, but it wasn’t until episode 2 that we truly saw her alone, without masks. This moment, where she watches the video of Helly and Mark at the elevator, gave viewers a glimpse into her isolation, loneliness, and coldness. I tried to empathize with her, as she was trapped within the company, much like the innies, but in a unique way. By stepping into Helly’s shoes, Helena had evolved by the time we reached the ORTBO. She was now at odds with the company’s expectations and her own desires, which added an intriguing layer to her character development, similar to playing a complex game of chess, but with new rules as we progressed through the season.

In the story “Woe’s Hollow,” prior to her unveiling, Helena bestows a snow lion upon Irving. Some people question whether Helena intended this as a friendly act or if it was merely an effort to fit in among them.

In my opinion, viewers can make up their own minds about Helena’s character development. However, I strongly believe that Helena has been significantly impacted by her experiences, and one can infer how meaningful the bond between Mark, Helly, Dylan, and Irving must have been for a character like Helena, who endured such a difficult family life. It seems to me that she’s trying to gain Irving’s approval, as he’s the only one who hasn’t fully accepted her. There are similarities between her relationship with her father and the approval she doesn’t receive from him, and this is reflected in her interactions with Irving. The scene where Helena tries to win Irving’s approval is particularly poignant because he fails to respond as she had hoped.

Irving, after season one, has become vulnerable, his heart having been shattered. As a result, he’s sensitive to his surroundings and it makes sense that he would pick up on Helena’s feelings. In contrast, Mark and Dylan are preoccupied with their personal discoveries, so they might not fully grasp the nuances of the situation as Helly and Irving do in season one, where they shared a tender, familial bond.

In what way did you adjust when you resumed portraying Helly on the show, even though I understand that it’s not always filmed chronologically…?

In our production process, we film scenes out of sequence, but a significant chunk of the early part of the season was dedicated to the initial episodes featuring Helena. Consequently, I predominantly followed Helena’s storyline from her viewpoint, and when we returned to Helly in episode five, my first question to Ms. Huang was, “Who the hell are you?” This interaction seemed like a true-to-life portrayal of Helly’s world, and it was invigorating to be back in her presence, observing her posture and the way she navigates through life.

Helly is consistently driven and seldom pauses, except perhaps when it comes to matters close to her heart. To see her energetic stride returning was a welcome sight. However, the current episode left viewers feeling bewildered because no one seems to be keeping up with her yet. She’s trying to make sense of things and people around her don’t seem to be acting as they did in the season finale, which for her felt like just yesterday. Therefore, this latest episode can be seen as a puzzle she’s piecing together while dealing with the shock and hurt caused by recent events.

Were you keeping up with all the online discussions about whether we were following Helly or Helena?It was fascinating to observe how our fans showed their detective skills, scrutinizing every detail that we carefully crafted to strike the right balance. They’re incredibly sharp! It’s amazing to see what they picked up on and those who caught on early: “That’s not my Helly!” A friend of mine confessed, “I feel like I let Helly down! I should have known!”

You’re absolutely right! The contrast between Helly and Helena, especially when we see Helly on the severed floor, is striking.

She embodies our mission, ethical standards, and pursues justice relentlessly. As soon as we learn that Ms. Casey is Mark’s outtie’s wife, she springs into action. No second thoughts, just action. On the other hand, Helena had to hesitate, observe, and blend in. These nuances were built into the story’s foundation, but I was responsible for bringing out their unique personalities, like adjusting the levels on an Adobe Photoshop image – making the same characters stand out differently.

In this scenario, the actors playing both Helly and Helena find it challenging to separate their feelings towards their characters since they share the same physical form. To navigate this complex situation, I approach it by understanding that we are often our own worst critics, and we’ve all had moments where we reflect on our actions and wish we could have acted differently. By starting from a place of empathy, I view these two characters as two different aspects of the same person who are both struggling with their circumstances in unique ways. While Helena may seem to hold more power in the situation, it’s essential to recognize that she is also trapped by her father and the company, just like Helly. Helly doesn’t care what others think, which can represent a form of freedom. What could be more liberating than that?

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Season 2 of Severance is currently available on six episodes via Apple TV+, with new episodes being added every Friday. Keep up with the latest developments by following The Hollywood Reporter’s season recaps.

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2025-02-27 17:55