The newest episode of Severance is one of the most unsettling yet. In “Woe’s Hollow,” the Macrodata Refinement (MDR) team takes part in an ORTBO (Outdoor Retreat and Team-Building Occurrence) at Dieter Eagan National Forest.
This cold and isolated location forces each team member to face their deepest fears. However, Irving B. (John Turturro) experiences the most terrifying moment of all.
During a disturbing vision, he meets Woe (Faith Vaughn), a chilling figure whose presence rivals any great horror movie scare. This shocking moment is not just for effect—it carries deeper meaning for Irving and may hint at what lies ahead for him.
The Mystery Behind Woe in Severance Season 2
Severance has always shown how Lumon’s founder, Kier Eagan (Marc Geller), is treated almost like a mythical figure by the company’s employees. Every worker at Lumon is required to study his life and follow his philosophy.
A significant part of his teachings revolves around the Four Tempers of the soul, which he claimed to have identified during his lifetime.
These Four Tempers are Woe (sadness), Frolic (joy), Dread (fear), and Malice (rage). Lumon represents these ideas through a painting titled “Kier Tames the Four Tempers,” which is displayed inside the company.
In “Woe’s Hollow,” the MDR team learns more about Woe, the first of the Four Tempers that Kier supposedly tamed. During the retreat, Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman) reads a story from a hidden section of the Lumon handbook, while Ms. Huang (Sarah Bock) plays eerie music on a theremin.
According to this secret text, Kier had a twin brother named Dieter Eagan. Unlike Kier, Dieter was rebellious and convinced Kier to live in poverty in the forest when they were young. However, Dieter’s disrespectful ways led to his sudden and mysterious death.
Kier, overwhelmed by the terrifying sounds of his brother’s final moments, hid behind the waterfall at Woe’s Hollow. When he emerged, he saw Woe—a ghostly bride-like figure, only half the height of a normal woman.
Woe communicated with him not through words, but through her eyes. She told him that Dieter’s fate was a result of Kier’s failure to control his brother’s reckless nature.
This eerie legend sets the stage for one of the most chilling moments in Severance. While Woe is introduced as a fictional character from an old Lumon story, the episode later suggests that she may be more than just a myth.
Also Read: Severance Season 2 Episode 4 Confirms a Major Theory With Shocking Consequences
Irving’s Terrifying Vision in Severance Season 2
At this point in the season, Irving is the only MDR employee who suspects that Helena Eagan (Britt Lower) is not actually Helly R., but has been impersonating her since they returned to the severed floor. This suspicion makes him feel isolated.
When Helena, pretending to be her innie, teases him about missing Burt G. (Christopher Walken), he becomes frustrated and wanders into the forest alone. His co-workers do not defend him, and the tension builds as he stumbles through the cold, empty woods. Suddenly, he trips, falls, and is knocked unconscious.
In his unconscious state, Irving experiences a surreal vision. He wakes up dressed in his Lumon suit, standing in a frozen, foggy view. The forest around him is quiet and eerie, like an abandoned swamp covered in ice. He sees the familiar desks from MDR, with numbers moving strangely across his computer screen. Moths are drawn to the glowing display.
Across from him, Burt G. briefly appears. He lowers the partition between their desks, smiles knowingly, then raises it again. This quiet moment is soon interrupted when Irving notices a ghostly woman sitting nearby—Woe herself. She has a haunting presence, with a pale and unsettling appearance. She is working on the same file as him, titled “Montauk.” She pauses to stare at Irving, then resumes typing.
Irving looks back at his screen, where the floating numbers begin forming letters—E, A, G, and N. These letters confirm his suspicion about Helena’s identity. Just as he starts to process what he is seeing, Woe suddenly appears right beside him. Her sudden movement is enough to make both Irving and the audience jump in shock.
A well-crafted horror moment takes time to build up its tension, and “Woe’s Hollow” executes this perfectly. However, this encounter with Woe is more than just a jump scare. It represents a turning point for Irving. His suspicion about Helena is confirmed, and he also confronts his own sadness—his personal “woe”—over losing Burt. This realization gives him a sense of purpose and strength.
Irving’s Journey to Overcome Woe in Severance
Irving’s experience mirrors Kier Eagan’s story about Woe in several ways. The legend of Woe describes Kier witnessing his brother’s death and learning a harsh lesson about responsibility. Irving, after his terrifying vision, goes on to expose Helena’s deception. His decision to take action against her mirrors Kier’s supposed triumph over Woe.
Later in the episode, Irving attempts to drown Helena in the same body of water connected to the legend of Woe’s Hollow. This detail suggests that both Kier and Irving may have followed similar paths in dealing with their perceived enemies. It also raises questions about whether Kier truly tamed Woe—or if his legend has been twisted over time.
By the end of the episode, Irving faces his fate with quiet acceptance. He has revealed the truth about Helena to Mark S. (Adam Scott) and Dylan G. (Zach Cherry), so his mission is complete. When Mr. Milchick sends him to “the eternal dark,” Irving does not react with fear or sadness. He stands his ground, showing that he has conquered his own personal Woe.
However, the story may not be over for Irving. Kier’s legend describes four tempers, and Woe is only the first. If Severance continues this storyline, Irving may have more challenges ahead as he faces the remaining tempers—Frolic, Dread, and Malice. Each of these could bring new tests, shaping his character even further.
What’s Next in Severance Season 2?
This episode delivers a haunting and emotional journey, blending psychological horror with deep character development. The legend of Kier Eagan continues to influence events in surprising ways, suggesting that the company’s history may not be as simple as it seems. With three more tempers left to show, Irving’s journey is far from over.
New episodes of Severance Season 2 release every Friday on Apple TV+.
Also Read: Severance Season 2’s ORTBO: A Sinister Company Retreat That Tests Loyalty and Breaks Trust
