In typicalSeverancefashion,the next episode began in a totally different place.
And not just any new place.
Is this place real?
The cold and the questions intensify on this week’s Severance.Image: Apple TV+
Is it a simulation?
How did this TV and DVD player get there?
We know Kier Eagan, hes the deity of Lumon, but who is Dieter?
The group walking around the park – Apple TV+
First, its Mark, then Helly and eventually Dylan and Irv.
Incredible compositions, picturesque long shots.
The whole episode, especially the early parts, felt almost like a Stanley Kubrick movie.
The group walking around the park – Apple TV+
The innies find the Scissor Cave andThe Fourth Appendix.
They hit the road, reading the book along the way.
But, also, Irv seems decidedly on edge.
Innie Mark is outie. – Apple TV+
He later regrets the latter statement but we can tell something is off.
Something that will soon come to manifest.
Thats especially important because Milchick is about to read them a story.
Mr. Milchick with a chilling order. – Apple TV+
The story is about Dieter dying because, well, he masturbates.
Its a very graphic, odd story that has everyone entranced except for Helly.
She kind of chuckles at it, which really annoys Mr. Milchick.
Its a very over-the-top response, one that confuses and upsets the innies.
Irv is also still agitated.
The two trade insults, everything gets incredibly awkward, and Irv storms off into the darkness.
They proceed to have sex, which is intercut with shots of Irv off alone in the woods.
Before things really hit the fan, Helly and Mark have a key post-coital conversation.
The tender, important moment is then punctuated with Mark seeing Hellys face turn into his wife Gemma.
Its our first, and only, hint to remind us of what is going on outside here.
That outie Mark is attempting to reintegrate both sides of himself.
Meanwhile, Irv has a horrible nightmare in which his Lumon workspace is in a creepy, rotted forest.
Burt is there though, as well as a demonic presence from the Kier/Dieter story.
He confronts her once again, this time with the accusation that shes not even innie Helly.
He believes shesoutieHelly and, if shes outie Helly, she must be a very powerful person at Lumon.
Helly doesnt deny it and Irv attacks.
Shes an outie, shes a fucking mole, shes an Eagan!
I got goosebumps just writing that previous sentence.
Its Hellys acknowledgment that, at least on this ORTBO, it hasnt been her innie.
Its been her outie Helly.
That revelationand especially that she slept with Markis kind of mind-boggling, in a very awesome way.
It happens, Helly dings, and Irv lets her go.
What did you think of the episode?
Let us know below.
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