Another episode of *Severance* has been released, bringing with it a new array of moments that leave us pondering, “What in Kier’s name just occurred?”
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### A Story from Two Viewpoints
Season 2, Episode 2, named “Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig,” rewrites the narrative from the Season 2 opener. Whereas the initial episode emphasized the Innies’ viewpoint following the Season 1 conclusion, this installment pivots to investigate the Outie realm during the same period. A significant discovery? It hasn’t actually been five months since the Innies set off the Overtime Contingency (OTC), contrary to earlier beliefs. Instead, Mark (Adam Scott) heads back to work just days later. Therefore, no grand festivities for the Innies or severance adjustments — a point episode 1 was very clear about.
Even though we don’t step onto the Severed Floor in this episode, it’s packed with stunning moments and quotes ripe for analysis. Let’s delve into them.
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### 1. “Fetid moppet.”
Lumon CEO Jame Eagan (Michael Siberry) is not taking lightly Helly R.’s (Britt Lower) take-over of her Outie Helena Eagan’s speech. His reply? A peculiar and menacing insult: “Fetid moppet.” This phrase not only underscores the tense interaction between Jame and Helena but also lingers in your mind well after the episode wraps up.
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### 2. Mr. Milchick’s Leather Jacket Revelation
Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman) has always been a fashion statement at the Lumon office, but in this episode, we see him in a completely different light. Donning a leather jacket and motorcycle helmet, Milchick resembles a trendy rebel — until one remembers his dark role within Lumon. Looks can be misleading.
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### 3. Helena’s Apology Video
In classic Lumon style, Helena attempts to mitigate the backlash from Helly’s address by putting out an apology video. Claiming her speech was merely a drunken jest, Helena digs deeper into her insincerity, even declaring, “I’m also a human. Just like my Innie.” The irony is overwhelming, considering Helena once told Helly she wasn’t a person.
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### 4. “Your Innie is a friend of mine.”
Mr. Milchick’s damage control mission leads him to Irving’s (John Turturro) doorstep. Before letting him go, Milchick delivers this disconcerting line: “Your Innie is a friend of mine. I believe he’d endorse me saying so.” Considering Milchick’s track record of manipulating both Innies and Outies, this statement comes across as more of a strategic maneuver than a heartfelt expression.
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### 5. A Fresh Nightmare: *Severance*’s Opening Credits
Season 2 unveils a new opening credits sequence by visual artist Oliver Latta (aka Extraweg), which is even more unsettling than the previous one. Mark plunges into his severed mind, accompanied by bizarre visuals of floating heads and green brain matter. The sequence is not only visually disturbing — it might also contain clues related to this season’s enigmas.
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### 6. Ricken’s Priorities Are… Unconventional
Mark’s brother-in-law Ricken (Michael Chernus) makes his return, and he’s as self-centered as ever. While Mark faces truths about Gemma and the near-loss of his daughter Eleanor, Ricken is primarily focused on rearranging his reading of *The You You Are*. His standout moment? Coining the term “Cobelvig” to illustrate Ms. Cobel’s dual existence as Mrs. Selvig.
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### 7. Helena’s Fixation on Security Footage
Helena spends an alarming amount of time rewatching footage of Helly and Mark’s kiss. This raises moral concerns about consent and privacy when two individuals occupy one body. Could Helena’s compulsive viewing be a part of a larger scheme to mimic her Innie?
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### 8. Dylan’s Door Factory Job Interview
Following his dismissal, Dylan (Zach Cherry) interviews for a position at a door factory, leading to a surreal and comedic encounter. However, things take a darker shift when the details of Dylan’s severance procedure emerge, causing the anti-severance manager to turn him down with, “You want to circumcise your brain, that’s your issue.” Fun fact: *Severance* creator Dan Erickson conceived the show’s concept while employed at a door factory.
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### 9. Burt is Observing Irving
Irving makes an enigmatic call from a pay phone, likely linked to his Season 1 investigation on severed employees. Meanwhile, Outie Burt (Christopher Walken) is noted watching him. What transpired between Irving banging on