8 new massive theories I’ve after Severance season 2 episode 6, aka ‘Attila’: can Burt be trusted, what’s Irving as much as, what occurred to Mark, and extra

Full spoilers observe for Severance season 2 episode 6.

The sixth episode of Severance season 2 has dropped on Apple TV Plus – and, similar to each different episode this season (and the final!), it raises extra questions than it solutions.

So, as I’ve achieved at numerous factors all through season 2, I’m going to debate my ideas and theories on the thriller thriller’s newest chapter, which is titled ‘Attila’. It goes with out saying, however main spoilers observe for Severance‘s latest episode, so ensure you’ve watched it first earlier than urgent on.

1. Mark’s reintegration will present us flashbacks involving Gemma

Well, that did not go in addition to anybody deliberate. After his ‘outie’ unexpectedly runs into Lumon CEO-in-waiting Helena Eagan (extra on her later) at his native Chinese restaurant, a shaken-up however decided Mark heads residence and tells Reghabi that he needs to maneuver forward together with her plan to completely reintegrate him.

Speaking to me earlier than final week’s episode aired, Severance creator Dan Erickson hinted that this is able to “put Mark in peril” in additional methods than one. Unsurprisingly, that is confirmed to be the case. A mix of Reghabi flooding Mark’s severance chip with an unknown substance, his sister Devon’s sudden look at his home (and the stress that places Mark’s mind below), and him bodily transferring when he should not be leads Mark to not solely collapse in his own residence, but in addition begin violently convulsing and frothing on the mouth.

Clearly, Mark goes to be in some type of comatose state for an episode or two – and, in my view, that gives Severance with the chance to discover his historical past with Gemma, aka his supposedly lifeless spouse who’s truly alive (at Lumon Industries, no much less) and going by the pseudonym Ms Casey.

If you watched Severance season 2’s official trailer, you will bear in mind the transient shot of Mark and Gemma having fun with one another’s firm in a sun-drenched room. Sure, this might be Mark unconsciously dreaming of the life he might have had with Gemma, however I’m satisfied it is a flashback sequence from once they first moved in collectively. Don’t be stunned if considered one of season 2’s ultimate 4 episodes takes a visit down reminiscence lane to indicate us how they met, fell in love, and, probably, if their marriage began to crumble earlier than Gemma’s accident.

2. Harmony Cobel holds the important thing to the reintegration course of

Three episodes have handed since we final noticed Harmony Cobel, so followers of the hit Apple TV Original are rightly asking the place’s she gone.

You do not rent an actor as sensible as Patricia Arquette in the event you’re not going to make use of her (and her character) for some revelatory story-based function. I’m of the opinion, then, that Cobel is aware of one thing massively vital that’ll assist Mark to completely reintegrate, rescue Gemma, and convey down Lumon.

Chatting to me earlier than Severance returned, Arquette instructed that Cobel’s loyalty to Lumon could be examined in season 2. With Cobel strolling away from Lumon for causes unknown in Severance season 2 episode 3, it seems she’s beginning to query her unwavering fealty to the fiendish biotech firm. She’s at all times had a delicate spot for Mark, too, in accordance with Lumon’s Board and Milchick, with the latter telling Mark in Severance season 2 episode 1 that the previous believed Cobel had an “erotic fixation” with Mark and wished to pursue a “throuple” type relationship along with his ‘innie’ and ‘outie’. I absolutely anticipate Cobel to affix forces with Reghabi and Mark, then, to hit again at Lumon by serving to Mark to take them down.

3. Burt is a foul man – and he would possibly nonetheless be working for Lumon and Mr Drummond

One of episode 6’s greatest speaking factors facilities on the oft-times uncomfortable dinner that Irving shares with Burt and his ‘outie’ husband named Fields. There’s a lot to unpack from these scenes in ‘Attila’, however there are two massive theories that emerged within the wake of that soiree.

The first one I’ve is that Burt is not a superb man. That concept got here to me after a religion-based dialog that the trio have, which focuses on a sermon delivered by the pastor of the church that Burt and Fields attend. Their faith believes that an individual’s ‘innie’ is a whole particular person with their very own soul. In quick: if an ‘innie’ leads a superb, useful life, they have simply pretty much as good of an opportunity of going to Heaven as their ‘outie’ has. The similar is true of going to Hell if both/or persona spends their days being evil.

Okay, so what’s this bought to do with Burt? It’s insinuated that Burt’s ‘outie’ has achieved some… lower than nice issues. He determined to endure the severance course of so his ‘innie’ had a shot of redeeming Burt in order that, when he dies, his ‘innie’ will be a part of Fields’ ‘outie’ (Fields, so far as we all know, hasn’t been severed) in Heaven. Clearly, the Burt we thought all of us knew is not that particular person.

But wait! There’s extra. At one level in ‘Attila’, we see high-ranking Lumon worker Mr Drummond break into the house of Irving’s ‘outie’ whereas the latter is having fun with dinner with Burt and Fields. There, Drummond discovers Irving’s stash of paperwork that embody very important info on quite a few severed staff.

It cannot be a coincidence that Drummond forces his means into Irving’s residence and undergo his possessions when he isn’t there. That’s bought me pondering that Burt, who’s exhibited loads of disquieting habits all through season 2, is nonetheless working for Lumon in some capability. That raises questions on whether or not he is truly severed and if he isn’t solely an vital Lumon worker, but in addition a member of the extremely secretive Board. Wouldn’t that be a flip up for the books!

