Merritt Wever Explains ‘Horrific Bind’ of Severance Breakup

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Spoilers ahead for Severance season two, episode nine, “The After Hours.”

As a devoted fan, I must say that the second season of Severance has been nothing short of mind-bending, filled with unexpected twists such as Helena Eagan’s deceit and Irving’s selfless act. Notably, episodes focusing on Mark’s missing wife, Gemma, and his innie’s former superior, Harmony Cobel, have also stood out. However, the most poignant and human storyline for me has been the tender yet tragic romance between Dylan G., my innie, and his outie’s wife, Gretchen George (portrayed beautifully by Merritt Wever). In the heart-wrenching penultimate episode of this season, Gretchen confides in her husband about kissing his innie, causing him immense pain and betrayal. To make matters worse, she later shatters my innie’s heart by turning down his paper-ring marriage proposal.

Although there’s an enchanting strangeness in seeing Gretchen bond with a different version of her beloved husband, actor Wever acknowledges the complexity of this love triangle as emotionally distressing. He describes the situation as “a terrible predicament,” explaining that if her husband leaves, this man disappears; but if he doesn’t, this man remains trapped in pain below, out of Gretchen’s sight.

How did the opportunity for playing Gretchen present itself to you, and had you watched Severance prior to that?

I was employed in Los Angeles when I received a message saying “Expect a text from Ben Stiller”, as one occasionally does. He contacted me before I had seen the series. Unfortunately, I already had dinner plans scheduled that evening, which I regretted because it meant I couldn’t binge-watch the entire show. When they sent me the first two scenes featuring Gretchen and Dylan from episode three, I appreciated the chance to express emotions rather than just speak dialogue. Recently, I’ve been working on projects where the dialogue was more about stating things that were happening, leaving little room for subtlety or exploration. In this case, I found the creative landscape appealing.

I recall asking, “Could you provide some insight into where this is headed?” Often, being brought on board a project can be exciting, but once you start working, you may find that the task at hand isn’t quite what you were hoping for. They shared a two-page outline with me, titled “Here’s what you can anticipate.” In hindsight, it was considerate of them to share such details, considering the project’s secretive nature about future developments.

What’s the story behind the chemistry you built up with Zach Cherry in two distinct ways?

We didn’t spend much time discussing it. We simply turned up and got on with it. There was a brief rehearsal during my camera test, but I believe we only read through it twice, and it felt like we were connecting right away. Working with Zach is such a pleasure. You never know how a working relationship will turn out, sometimes it clicks, other times it doesn’t.

When you initially encounter Dylan’s innie (character), you need to strike a balance between recognizing a sense of familiarity and maintaining the courtesies of meeting someone new. Can you share how you managed that situation?

When I received those scenes, there was so much to take in. Upon rewatching them, though, it felt like just two people having a conversation – something that can be tricky. In episode three, the scene started to drag on, and Ben had to tell us to speed up and get louder. This reminded me of moments during theater rehearsals when you feel as an actor, How could I ever go faster? Every second is crucial. It’s a different experience when acting the scene, but watching from the audience during tech, it becomes clear that faster and louder are all it takes.

Could you explain the outfit choices for Gretchen to me? I observed that in her second encounter with Dylan G., her hair was down, which seemed more casual.

During my conversation with one of your colleagues, I mentioned Sarah Edwards, who is a talented costume designer that I worked with on Michael Clayton. She’s one of the best I’ve ever encountered. On Severance, she handled most of my wardrobe requirements, making it a delight to step into that visually appealing world. The contrast between the outside and inside worlds was particularly fascinating.

During our fittings, I didn’t say much, but once I looked up at Sarah and noticed her concern because she thought I might be displeased. I quickly assured her, “No, no, no, Sarah, no suggestions.

In episode nine, there’s an impressive pair of boots she wears that you might not have noticed. In the original script for scene three, there was a line about Dylan and Gretchen’s favorite movie, which didn’t make it to the final cut, but her attire captured the essence of that film. When selecting what dress she would wear to visit him at Lumon in episode nine, we had two options: one solid-colored and another with small flowers. In episode four, Dylan mentions the sky for the first time. Considering he’s losing access to the outside world, we decided to go with the floral dress as a symbol of what he’s losing, giving him more to miss, even subtly. She agreed with this thoughtful attention to detail.

What attracts Gretchen whenever she goes back to Dylan’s innie could be described as the allure of being with the man who initially sparked her feelings of love, and who was captivated by her in return. It’s hard to fathom just how compelling that must feel for her. When she tells Outie Dylan about something that happened with his Innie, it doesn’t seem like she’s trying to cause an explosion, but rather, she appears to be attempting to salvage her marriage in a peculiar way. Previously, we filmed the Innie scenes before the Outie scenes, but for episode nine, it was reversed. The Outie scene concluded with her pleading with her husband to remain and him leaving, while the Innie scene ended with him on one knee, begging her to stay, only for her to leave as well. I recall standing there, with Zach on his knee, and feeling a sense of dread over what had transpired. She’s receiving the thing she desires from the person she longs for, but he is elsewhere. Despite finally acquiring it, she can’t hold onto it. She covers her face because she doesn’t want to witness the damage she has inflicted on him, and she doesn’t want him to see her. She doesn’t want to look or be looked at.

It’s a tragic predicament: Innie Dylan and Gretchen cannot truly have a happy ending since she cannot permanently choose the innie. This is because outie Dylan will always dominate and never be fully surpassed by the innie. In other words, if her husband gives up his role, this man essentially disappears. If he doesn’t give up, he remains stuck in this underworld suffering, but she can’t access him.

In episode six, she was clearly the one who initiated the kiss. Instead of being the instigator himself, Zach attempted to justify why he allowed it. He mentioned, “I don’t think he’s ever kissed anyone before.” This made me think, She’s potentially hurting this individual. Regardless of her awareness or intentions, there was a significant power imbalance. Their situation gave off a sense of innocence, rather than something inherent to their personalities. I appreciated that they both acknowledged this. Consequently, the events in episode nine take on greater importance. The way the sequence was edited added weight to it, perhaps more so than the original scene might have suggested – the way they intertwined it with Mark and Helly’s storyline. This suggests that the emotional repercussions of these actions will be significant.

In the third episode, Gretchen’s interaction with Dylan seems to resemble a parent talking to a child more often than not. For instance, when he expresses his liking for hugging in a manner that sounds quite childish.

This peculiar dynamic might not have been intentional, but it could be a reflection of the unusual circumstances surrounding his life and job. It subtly echoes the paternalistic attitude prevalent within the company as well.

I was fully cognizant of the impending ordeal and understood she would bear the brunt of retribution for hurting this individual. Kneeling before him, she intended to shatter his heart and depart. The series blends elements of Star Trek, Greek mythology, and a sprinkle of labor unity and advanced capitalism. The narrative is rich with symbolism. I found the first season commendable due to its skillful integration of profound themes with emotional depth. If the characters lack empathy to harmonize their ideas, it loses significance.

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2025-03-19 16:54