“Severance” season 1 finale ended with the present’s greatest revelation until then, and launched us to a mysterious character- Helena Eagan. We found she is Lumon Industries’ CEO, James Eagan’s daughter! The revelation was completely eye-popping and resulted in a single of the greatest cliffhangers on TV ever! Although the 2nd season confirmed us lots of Helena, her intentions are nonetheless ambiguous. Let’s dive into this character to know her motivations and Britt Decrease’s wonderful efficiency as Helena and her innie, Helly.
“Severance” opens with Helena mendacity on the desk, waking up, as her innie Helly R. We get to see the severance chip work with nice effectivity as Helly has no recollection of how she ended up there. Mark S (Adam Scott) is the first particular person she hears and justly dislikes him all through most of season 1. To Helly, he’s half of the machine that has inflicted this predicament upon her. His pleasant manner irritates her and she hates each minute at MDR, the division she is meant to work at on Lumon Industries’ ‘severed’ flooring. Not a lot later, Helly’s had sufficient of her mundane existence and requested to resign, i.e., finish her life. As per firm coverage, all resignations need to be authorized by the innie’s personalities on the outdoors, which in her case, goes to Helena.
We all know now why Helena dismissed Helly’s request. Helena’s agenda all alongside was to make use of Helly to glorify the life of an innie at Lumon. It’s a daring transfer to have the CEO’s daughter take part in the firm’s most controversial course of as a advertising stunt. It’s too massive to fail. However together with the revelation of Helena’s identification got here questions like – Why would Helena comply with be severed? Does she so strongly advocate the severance course of? Or is she doing it to save lots of Lumon? Or was she compelled? These questions led to a number of theories over the web, with followers persevering with to theorise for the subsequent 3 years till the launch of Season 2.
As the boss’s daughter, Helena is a robust particular person on the outdoors. And that air of confidence will be sensed in Helly’s rebellious nature. Actually, her defiance is so dominant that she threatens Helena by declaring she’d reduce off her fingers if she isn’t terminated. This menace leads Helena to shockingly reply with the phrases, ‘I’m an individual. You aren’t.’ Helena’s real lack of empathy in the direction of innies is offered a number of occasions all through the second season.
If we’re to look at “Severance” as a personality research, then Helena is the most essential character as a result of the story is propelled by her actions. Helena and Helly are two sides of the similar particular person, battling one another. This battle between them is aptly visualised in the ‘staircase scene’, the place Helly tries to exit the hallway to the staircase and Helena retains coming into it. Like an unstoppable pressure clashing with an immovable object, they each refuse to surrender till Helly lastly relents, and asks, ‘Am I lifeless? Is that this hell or one thing?
We’re an element of Helly’s journey from her inception. Her motivations are unambiguous to us. She feels trapped at MDR and desires to get out. The extra she is knowledgeable of the lack of management she has on her personal existence, the extra trapped she feels. She is compelled to submit and reside in the Lumon workplaces for what appears to her the relaxation of eternity.
The alternative to flee seems when the innies uncover the ‘additional time contingency’. Helly visits the outdoors world, and a key piece of Severance’s puzzle is unravelled. She is transported to a advertising occasion the place Helly is used as a mascot to promote the severance course of. Whereas it’s a severe punch in the intestine for Helly, that is additionally her second to get retribution. We don’t get to see the occasions after her outburst, ‘My title is Helly R. I’m an Innie. And all the pieces they’ve informed you about severance is a lie.’. But it surely should’ve made an enormous splash in the outdoors world of the present.
In season 2, it’s Helena’s flip to make the subsequent transfer. She instantly begins injury management by recording a video stating she was beneath the affect of alcohol and medication, and what was mentioned was meant as a nasty joke. She then enters the severed flooring, impersonating Helly, which additionally implies that the severed flooring will be reached with out the chip being activated. Helena’s spy operation goes with no hitch, however the extra intriguing scene is the one proven earlier, the place on a pc display she sees Helly and Mark kiss. She replays the scene over and over on her pc. Helly and Mark’s relationship and potential romantic connection are thrilling to her. Is it as a result of she has discovered a method to actual revenge on Helly? Or is it as a result of she lacks romance in her personal life?
