‘Severance’ Stars Britt Lower, John Turturro and Zach Cherry Break Down the Explosive, Snowy Episode That Changes Everything

Warning: This narrative discloses details from the fourth episode of Season 2 of “Severance,” currently available on Apple TV+.

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In the fourth episode of “Severance’s” thrilling second season, titled “Woe’s Hollow,” I find myself and my fellow characters – Mark (Adam Scott), Irving (John Turturro), Helly (Britt Lower) and Dylan (Zach Cherry) – venturing into uncharted territories. As Dylan aptly puts it, we’re now on the “out-fucking-side.

Following an unforeseen awakening amidst the snowy expanse of Dieter Eagan National Forest, elegantly attired in identical black fur coats and caps, the inner group encounters a vintage television cart. Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman) clarifies the situation through a fuzzy video: With the approval of their outer selves, they’ve been dispatched on a two-day Outdoor Adventure and Group Cohesion Experience (ORTBE, for brevity), as a result of their wish to explore the outside world.

The MDR group is tasked by him with a mission to uncover an ancient text believed to be from Kier Egan. Two eerie figures resembling twins silently lead them through the journey. Upon finding the book, it discloses that Dieter Eagan was actually Kier’s twin brother, who met his untimely end at Woe’s Hollow following an encounter in the woods where he was caught indulging in lewd behavior.

On their journey to the Hollow, Irv maintains a furtive glance at Helly while secretly expressing mistrust towards her to Mark. He also voices his doubts about her “night gardener” tale post Overtime Contingency (OTC). The air is thick with tension as Irv grows increasingly confrontational towards the group, but Milchick, always stylish in her all-white winter attire, steps in at the right moment to calm the escalating situation.

He guides the group to a tiny waterfall, claiming it’s the tallest in the world, before proceeding to a campsite with Miss Huang. When Helly goes to Irv’s tent for reconciliation, he once more challenges her account of the OTC events, and she persists in maintaining that she was honest.

As the sun sets, I conclude the chilling tale of Woe’s Hollow, describing Kier’s initial encounter with Woe – a gaunt bride, barely reaching half a regular woman’s height. This sends Helly into fits of laughter, much to my annoyance. Dylan and Mark join in, but Irving remains unimpressed, pestering Helly about her OTC claims instead.

When I advise Irv to let it go, he lashes back at me (“Using your pupils to flirt with her while your wife is wasting away somewhere”), which only angers him further when Mark tries to intervene. Helly then goads Irv by saying he’ll never get to see Burt again, pushing Irv over the edge.

“Fuck you all,” Irv snarls before storming off into the woods.

Mark visits Helly in her tent and they engage in an intimate moment. Later, Helly admits that she wasn’t truthful about the events at the OTC, revealing her discomfort with the person she presented herself as. As Mark comforts her, his recent readjustment to reality triggers a hallucination, where Helly’s face begins to blend with Gemma/Miss Casey’s (played by Dichen Lachman).

In the depths of the forest, Irving finds himself yearning for an empty woodland and the monotonous setup of MDR cubicles, where Burt (Christopher Walken) sits at a desk. Haunted by a spectral figure symbolizing despair, he has a vivid dream that abruptly ends, leaving him jolted awake.

During morning hours, Irving encounters Helly near a waterfall and reproaches her for her unkind remarks from last night. He maintains that she is not his coworker but rather an outer self: “Helly wasn’t ever mean.” In a forceful manner, he pushes her head under the water multiple times, urging Milchick to retrieve the genuine Helly. At Helly’s instruction, Milchick agrees and communicates to remove the Glasgow block, confirming Irv’s belief that “Helly” has actually been Helena Eagan’s outie since the OTC (Season 2).

In the morning, Irving confronts Helly by a waterfall for being rude. He thinks she isn’t his coworker but an alternate self. He forcefully dunks her head and tells Milchick to find the real Helly. Helly asks Milchick to do it, and he says okay. This shows that Irv believes “Helly” is really Helena Eagan who took over since OTC.)

Irving offers an apology while he clutches a puzzled Helly, prompting Mark to hasten towards her. Milchick orders Irving’s immediate and permanent dismissal, as an affected Dylan implores Irving for forgiveness, admitting he should have trusted him earlier.

“It’s all OK,” Irving tells him. “Just remember, hang in there.”

Milchick leads Irving far into the woods. He tells him, “It’ll seem like you, Irving B., never lived here at all or took a single breath on this planet. May Kier’s mercy accompany you into the endless darkness.” As Irv regains consciousness, the episode concludes.

