Severance Season 2’s Most Mind-Bending Episode Yet Raises 7 Billion Unanswered Questions!

As a film enthusiast, I must share a heads-up: Spoilers for the fourth episode of “Severance” Season 2 on Apple TV+ are circulating, so if you haven’t had a chance to watch it yet with your subscription, consider steering clear of spoiler zones to maintain the surprise and enjoy the show to its fullest!

In the third episode of its second season, Severance has disclosed to viewers that Gwendoline Christie oversees the goats, Lumon offers racially controversial Kier Eagan portraits to its advanced supervisors, and Reghabi demonstrates a slight edge in the reintegration process following Petey. There are numerous other strange, questionable, and unsettling aspects revealed so far. However, nothing yet could fully prepare spectators for the breathtaking, snow-covered beauty of MDR’s ORTBO expedition in “Woe’s Hollow,” which I consider to be one of my favorite episodes to date, and a strong contender among the 2025 TV schedule’s early highlights.

The outdoor retreat and team-building event (ORTBO) designed to push the limits and test the skills of the well-known four-member team from Severed Floor, called ORTBO, led Mark, Dylan, Irving, and “Helly” out of their familiar surroundings and exposed them to new challenges, puzzling Kier Eagan mysteries, and the emotional turmoil that comes with losing a fellow inhabitant. This episode raised numerous questions for viewers like myself, so let’s prepare ourselves and set off on this journey.

How Did Lumon Stagger The Outies’ Arrivals At The ORTBO Location?

Given that Lumon’s employees often report at different hours to avoid encountering each other (the Outies), it leaves me curious about the sequence of events that caused Mark, Dylan, and Irving’s consciousnesses to seemingly awaken, in this case, amidst the snowfall.

As a movie enthusiast, was it necessary for Mr. Milchick and Miss Huang to extract each individual one by one, or did they require blindfolds and immense patience to pull this off? I can’t help but wonder if helicopters were used in the icy terrain surrounding Irving, given the minimal signs of disturbed snow.

Isn’t A Frozen Lake A Wildly Dangerous Place For Irving And Mark To Begin The ORTBO?

It’s likely that Lumon executives are well-acquainted with the region, having a good understanding of the typical thickness of the lake’s ice in relation to employee safety while they stand on it. However, it appears odd and potentially risky for Innies to venture outside for their first time (with official permission) in a manner that could be perceived as posing an insurance risk.

It’s puzzling how Irving seemed to recognize he was on ice hidden beneath the snow, yet I’ll choose not to dwell on that mystery for now.

Where Does This Episode Even Take Place?

It’s commonly thought that the setting for “Woe’s Hollow” is in the outskirts visible beyond the Lumon building, and this could very well be accurate. However, I can’t help but wonder if the episode director, Ben Stiller, strategically composed the wide shots to ensure that the imposing figure of Lumon (or perhaps Luming) was not noticeable in the backdrop, nor were the distant mountains visible.

Why Wasn’t Helena-As-Helly Better At Lying?

The twist with Helena pretending to be Helly (Helena-as-Helly) wasn’t unexpected by fans, largely due to Britt Lower’s performance as Outie not being convincing in playing the role of her character’s Innie. Although it was an unforeseen choice that she couldn’t have prepared for, I feel her “night gardener” story wasn’t a strong deception, especially considering Irving kept questioning her about it. If her goal was to fully deceive Helly’s MDR colleagues, Helena’s plan should have been more solid. However, there might be an alternative explanation…

Was This All A Ploy To Get Irving Fired Again?

It seems unlikely that the primary objective there was to push Irv to such an extreme, given his history with Burt, that he’d end up retiring due to the tension behind the scenes. Moreover, it’s doubtful that Irv’s uncanny instincts would be a persuasive argument for accepting the severance chip. Instead, it appears that events unfolded in a way that ultimately led to Irv’s retirement and made the severance chip less appealing to him.

Does Calling ORTBO An “Occurrence” Rather Than An Exercise Imply The Events Were Fated?

Instead of fostering teamwork and boosting morale through collaborative activities, Lumon’s ORTBO appears to focus more on solitary experiences like a long walk, bedtime stories, and naps. These seem unrelated to any larger purpose except perhaps revealing Keir Eagan’s concealed past, which lends credence to the idea that this entire event was contrived or deceptive.

What Was Powering That TV And Other Electronics?

It seems that Lumon is quite substantial, having resources to possibly provide a portable power source for the high school A.V. club setup. However, I find it more appealing to imagine that about 700 extension cords are stretched from the clifftop to the closest electrical outlet instead.

Is Dieter Eagan Real?

As Milchick coins the term “Dieter Eagan National Forest,” I find myself intrigued by the subtle references hidden within. The mention of Keir’s twin brother and the Fourth Appendix stirs curiosity, making me wonder if these are genuine fragments of history or carefully crafted tales designed to appease those who stray from the mainstream. Granted, it may not hold a significant place in the Hall of Perpetuity, but I can’t help but question its authenticity. Could “Scissor Cave” be more than just an imaginary construct?

Was Milchick’s Rhyming Warning Just Meant To Keep The Innies From Running Away?

