Exploring Helly’s Deception: Her True Identity in Severance Season 2

WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Severance Season 2, Episode 1!

In the gripping premiere of Severance Season 2, Episode 1, Helly (Britt Lower) reveals a striking truth about her Outie, yet chooses to mislead Mark, Irving, and Dylan regarding her true identity. This duplicity is rooted in her feelings of guilt and shame, stemming from the events of the Season 1 finale. Following the execution of Lumon’s “overtime contingency”by Dylan, Helly, Mark, and Irving find themselves awakening in the bodies of their Outies, finally uncovering their real identities and the motivations behind their initial decision to undergo severance. Among these revelations, Helly’s Outie identity stands out as particularly shocking.

It is disclosed that Helly R. is actually Helena Eagan, the daughter of Lumon CEO Jame Eagan and a direct descendant of the company’s founder, Kier Eagan. Upon awakening, Helly’s Outie is seen preparing to address a gala filled with Lumon executives and influential figures, where she plans to advocate for the severance procedure’s expansion beyond just Lumon employees. However, circumstances prevent her from delivering this message as the overtime contingency concludes abruptly. In a bid to protect her image, Helly downplays the situation by claiming to her friends that her Outie was merely lounging in sweatpants and watching television.

Helly’s Concerns About Trust Among Friends

Navigating the Implications of Her Identity

While Mark candidly shares his experience from his Outie’s perspective, Helly and Irving are more reticent about their own experiences. Helly fabricates her story about waking up in a mundane setting and engaging in a fictional conversation with a “night gardener.”Conversely, Irving remains tight-lipped, consumed by his own feelings of shame regarding his search for Burt G. However, Helly’s motives for her deceit stem from a different place altogether.

The stakes rise when Burt eventually confesses to Dylan about his encounter with Burt, during which his Outie creates an artwork depicting a dark corridor at Lumon. This revelation adds complexity to the narrative as the group grapples with their intertwined identities.

Helly’s Burden of Guilt Related to Her Outie

The Enemy Within: A Guilt-Ridden Identity

Even if Helly perceives that her friends could look past their fears regarding Helena Eagan knowing about their insurgent plans, she harbors deep-seated shame about her Outie’s status as a powerful figure ensuring the oppression of severed individuals. The Eagan family traditionally dominates Lumon Industries, prioritizing personal gain over the ethical treatment of those they’ve severed.

This internal conflict leads Helly to loathe her Outie’s role and the implications it has for her friendships. The weight of her identity as part of the organization that has inflicted suffering on her friends—Mark, Dylan, and Irving—creates additional emotional turmoil. She understands that her associations with the Eagan legacy may impact their perceptions and trust in her.

As Helly grapples with the notion that she is linked more intimately to their suffering than she would like, it becomes increasingly difficult for her and her friends to delineate between her Innie and Outie selves. This explains her vehement insistence on the distinction between Outies and Innies—an effort to separate her own guilt from her narrative.

Irving’s Growing Suspicions Regarding Helly’s Deceit

Irving’s Inquisition into Helly’s Story

Throughout the episode, Irving exhibits subtle signs of skepticism about Helly’s version of events. When Helly mentions her supposed conversation with a gardener, Irving’s response reveals inquisitiveness about the practicalities of such a scenario. He questions the plausibility of a “night gardener” operating in her vicinity, showcasing his suspicion about the integrity of her story.

In an attempt to reinforce her fib, Helly fabricates another detail, asserting that the “night gardener” had a police officer brother poised to expose the truth. However, it’s evident that Irving senses something amiss, leading to a growing distrust. As the narrative unfolds, it remains unclear how much longer Helly can persist in her deception without her friends uncovering the truth about her identity.

New episodes of Severance Season 2 are available every Friday on Apple TV+.

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