‘Severance’ Season 2, Episode 4 Gets More Twisty and Reveals

Severance season 2 keeps getting more interesting as new mysteries unfold, and we get some major and minor reveals that show why this is one of the most intriguing series out there.

Now, granted, at the start and throughout most of episode 4, titled “Woe’s Hollow,” I have to admit I was a little conflicted and thought of it as sort of a filler episode. However, as the story progresses and becomes increasingly enigmatic, with a distinct survival horror or thriller vibe, the episode concludes with a wealth of revelations that pave the way for intriguing possibilities.

I loved how the episode starts and ends with Irving (John Turturro), making it very clear he’s the true star of the episode. The stranger-than-usual tone also fits very well with Irving’s very own depressing, offbeat nature. The icy lake abyss in which our leads are trapped serves almost as a representation of Irving’s own mind, especially in this season in which he’s been battling with these conflicting, borderline suicidal feelings after the loss of Burt. It wasn’t Turturro’s best performance—the show included—but he and the cast were great. I also appreciated the editing, particularly the way it draws a parallel between the sex scene and Turturro’s wandering through the woods. As I mentioned in my first recap/review, the film always succeeds in delivering some great camerawork and visuals, and this is no exception.

Spoilers incoming….

The Dieter Of It All?

As I mentioned earlier, as the episode went on, the plot thicken. As it went on, and through the finding of a cryptic book aka the 4th Appendix -which they followed from a path laid out by this creepy doppelgangers that some have suggested it could be their outies-, it’s officially confirmed that Kier Egan had indeed a twin brother named Dieter. However, because Dieter has never been referenced in Lumon history, the MDR workers are immediately drawn to learning more about his life. The book adds that the Eagan brothers came to this forest as teenagers and walked to a site called Woe’s Hollow, which is named after one of the four tempers. To unravel the riddle, Mark and the others realize they must follow the brothers’ path and travel to Woe’s Hollow themselves.

When the group arrives to Woe’s Hollow, they are greeted by Seth Milchick, who looks to have gone on this thoroughly planned outdoor trip as well, and he leads them to the camp built for them to spend the night, where they are joined by Miss Huang, the deputy manager. Milchick speaks from the 4th Appendix book at this camp, revealing that Kier brutally murdered his twin brother in the wilderness, which is why the firm he built never mentioned Dieter. Although the MDR workers have difficulty believing that this story is true and not just produced literature, Milchick insists that everything written by their supreme founder, Kier Eagan, is the truth and nothing else. This is when Helly and Mark begin joking about the unusual character of the story and the manner in which it was written, making Milchick furious. As a result, the marshmallows are thrown away, and the employees are forced to return to their various tents without dessert.

Irving, however, has started to suspect about Helly being a mole -which, I mean, we kind of already knew- and he challenged her in front of the entire camp. Irving’s suspicion that Helly had lied about her experience as an Outie grows stronger as he goes through this almost psychedelic trip, so he confronted her again about the gardener she had allegedly seen during the Overtime Contingency, despite the fact that it was nighttime. Helly responds by implying that Irving is sad because he can no longer meet the love of his life, Burt, and that his loneliness is making him bitter about everything else. This is an intentionally harsh statement that enrages and saddens Irving, and he quickly departs the camp to have his own personal adventure in the woods at night. Meanwhile, Mark and Helly finally give in to their romantic desires for each other and make love all night, possibly confirming that they will soon be a couple.

What’s in store for Severance Episode 5?

After the “truth” about Helly/Helena was revealed, it will be interesting to see what happens with that “couple” thing. Will all their experiences be erased? Will they pull some “what-did-truly-happen” scenario? Maybe with the reveal out, this will serve as a way for Cobel to initiate her second term? What will that entail? Clearly she’s desperate for that power, but she’s also on some quest for her personal vendetta.

More importantly, the previous season left us on a cliffhanger, with Mark seemingly managing to break through the barrier that divides both personalities.rse, that took a backseat here… or perhaps not?

Let us know your thoughts in the comment! What other theories do you have?