The video created for MDR seems strikingly similar to unpolished corporate training videos, yet it adopts an oddly foreboding and fanciful mood whenever television pitchman Mr. Milchick delivers his rhymed caution.

Fear not from Keir’s path, lest you roil nature’s wrath.

If we had ever overheard him instruct Dylan to make his figures generous and substantial, so he’d get the Waffle Party, it wouldn’t seem out of place. However, Tramell Tillman creates an eerie sensation with this unusual dialogue, particularly in close-up scenes, which seems unlike anything we’ve heard from him before.

What The Actual Fuck With Those MDR Lookalikes?

The slightly off-kilter MDR doubles leading the team in ‘Severance’ have given me quite a chill unlike anything else. They seem like unfinished clay figures brought to life by an AI, and I can’t help but see them as nightmarish creatures rather than representing Keir’s twin.

Why Indeed Did That Deal Seal Look So Messed Up, Helena?

It’s plausible that the disfigured animal carcass wasn’t a mere coincidence, and Helly’s comment on its gruesome state might have been deliberate too. Could it be, as Mark suggested, a symbol of death designed to instill fear and anxiety within the team? Or is there some hidden symbolic significance that I’m yet to grasp?

Is Helena Sincerely Invested In The Waterfall?

It seems likely that Mr. Milchick exaggerated about the waterfall being the tallest in the world, perhaps to impress the Innies. However, Helena-as-Helly appears to have a genuine interest in the location, which could suggest that she believes the legend or simply finds waterfalls captivating.

Is It Even Legal For Miss Huang To Be Part Of This ORTBO?

In the second half of the ORTBO, Sarah Bock’s character, Miss Huang, remains a silent but steadfast presence, even during moments when it appears she’s giving Irving a stern look. However, one might wonder how she can go on overnight work trips if she’s not a robot or clone, given her human status.

Does Helena Want Mark To Get Her Pregnant?

It appears that Helena and Mark may not be practicing safe sex, leaving the audience with an implication that he did not withdraw. Given Mark’s significant role at Lumon, and hints from the Fourth Appendix about procreation and red-haired brides, it seems possible that Helena could be starting a new line of Lumon leadership by having a child with Mark. However, we must also consider how Gemma/Ms. Casey factors into this situation.

Did Irving’s Dream Reveal That Burt Used To Be His MDR Cubicle Mate?

As a devoted movie buff, I’ve long pondered if Irving and Burt shared the same workplace at Lumon, prior to their mysterious transfer to the Testing Floor. Could it be possible that my nightmares were foreshadowing the truth when they depicted Burt lowering the partition between cubicles?

Did Irving’s Computer Clue Him In On Helena’s Identity?

As Irving’s dream neared its close, his gaze remained fixed on his MDR computer as figures and characters danced and rearranged themselves into the form of an eye. However, not all figures and characters were visible; only specific ones could be assembled to spell out words.

E-A-G-A-N

The sequence of numbers that appeared were 1, 3, 5, and 7, which are all prime numbers. This could imply that the woman he had been collaborating with was essentially the prime variant of Helly, rather than Innie herself.

If Lumon Warns Against Innies Falling Asleep, Why Send MDR On An Overnight Trip?

Given that Irving’s dream about Helena was decisive for him, and considering Lumon is vigilant about its employees staying alert, why was a prolonged ORTBO (Optional Recreational Time Beyond Overtime) authorized? This could be because the purpose was intentionally to challenge or stimulate such cognitive processes in Irving, specifically concerning Helena.

Was Helena’s Near-Drowning Foreshadowed In The Microdat Uprising Video?

In a rather unusual hint, the Microdat Uprising clip from the Season 2 premiere appeared to provide viewers with a sneak peek of Helly/Helena’s future underwater predicament when it demonstrated the “Bobbing For Pineapples” feature. However, one might wonder how those creating that video could have known such an event would transpire.

If the intention behind that image wasn’t to linger in the Innies’ minds as a subtle influence, leading eventually to Irving instigating that specific event in real life, then perhaps Helena’s early departure from her tent to stand by the waterfall and wait for Irving was merely coincidental. However, it’s also plausible that she knew he would find her there, given this scenario.

How Often Is The Glasgow Block Used?

When Mr. Milchick directs Helena to be changed from Helly R. to her original identity, he instructs the person on the radio, “Please take off the Glasgow Lock immediately.” This suggests that there’s a known and operational system for such transformations, potentially enabling Lumon to switch Outies back into their Innie form at will.

Or perhaps it’s just limited to specific cases like Helena’s. But I’m assuming the worst here.

Why Wasn’t Irving Taken Farther Away From Other Innies Before Being Switched Off?

Is it not potentially risky for a recently dismissed employee from Lumon, who is supposed to be isolated, to still be present in close proximity to the company?

From this episode, there are several unanswered questions lingering. For instance, instead of checking on Helly/Helena first, Milchick chose to scold Irving and give his ominous medieval speech. Additionally, I’m curious as to how Mark will convey to Helly that they had an intimate moment. However, we’ll have to wait until Episode 205 airs on Friday, February 14, to find out.

2025-02-10 00:11