4. Irving is a personal investigator who’s making an attempt to blow the whistle on Lumon

Severance‘s season 1 finale was filled with stunning moments, not least with its revelation that Helly R’s ‘outie’ was Helena Eagan, aka the daughter of Lumon’s present boss. However, we additionally discovered a bit bit about Irving’s ‘outie’, too, and that he is a army veteran.

One of the perfect Apple TV Plus reveals’ second season suggests he is way more than that, although. As I discussed, Drummond finds quite a few recordsdata in Irving’s residence with key intel on many severed workers. Before Irving confronts Burt in his automotive – Irving suppose he is stalking him – in Severance season 2 episode 5, we see him speaking to a thriller particular person on a payphone, too, with Irving telling them that he is frightened that Lumon is onto him.

To me, all of this suggests that Irving has been employed as a personal detective with the purpose of attending to the underside of what is going on on at Lumon. It would clarify why he is been researching its severed workforce, his seemingly exploration of Lumon’s secret areas (bear in mind: he was the one one who knew in regards to the darkish hall with an elevator main to a different flooring earlier than season 2 started), and would reveal why he joined the severance program (he’d get nearer to the reality that means). We’ll see if I’m proper in some unspecified time in the future, hopefully.

5. Ms Huang is being primed to turn out to be the Severed Floor’s new supervisor

There’s been loads of on-line chatter about who Ms Huang is. Some followers reckon she’s a clone of Gemma/Ms Casey. Others say she’s Mark and Gemma’s daughter – or, reasonably, who their daughter would’ve been if Gemma hadn’t ‘died’ (learn: kidnapped by Lumon).

In my Severance season 2 episode 1 theories piece, I predicted Ms Huang was the most recent pupil to graduate from Mrytle Eagan School for Girls. This is identical schooling middle that Harmony Cobel attended earlier than she turned a Lumon worker.

It appears Ms Huang is following in Cobel’s footsteps. Indeed, throughout the one assembly she has with present Severed Floor supervisor Seth Milchick (extra on him in a second), he tells her that her profitable completion of her fellowship – one which’ll maker her “Wintertide materials” – depends on him.

If, and it is a massive if, this Wintertide Fellowship is a Lumon graduate program that results in a everlasting place on the firm, Ms Huang might ultimately turn out to be Severed Floor supervisor (Milchick has proven repeatedly that he is incapable of holding down the fort…), which might make her Cobel 2.0.

6. Milchick goes to return down onerous on MDR and power them to finish Cold Harbor

But again to Milchick. After his reasonably scathing efficiency overview on this season’s fifth episode, he spends his time making an attempt to iron out his managerial weaknesses in ‘Attila’.

That would not bode nicely for the Macrodata Refinement (MDR) workforce. Milchick already instructed Drummond that he would “tighten the leash” on them in season 2 episode 5. In this week’s follow-up, he is seen placing Drummond’s ‘constructive’ criticism from mentioned efficiency overview into impact. Milchick is not going to surrender the place of Severed Floor supervisor with out a struggle and, if meaning he turns into extra of a dictatorial boss within the eyes of the MDR workforce, it is a tactical strategy that’ll work in his favor and guarantee he stays in the appropriate facet of Lumon’s Board.

7. Helena is stalking Mark for a number of causes

I instructed you we might come again to Helena. As I discussed close to the start of this text, she tracks down Mark’s ‘outie’ to his native Chinese eatery and has a reasonably unsettling dialog with him. I give it one other episode or two earlier than he takes out a restraining order.

But I digress. After their hook-up throughout episode 4’s ORTBO (be taught extra about what occurred in my Severance season 2 episode 4 ending defined piece), Helena has clearly turn out to be besotted with Mark. Why else would she begin stalking him in the actual world?

I feel there’s extra to this than Helena merely being a creep, although. I imagine she’s protecting tabs on his ‘outie’ to make sure he isn’t getting as much as something that may trigger points for Lumon. Sure, she could be doing it with out anybody’s permission however, hey, as she tells Mark, she’s the long run chief of the nefarious group, so she will be able to successfully do as she pleases (inside cause, after all). After all, it is in Lumon’s pursuits to observe Mark’s ‘outie’, particularly along with his ‘innie’ persevering with to ask questions and snoop round inside Lumon HQ.

8. Dylan G’s ‘affair’ with Gretchen will result in her and his ‘outie’ getting divorced

Dylan’s ‘outie’ simply cannot catch a break, can he? Not solely was he fired by Lumon after his involvement within the ‘innie’ outbreak in season 1’s ultimate episode (to be honest, he was rehired in season 2 episode 2), however now he is having to contend along with his spouse Gretchen having an affair along with his personal ‘innie’.

Alright, so it is not an affair within the sexual relationship sense, however Gretchen did kiss Dylan’s ‘innie’ throughout their most up-to-date assembly in Lumon’s Outie Visitation Suite. The proven fact that Gretchen did not inform Dylan’s ‘outie’, aka her husband, about it makes it even worse, too.

I would not be shocked, then, if Dylan’s ‘outie’ ultimately finds out in regards to the fling and divorces Gretchen. I think Gretchen’s guilt will eat away at her to the purpose the place she comes clear to her real-world companion, which ends up in a everlasting separation between the pair. It’s that, or Dylan’s ‘outie’ forbids her from seeing his ‘innie’ once more, which might have its personal repercussions if Dylan’s ‘innie’ turns into too depressed to proceed engaged on Cold Harbor.

What are your ideas on any or all the above theories? Do you suppose I’m heading in the right direction or speaking garbage? Let me know within the feedback!