Lower, Turturro, and Cherry had a discussion with EbMaster concerning the explosive incident, dissecting Helly’s major revelation, Irving’s outburst, and Dylan’s heartfelt resolution.

Britt, this episode reveals that we’ve actually been watching Helena impersonate Helly for the entire season up to this point. How did you manage that massive challenge as an actor?

Britt Lower: I find it challenging to put it into words, but these characters represent two aspects of the same individual. They occupy the same physical form and share a subconscious mind, yet they’re in vastly dissimilar situations. Both are confined by the same company in distinct ways. Helena is bound by familial ties; she finds herself part of a family that wasn’t her choice. This specific family controls a company with significant influence over the lore, and there’s an eerie, cult-like atmosphere surrounding this corporation.

In my opinion, Dan Erickson’s exceptional writing led me to understand that someone brought up in a restrictive environment would likely harbor an incredibly rebellious inner child. I guess you could say it’s a battle between the inner child and the inner critic within us all. We all possess these aspects of ourselves. The part of us that is uninhibited, vibrant, and connected to our childhood feelings – that raw, childlike essence. And then there’s the part of us that has been molded by life’s demands and societal expectations, particularly in Helena’s case, and her father’s peculiar expectations.

Stepping into the roles of Helly R., Helena, and Britt, I couldn’t help but feel deeply saddened. It broke my heart to witness Helly R.’s identity being manipulated and misused within her chosen family. The friends she thought were true were being deceived, and that was a heavy burden to bear.

Similarly, I felt a profound sense of sorrow for Helena, who struggled to fit in and be accepted as part of herself. She didn’t quite belong there, and the connections she made weren’t entirely genuine. Despite her efforts, they seemed to connect with her in ways that were more superficial than sincere.

Throughout this experience, I made a conscious effort to empathize with both perspectives and simply be present to the unfolding events.

John, this episode felt like the boiling point for the new Irving we’ve come to know this season. This character, who used to be so gentle, is now fully radicalized. How did you bring him to that point?

John Turturro explains that the character’s behavior likely originates from their background and any military experience they may have had. There seems to be a stronger connection between this character, Dylan, Adam, and Britt, suggesting an intuitive understanding that the group’s safety is not just his own, but everyone’s. This bond deepens as he becomes more invested in the group’s well-being, eventually reaching a point where he goes even further to protect them. Finally, when he has this dream, it completes the puzzle and helps explain his actions.

Occasionally, individuals can unveil their true selves through a single action or word. In my line of work as a filmmaker, I’ve chosen actors based on small, seemingly insignificant moments. I believe he has an uncanny knack for catching onto these subtle cues, and then fully embraces them without worrying about the potential outcomes or repercussions, as he feels like his actions are being watched or monitored.

You touched on the relationship between Irving and Dylan that’s been expanded this season. Zach, why do you think Dylan is so desperate to keep Irving in the office, and why was that final moment of reconciliation at the end of the episode so important?

Zach Cherry expresses that throughout the initial season, Dylan gradually understands the importance of forming bonds rather than going it alone. He establishes relationships with other office members, and as he delves deeper into his outie’s life, he realizes the significance of connections he has overlooked. One such connection is with Irving, but this bond takes a back seat during the season due to Dylan’s preoccupation with personal matters. In this particular episode, all these elements seem to culminate for him, emphasizing the significance of relationships in his life.

I feel like the Dylan we knew last season would have reacted very differently during that pivotal waterfall scene.

Me: One thing I truly love about this series is discovering more about the characters and their journeys of self-discovery. It’s fascinating to see how these revelations shape their actions and interactions!

Helena bursts out laughing when Milchick finishes Dieter Eagan’s story. What was behind that moment?

It seems that the character’s portrayal was likely a culmination of years of wanting to satirize mythology, particularly the ornate language used in certain scenes, such as the one where it implies a self-erotic act in the forest was punished. This character appears to be using this reimagined version as an opportunity for a humorous take on the situation. In essence, she’s saying, “This is the kind of character who could get away with that and face no repercussions.

The entire show touches on the idea of bodily autonomy, but Mark and Helly/Helena becoming intimate really brings that to the forefront. Was that something that was in your mind as you all approached this episode?

In a more natural and easy to read manner: I found it peculiar throughout Season 1 that Helly woke up dressed in office attire she hadn’t personally chosen. It seems like a fundamental aspect of free will – deciding what clothes to wear in the morning – is being taken away from all these ‘innies’.

the peculiarity of the characters waking up dressed without choosing their clothes themselves.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

2025-02-08 01:18