Patricia Arquette Reveals Shocking Secrets About Harmony Cobel in ‘Severance’!

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Caution: Contains Spoilers: The following narrative reveals key plot points from the 8th episode of Season 2 in the series “Severance,” currently available for streaming on Apple TV+.

In the series “Severance”, Harmony Cobel (portrayed by Patricia Arquette), who was once in charge at The Severed Floor, has been subtly suggesting her significant role within Lumon since the show’s start. This notion is further reinforced in Episode 8 of Season 2.

In this episode titled “Sweet Vitriol”, Harmony makes her first screen appearance since she departed at the conclusion of Episode 2, leaving Mark in a state of curiosity about what secrets she holds regarding him, Gemma/Ms. Casey, and Lumon’s main objective. Upon her reappearance, she finds herself back in her childhood, impoverished hometown seeking aid from an old friend, Hampton, to regain access to the house where her mother passed away, as she’s estranged from her aunt Sissy Cobel.

One intriguing revelation “Severance” viewers uncover in this episode about Harmony Cobel’s history – encompassing details such as her youthful employment at a Lumon-managed ether factory and her departure from the risky position upon being admitted into a unique Lumon scholarship program – is that it was Harmony who initially designed the blueprints for the severance chip.

At the conclusion of the episode, Harmony departs her home again, likely making her way back to Mark, following the news from Devon (Jen Tullock) that he had been successfully readmitted into society.

In this conversation, EbMaster chats with Arquette regarding their delve into Harmony’s history under the guidance of episode director Ben Stiller – and moreover, Arquette’s peculiar way of saying “Mark”.

We find out in this episode that Harmony Cobel played an enormous part in the history of Lumon’s severance procedure by coming up with the idea for the chip as a young student in the company’s fellowship program. How much did you know of Harmony’s backstory from the beginning of Season 1, and what surprised you when you learned it in this one?

It’s common knowledge that Harmony attended school, worked at an ether factory, and lived with a mother who was an ether addict. Additionally, the town suffered environmental pollution due to Lumon’s rapid industrialization. We often discussed this as part of her backstory. There have been instances where we speculated about Cobel potentially having a role in the chip, given that she seemed to hold more weight within the system than Lumon might officially acknowledge. The culture here is similar to institutions like the military, prioritizing the organization’s glory above all else – in this case, Kier’s glory. It’s not about individual recognition; it’s about serving the organization’s needs. Unfortunately, Cobel will never receive the validation she craves from her aunt or Lumon itself.

How would you describe Harmony’s current feelings about Lumon? And what she plans to do from here after responding to Devon’s calls, and learning Mark has been reintegrated from his severance procedure?

It seems to me that Harmony harbors significant internal turmoil regarding this corporation, as her mother was a non-conformist and held resentment towards Lumon. This anger may also be echoed within Harmony, given her lack of traditional maternal affection due to Lumon’s separation of children from their parents. Furthermore, when one has a parent battling addiction, genuine affection is often elusive because the connection becomes strained in such ways. The facility itself offers profound insights into Harmony’s emotional terrain, as it was typical of the coldness and oddity that characterized this era. These individuals were the working class during their time, serving as pioneers and experimental subjects for Lumon. Ether, a drug used to induce forgetfulness, is integral to both the drug and the chip.

It seems many view Harmony’s character as a villain, but now she’s preparing to face her own antagonist – her aunt. This chilling location where her mother took her final breath is where she’ll confront both the past and the lack of closure, having been unable to bid farewell. Her mom’s lonely demise in that icy chamber adds another layer to her mourning. Saying goodbye to people can be heart-wrenching, especially when there’s no chance for closure, as they might not have the capacity to provide it. It appears this is what Harmony is experiencing as she stands in that room. However, it was a pleasure to meet the set designers and prop department who have crafted these significant environments we’ve been discussing since season one.

How did you construct the scene where Harmony lies on her mother’s bed and holds her mother’s ether mask up to her face and finds comfort in that while simultaneously wailing in pain?

As a film critic, I found myself reminiscing about my childhood encounters with the character Hampton, portrayed by James, where our shared experimentation with ether left an indelible mark. The constant absence of my mother, who was ensnared by addiction and its dreamlike allure, left me yearning for a connection that was tragically lost.

During our discussions about the movie’s production, we delved into the awkwardness surrounding the apparatus and the challenging task of portraying it on screen. We also delved deeper into historical aspects of female mourning, such as keening – an age-old sound of lament that resonates with primal feelings of loss and grief. This exploration led us back to our most fundamental selves, tapping into the raw sadness and pain that accompanies loss.

In collaboration with Ben, we brainstormed ideas for incorporating elements of whale sounds, seeking to evoke an almost primal response from our audience. The process was liberating, as we experimented with various approaches and timings to capture the essence of our vision.

Returning to the place where I had tended to many who ultimately passed away, and in turn, had to distance myself from individuals who needed to move on – a process that can often be emotionally taxing. I believe she’s weeping not just for those memories, but also for her own solitude, as she lacks someone truly understanding to confide in about her feelings. This is one of the reasons she found comfort in Ms. Selvig; she could experience a sense of camaraderie and casual conversation with someone.

“Severance” creator Dan Erickson told EbMaster that the Grand Central surprise pop-up event is canon to the show’s storyline — but at the same time, he says he doesn’t know what you and the other actors were saying inside of the glass cube where the scenes took place. Were you all just making it up as you went, and can you tell me what you were actually saying to Adam Scott in character?

As we navigated our way through the story, there were instances when I sensed intriguing developments unfolding within my character and his. I had him inscribe something on a post, and surprisingly, he penned “human,” which was a thrilling revelation. Now, I need to clarify from Adam what specific instructions I provided for this scene. It seemed we were deeply immersed in the process much of the time. It was an enjoyable experience, one that felt liberating. It felt spontaneous and engaging to collaborate with these talented actors in such a playful manner.

Fans have an obsession with the way Harmony pronounces Mark’s name throughout the series. Was that scripted, or did you develop how she would deliver the line yourself and why did you land on that?

When they shared stories about Harmony’s childhood in this peculiar place, with its tales of tempers and various aspects, it struck me as having an old-world quality. Consequently, I decided to incorporate this distinct sound into the narrative since I understood that Harmony hadn’t been primarily raised by her mother but rather by figures of higher authority. I reasoned that such authority often carries a specific tone. For instance, consider a drill sergeant with their particular rhythm and distinctive tone, or upper management with their unique style. In my mind, Harmony had developed a sound based on her interpretation of what that sounds like.

As I began our discussion, I had been casually watching a bit of “Maude” earlier, and Bea Arthur’s unique way of speaking reminded me of it slightly. Additionally, there’s a hint of homage to “Maude”. Furthermore, Cobel seems to take great pleasure in his name, as it holds significant meaning for her.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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2025-03-08 01:47