What Severance’s Patricia Arquette Learned From Cobel’s Trip to Salt’s Neck

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Spoilers ahead for Severance season two, through episode eight, “Sweet Vitriol.”

In the finale of “Chikhai Bardo,” Devon Scout assumes control over Mark’s complicated reentry process, effectively dismissing Dr. Reghabi and enlisting heavy reinforcements by contacting Ms. Cobel (previously known as Mrs. Selvig) for assistance. Those viewers who might have wondered, “Oh yeah, where is Ms. Cobet, anyway?” may be forgiven for forgetting her character; we hadn’t seen much of Patricia Arquette‘s persona since she departed towards Salt’s Neck five episodes prior. However, in the episode titled “Sweet Vitriol,” which takes place on the same day that Devon urgently contacts Cobel, we find her character reappearing prominently. This installment serves much the same purpose for Lumon’s disgraced floor manager as “Chikhai Bardo” did for Gemma Scout, offering answers to some questions while posing new ones.

In contrast to the character of Ms. Cobel in the first season of “Severance”, the main character Harmony Cobel in “Sweet Vitriol” has reached a boiling point of grim resolution and simmering anger, which allows her to endure her return to her dilapidated hometown by the coast after many years away. This episode primarily focuses on Arquette’s performance, along with James LeGros as Hampton (who Harmony calls her former colleague but is clearly hinted at as a childhood sweetheart), and Jane Alexander as Harmony’s Aunt Sissy. Although “Sweet Vitriol” contains numerous revelations, it also abounds in what’s left unsaid – alluding to relationships between characters and events from Cobel’s past that the episode merely hints at. To provide more context, we asked Arquette to share additional details.

In “Sweet Vitriol,” a multitude of disclosures and queries are presented, leading us to ponder this: When exactly did you discover that Harmony Cobel was the actual inventor of severance? There had been hints in previous episodes about her close involvement with it, but I didn’t grasp its full significance until I received the script.

As Harmony flips through her notebook, she shows off her work to her aunt, making it clear that everything in there, from the Overtime Contingency to the Glasgow Block, is her creation. This knowledge of Harmony’s significant contributions to the company has influenced my interpretation of her relationship with Severance. It seems that she felt a strong sense of ownership and involvement in the process, viewing Severance as not just a procedure but something personal for both herself and the company. With this realization, I can see her using her knowledge to leverage her position and ensure that she gets what she wants or that the situation turns out better for her than it currently is. It’s almost like she’s saying, “You guys are trying to take advantage of me. But now that I have this evidence, I can use it to my advantage and make things turn out in a way that benefits me.

This significantly alters our understanding of Harmony’s actions in the past season. Her life has been marked by numerous instances and varieties of detachment: She becomes disconnected from her family and friends upon attending school, she disconnects from her mother and what’s left of her immediate family, and then she disconnects from her own creation.

Moreover, her Aunt Sissy underlines the fact that despite her exceptional work, Harmony should feel embarrassed for taking any recognition. All the accolades belong to the corporation, the faith, the institution. This perspective isn’t too different from our world, where there’s a common belief that “Once you sign a contract, whatever ideas or creations you come up with during our time are ours. We claim them.

The discovery that Harmony is a genius-level woman in STEM significantly altered my perspective on her interactions with both Helly R. and Helena Eagan. It struck me that Oh, you privileged individual, why do you treat me so poorly was likely going through her mind. Simultaneously, she seemed to be trying to reveal her genius to Helena while expressing frustration and disgust with the unruly Helena Eagan who, in Harmony’s eyes, could potentially bring harm to her. The presence of both Helena Eagan and the real Helly R., as well as Harmony’s subconscious desire for separation, all served to challenge the importance she placed on this need in her thoughts.

In the scene with the breathing tube, Harmony’s attachment runs deeper than we previously understood. You see, her mother was an ether addict, leaving Harmony without the nurturing care a child needs from a parent. With so many obligations to fulfill—the corporation, school, and her aunt—she couldn’t give Harmony what she needed.

Moreover, her aunt created a rift between Harmony and her mother, judging her harshly, which made Harmony want to shield her mom even more. In this context, the breathing tube represents the affection she didn’t receive. Breathing through it almost feels like receiving a loving kiss from her mom or cuddling with her in bed.

Additionally, the breathing tube symbolizes the lack of closure Harmony experienced when her mother passed away without saying goodbye. As she faces expulsion from Lumon and confronts the unresolved trauma resurfacing, the tube serves as a constant reminder of that painful past.

It’s clear that the desolate and frigid landscape of Salt’s Neck, including its town, was not beneficial during the time of the original Lumon. The ether factory appears to be a remnant of a failed attempt at progress, resulting in an environmental catastrophe. This once thriving town has been left barren and now serves as the backdrop for the new, revamped Lumon, which boasts vibrant carpets, a fresh appearance, and cheerful cartoons. However, there remains a chilling Bergmanesque atmosphere that permeates the entire region, not only in Harmony’s mother’s old room but also in the surrounding area. The room is eerily silent, dusty, peculiar, and cold – all of which are mirrored in the real-world elements like the icebergs drifting by.

In this episode, it’s Hampton, played by James Le Gros, who brings warmth. He’s seen serving hot cups of coffee at his small shack restaurant and lending a hand to Harmony when she needs it, despite not wanting to drive her to Aunt Sissy’s place that day. It’s clear he cares for her deeply, even though they’re both harboring anger. Their history suggests they were each other’s first love, but life complications, such as his non-conformity, drug issues, and lack of ambition, have gotten in the way. James and I share a history since our teenage years; he helped me move out of my mom’s house and I made him cookies as a thank-you, so we go back a long way.

As I stepped into the dimly lit interior of Aunt Sissy’s aged saltbox house, I could feel the tension between Harmony and her aunt palpably. Jane Alexander delivered an astounding performance that made me question their tumultuous family history. The pain, judgment, and longing were evident in every line spoken by the young Harmony, as she yearned for her aunt’s acceptance and solace from the torment of the past.

Her pleas, “Why didn’t you let me know? Why didn’t you help my mother?” echoed in the drafty, century-old house, making it clear that the family’s secrets were like a poisonous fog that had seeped into every corner of their lives. The rawness and danger in those scenes were undeniable, as the weight of their history threatened to shatter the fragile bond between them.

Sitting in that ancient house with its creaking floors and wind whistling through the cracks, I couldn’t help but feel as if we had been transported back in time, trapped in a never-ending cycle of pain and longing. The house itself seemed to be a character in the story, bearing silent witness to the struggles and heartache that had unfolded within its walls for generations.

How do you think Harmony views the role of ether in her life after experiencing it in her mother’s bedroom and discovering its significance? For me, I see a connection between ether and heroin addiction, as both can provide a sense of comfort or ‘motherly care.’ However, ether also has an aspect of forgetting that makes it a primitive form of separation. If I were to pick a drug for the purpose of severance, it would be ether.

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2025-03-12 15:54