### “Woe’s Hollow” Represents *Severance*’s Most Audacious Episode

The recent installment of *Severance*, dubbed “Woe’s Hollow,” propels the narrative in an audacious new direction. Departing from the sterile confines of Lumon’s headquarters, we journey into the frosty wilderness of the Dieter Eagan National Forest. Along our trek, we unearth astonishing truths: Helena Eagan (Britt Lower) has been masquerading as her Innie, Helly, for the last four episodes, and Irving (John Turturro) meets a harrowing demise. As if that weren’t sufficient, Lumon has seemingly created uncanny “twins” of the Innies—though they aren’t literal clones. The credits label them as “Shadow Mark,” “Shadow Helly,” and so forth, introducing an additional layer of enigma.

Central to these transformative revelations is a chilling childhood fable from Lumon founder Kier Eagan. This narrative recounts his experiences in the woods with his twin brother, Dieter—a journey that commences with sibling intimacy but devolves into calamity, featuring grotesque body horror and a hint of anti-masturbation doctrine. Yet, this isn’t merely another installment of Lumon propaganda; it also reflects the Innies’ hardships as Severed beings.

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### The Legend of Dieter and Kier Eagan

The narrative of Dieter and Kier originates from the Fourth Appendix of Lumon’s *Compliance Handbook*. As told by Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman), Kier penned this appendix during the final moments before his passing, rendering it so sacred that it is prohibited on the Severed Floor.

In the tale, Dieter persuades Kier to escape and live as destitute individuals in the wilderness. Throughout their sojourn, Dieter often sneaks away at night to engage in self-pleasure. Ultimately, Kier pushes for their return home to toil at their father’s ether mill, but Dieter obstinately declines. His rebellion culminates in a horrifying metamorphosis—his eye bulges out, sap oozes from the hollow, and he morphs into a tree. Unable to withstand the grotesque scene, Kier flees to the waterfall of Woe’s Hollow, where he encounters the specter Woe, an emaciated, ghostly bride. Instead of offering solace, Woe holds Kier accountable for Dieter’s outcome, proclaiming, “You endured his debauchery. Now he’s no one’s brother. Only chaos’ puppet.”

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### An Allegory on Labor, Sexuality, and Lumon’s Doctrine

Despite Milchick’s assertion that “every word is factual,” the tale of Dieter and Kier is evidently an allegory crafted to reinforce Lumon’s ethos—diligence and unwavering fidelity to the enterprise.

The divergence between the siblings is vivid: Kier embodies the dutiful employee, while Dieter is the one who evades duty. Dieter is consistently associated with impurity and transgression, depicted as “unwashed” and “wanton.” His self-pleasure is represented as both sinful and wasteful, with the description “spilling his lineage upon the soil” suggesting a lack of respect for the Eagan family lineage. His refusal to comply with the call to work and his perceived ethical shortcomings lead to his horrifying transformation, while Kier, the compliant son, is permitted to survive.

This segment illuminates Lumon’s contemporary stance regarding sexuality and closeness. The sole approved form of intimacy for the Innies is the waffle party, which is ritualistic and performed in reverence of Kier. Conversely, Dieter’s self-pleasure is denounced as it serves solely himself—an act that Kier and Lumon cannot condone.

Yet, what if Dieter isn’t merely a literal twin? What if he symbolizes an aspect of Kier that he endeavored to suppress? If this is the case, the narrative becomes a tale of self-repression, with Kier symbolically eradicating his own wishes and urges in favor of strict discipline and loyalty to work. Regardless, the message is unmistakable: adhere to Kier’s route, or face dire repercussions.

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### The Narrative’s Resonance with the Innies and Outies

For the Innies, the story of Dieter and Kier bears even greater significance. Much like the Eagan brothers, the Innies and their Outies represent two facets of the same entity—inseparable yet fundamentally distinct. They inhabit the same body, yet their convictions and aspirations frequently conflict.

The appearance of the “shadow” versions of the Innies further emphasizes this concept, acting as a visual manifestation of their dual nature. The narrative essentially poses the question to the Innies: “Which Eagan brother will you embody?” Will they choose to follow Kier’s path of obedience, or will they resist like Dieter? Considering that Dieter’s doom was to be transformed into a tree, the choice is a grim one.

The allegory also foreshadows potential discord between the Innies and their Outies. If one half of a pair can