Additionally Learn: Severance (Season 1) Defined: Recap, Themes and Ending Analysed
There are 2 methods to look at Helena – She’s both a manipulative and vindictive particular person trying to break her innie, or she is trapped inside Lumon’s universe and is subconsciously searching for her personal escape. The present conceals the fact in season 2, giving sufficient credence to every principle. It is smart if Helena’s actions are an act of vengeance in the direction of Helly, who tried to kill her. As a spy, she is playful with Mark, which ends up in them spending the night time collectively in the episode “Woe’s Hole.” Upon discovering this, Helly says, ‘What sucks is that she received to have that, and I didn’t. That she used me to trick my pals. Used my physique to get near you. That she attire me in the morning like I’m a child. That she controls me, and this firm, and all of us. It’s disgusting.’
Whereas Helly sounds proper, Helena doesn’t all the time seem like she’s in cost. Having Helly return to the staff upon Mark’s insistence reveals that Helena just isn’t in management, and enterprise selections take priority over her private selections. It additionally appears farfetched for her to have intercourse with Mark simply to achieve his belief or as an act of retaliation. There are much less intrusive methods to try this. There was tenderness of their togetherness. It was lovemaking. When mendacity collectively after, she whispers to Mark, ‘I didn’t like who I used to be on the outdoors. I used to be ashamed.’ These phrases will be interpreted both manner, as an evidence for her silence after the OTC occasion or her real emotions.
Helena’s physique language offers additional clues to her character. When Helly walks, she has a devil-may-care perspective in her swing. She walks like she owns the place; nevertheless, when Helena walks the similar partitions, she is deliberate, and she cowers at occasions. The pressures of her place and the need for her father’s approval weigh her down. The distinction is refined, however it’s there. There’s a sense of freedom in the manner Helly strikes.
There’s additionally a mirthful but assured smile on Helena’s face when she talks to much less highly effective staff of the firm. Brit Decrease’s efficiency in “Severance” is deep and nuanced. The distinction between the two personalities is internalised. By Decrease, they’re the similar particular person going by way of totally different feelings. When Helly returns from Irving, drowning her at the finish of “Woe’s Hole,” the distinction between the two identities is stark. She bolts into Mr. Milchik’s workplace and calls for an evidence. When Helena pretends to be Helly, she will’t think about Helly to be this headstrong and decisive.
Helena’s private life appears to be devoid of affection or pleasure. Her father is distant and odd. However when Helena is with Mark, she is on an journey that includes romance and surprise. The motif of innie and outie being interested in the similar particular person is solidified with the storyline wherein Dylan’s innie falls in love along with his outie’s spouse. However was Helly ever actually interested in Mark? Or is Helly manipulated into falling for Mark by the conniving Helena? Whether or not that is true or not, one can’t argue that Helena is the catalyst that propels Mark and Helly’s romance.
The most complicated scene of the second season is when Helena meets Mark’s outie at the Chinese language restaurant. Helena made the option to shock Mark with a go to. This wasn’t a directive from the Lumon board. She is flirtatious with Mark, and, even weird, is that he responds to it. I imply, it is a man who’s drilling holes in his head to search out his lacking spouse! The solely logical clarification for her motion is that she wished to see Mark once more and expertise the chemistry they share.
In distinction to Helena’s unclear motivations, Helly’s are crystal clear. She is a daring and ethical one that values their freedom. It may be that the outright mistrust Helly has in the direction of Lumon is a manifestation of Helena’s unconscious hate for the firm and the board that comes between her and her father. All we are able to do is speculate for the second on whether or not Helena is an antagonist or not. The subsequent season will hopefully reveal Helena’s intentions, and given the present’s originality, there isn’t a doubt that it will make for nice TV.
