Who Is Following Irving in Severance Season 2 Episode 2 and Who Was He on the Phone With?

WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Severance season 2, episode 2! In an engaging scene from Severance season 2, episode 2, we witness the complex layers of Irving’s Outie (John Turturro) as he not only communicates about a potential message for his Innie but is also covertly observed. Among the various characters, Irving remains one of the most enigmatic figures. While his Innie made a brief foray into the outside world during the overtime contingency in season 1, limited information emerged about him—his passion for painting a shadowy hallway, ownership of a dog, solitary lifestyle, and history with the US Navy. However, in the second season, Irving’s Outie is embroiled in increasingly intricate narratives.

The season 2 premiere, “Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig, ” initially centered on the Innies, but episode 2 shifts focus to the vertiginous reality facing the Outies following the conclusion of season 1. For Irving, this involves a tumultuous journey that sees him being fired and subsequently rehired by Milchick, making cryptic phone calls in a phone booth, and being followed by an unidentified individual. These developments strongly suggest that the narrative is gearing up for significant revelations regarding the dark underbelly of Lumon’s severance program.

Irving’s Outie: A Connection to Lumon?

Was Irving Contacting Regabhi?

While the identity of the person Irving contacts remains shrouded in mystery, the choice to communicate from a payphone suggests a deliberate effort to shield the conversation from Lumon’s surveillance. This choice implies that Irving’s Outie is indeed trying to uncover the truth about Lumon’s severed operations, paralleling the actions of Mark and Petey in season 1. The rising tension becomes palpable when Irving’s Outie grapples with anger and confusion upon learning of his termination, hinting at an underlying intention to continue his investigations.

Significantly, Irving’s Outie may have undergone the severance procedure not merely for personal reasons but with the clear aim of dismantling Lumon from within. His artistic depictions of the ominous hallway at the Testing Floor, the consistent attempts to induce rest in his Innie, and those cryptic phone calls all point toward collaboration with an external ally striving to expose Lumon.

The conversation initiated by Irving in this episode seems directed at coordinating with someone who can guide his Innie’s thoughts and memories. How it ties into Lumon’s darker experiments, such as those involving Ms. Casey/Gemma and the Cold Harbor file, remains an intriguing thread as he is seemingly prompted to locate the Testing Floor.

Although it is unclear who this individual is, speculation points toward Regabhi, the former Lumon surgeon who assisted in Petey’s reintegration task in season 1. Her departure from Lumon stemmed from ethical concerns regarding the severance process, which could lead her to reach out to Irving following Petey’s tragic demise, seeking evidence against Lumon’s unethical practices.

Is Burt G. Secretly Trailing Irving’s Outie?

Is Burt Monitoring Irving’s Movements?

Christopher Walken as Burt in Severance season 2

In tandem with his covert operations against Lumon, Irving’s Outie navigates the unsettling reality of being under surveillance while communicating. The individual tailing him is none other than **Burt Goodman (Christopher Walken)**, who retired from Lumon shortly before the climactic events of season 1. Burt, an employee from the Optics and Design department, shared a poignant romantic connection with Irving B.in season 1, a relationship abruptly interrupted by Burt’s decision to retire.

Although Burt has prior experience with Lumon—seven years in Optics and Design—his prior roles remain unclear, which could hint at further exploration of company dynamics. The last season’s overtime contingency witnessed an emotional moment where Irving’s Innie sought out Burt at his residence, hoping to rekindle their bond. However, the encounter revealed Burt in a relationship with another man, leaving Irving disillusioned about the endeavors of MDR.

Burt’s Intentions: Why the Surveillance?

Burt’s Curiosity About Irving’s True Identity

The nature of the conversation that Irving’s Outie had with Burt upon waking up confused on his doorstep remains largely speculative. It’s plausible that Irving downplayed the incident, claiming a case of mistaken identity. However, considering Burt’s recent retirement from Lumon, he might have sensed that the moment had deeper ramifications related to the company. This curiosity likely fuels his decision to follow Irving to unravel this connection.

Although Burt doesn’t engage with Irving directly in “Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig, ” their paths are almost certain to converge in forthcoming episodes. The ambiguity surrounding Burt’s sentiments towards Lumon and the morality of the severance process opens various narrative possibilities—he could either hinder Irving’s quest for the truth or align with him in the battle against Lumon. Burt’s retired status positions him as a potentially vital ally, capable of shedding light on the machinations of the company regarding its treatment of former severed employees.

Severance Season 2 Release Schedule
Episode #	Release Date
3	January 31
4	February 7
5	February 14
6	February 21
7	February 28
8	March 7
9	March 14
10	March 21

Given that Burt’s experience lies within Lumon’s Optics and Design rather than Macrodata Refinement, their differing perspectives could yield deeper insights into the employees’ roles within the company’s concealed operations and psychological manipulations. Notably, Petey’s arc in season 1 highlights Lumon’s meticulous scrutiny over all aspects of severed employees’ lives, raising the stakes significantly for both Burt and Irving as they navigate potential encounters on the outside.

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