Why Did Helly Lie? And Other Severance Questions.

To learn more about Severance, consider joining our exclusive subscriber-only newsletter, “The Severance Society”. This dedicated platform is all about diving deep into the intricacies of season two, discussing, analyzing, and even arguing about every aspect of it.

Once a week, we’ll delve into the intricate plotlines of one of television’s most puzzling series, focusing on the strangest, most perplexing, and crucial unanswered questions following each episode. Expect a mix of theories, some of which may seem quite far-fetched.

The show Severance came back for a second season after a gap of three years since its initial conclusion, resuming the story almost exactly from where it had ended – but with a slight twist. The narrative picks up precisely at the point where it left off for the MDR team’s ‘Innies’, although not necessarily for their ‘Outies’ or the people they interfaced with in the real world. Characters Mark S., Helly R., Dylan G., and Irving B. find themselves back on the severed floor once more, albeit indirectly due to a scheme by Mark where he creates a commotion, rushes into the boss’s office, and shouts through a mysterious speaker. For these characters, no time seems to have elapsed since Dylan activated the switches following his waffle party, leading to pandemonium. However, how things unfolded for their ‘Outies’ and those they interacted with in reality remains uncertain and will be explored later on.

Things have undergone some shifts; now, Mr. Milchick holds the reins, thanks to his skills and the natural course of events. He’s got a somewhat enigmatic young associate. The storage area is significantly smaller these days. It seems that former colleagues are cognizant of the changes and harbor numerous inquiries about the world beyond us. I find myself at a loss as to how one could initiate an explanation about wind to someone who’s never felt it before – I’d be hard-pressed to point them in the right direction.

Discussing the intriguing queries sparked by the season two opener, it’s time for us to dive in. Here are the seven questions that crossed my mind as the credits rolled on “Hello, Ms. Cobel.

Has it really been five months since the events of the season-one finale?

It seems that whether these individuals are famous or not, and whether Lumon is truthful in his statements, may hinge on your trust in Milchick. Personally, I’m skeptical about him, so I doubt that everyone is well-known (except perhaps Helly due to her unique circumstances), that the uprising video is shared with anyone, especially new employees, and that he genuinely wants Dylan to hide the family meeting place from his colleagues for their own sake. As for the balloons, I think it’s unlikely that Milchick intended Mark to enjoy them.

I’m open to the possibility that I might have gotten some of this wrong, as broad statements like “Milchick is always deceitful” may not hold true in all cases. It could have been five months, or a year, or even just a few hours since Lumon’s maintenance team sealed off the wellness room. The one thing that’s indisputable is that it’s been long enough to cause Milchick significant distress due to the fact that this billion-dollar cult-like company he works for has developed and deployed a complex brain-segmenting device, yet can’t (or won’t) fix his screen so it no longer displays Ms. Cobel’s name.

What is going on in the outside world?

In this episode, all events unfold on the floor that’s been separated, creating a complex scenario involving several key questions. Firstly, following Mark’s exclamation “She’s alive!” at the gathering, we wonder about the ensuing events. Secondly, we ponder what took place when Helly regained consciousness as her Outie self amidst her own, more extravagant celebration. Lastly, we are intrigued by Burt’s response to an agitated individual pounding on his door during a peaceful evening with his companion. Beyond the immediate aftermath of any of these incidents, what has transpired since then? Pause here and envision being present at either party when such events occurred – that is the question.

We will find out the answers soon, or at least eventually, but the timing depends on the answer to the initial question regarding how much time has passed. Specifically, I am intrigued by those two aspects of it currently.

As a passionate movie buff pondering over the events unfolded, I find myself curious about why the entire MDR team decided to make their way back to the office after all they’ve been through. What compelling factors could have drawn them back into the workplace?

2) It appears that Ms. Cobel, whose secretive lifestyle was unveiled, is likely grappling with the aftermath of losing her job and being exposed as a fraud in the field of baby care, who lived near her former colleague and was attempting to instruct his sister on breastfeeding techniques despite their strained relationship.

A round-the-clock news channel might generate numerous days of suspenseful reports about the second item, and a somewhat unsettling aspect of me is drawn to witnessing it.

Why did Helly lie?

In this circumstance, it’s clear to me that she might have chosen to conceal her identity as the Eagan heir, mingling with colleagues under an assumed identity. This could be a calculated move to gauge their reactions, perhaps as part of a self-imposed public relations trial. However, given the general distrust prevailing, such a revelation could pose challenges on multiple levels. It’s plausible she felt embarrassed and ashamed about her secret, and like many others, she may have resorted to deception for similar reasons.

The problem with this lie is that it creates a sense of unease, especially concerning Helly’s head of auburn hair, which will inevitably lead to a catastrophic revelation. This won’t be enjoyable at all. If Helly had concerns about mistrust affecting her team dynamics before she began discussing couches, gorilla T-shirts, and night gardeners, trust me, things are only going to worsen following that disclosure.

Do you think you would get lost trying to navigate the hallways of the Lumon building?

At one of my regular doctors’ offices, the corridors are all white, stretching from the waiting area to different examination rooms and back. Every now and then, there are small blue arrows on the floor, guiding you towards the exit approximately every 20-30 feet. Despite this, I often find myself disoriented, usually about once out of every six or seven visits.

Indeed, I’d find myself utterly disoriented within the Lumon Building daily. A more practical solution might be developing a cognitive implant, but one can’t help but wonder about potential complications.

What the hell is up with Miss Huang?

I have three theories as to why the new deputy manager appears to be a teenage girl …

1a) At a young age, Lumon underwent a separation due to a demanding initiative led by her parents, which aimed at rehabilitating delinquent children and transforming them into valuable contributors in society, although this program was highly controversial.

2) An unusual “live eternally” project took place, involving a deputy manager from another department who had her consciousness transferred into a youthful body as a means of climbing the corporate ladder by essentially purchasing extra time for herself.

(3) She is actually 28 and has a fabulous skin-care regimen.

We will continue to monitor this situation.

What happened to the other MDR team?

It seems likely that we’ll encounter them again at some point, given that “Severance” doesn’t typically introduce characters or plot points only to discard them without further explanation. Additionally, it wouldn’t make sense to bring Alia Shawkat onto the show for a brief appearance and then send her away without making more use of her talent.

Imagine if “Severance” continued for seven seasons, with these three characters never appearing onscreen, only grumbling about how obnoxious Mark S. is offstage. Let’s play along and assume that’s what’s happening until we have evidence to the contrary—it’s a fun little game!

WAS THAT GEMMA AND/OR MS. CASEY FLICKERING IN THE SCREEN AT THE END?

YOOOOO

IT WAS, RIGHT?

WHAT’S GOING ON THERE?

Has the number sorting they’ve been doing been a part of the eerie testing project in the black hallway that they’ve been involved with, and has Irv been compulsively painting at home?

OR DOES THIS MEAN SHE’S BEEN MOVED SOMEWHERE AND IS WATCHING MARK THROUGH HIS SCREEN?

OR BOTH?

OR NEITHER?

WHAT THE HELL, MAN???

2025-01-17 18:58