Last week’s episode of Severance had intense moments for everyone inside Lumon’s unsettling halls. Milchick (Tramell Tillman) completed his performance review, and it unfolded as expected. Dylan G. (Zach Cherry) found Irving B.’s (John Turturro) directions to the Exports Hall.
Mark S. (Adam Scott) and Helly R. (Britt Lower) faced tension, while Irving’s outie received an invitation to dinner with Burt (Christopher Walken) and his husband, Fields (John Noble).
There were many ways this episode, titled “Attila,” could begin, but it starts with Mark Scout remembering his experience with Gemma/Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman). He shares this with Dr. Reghabi (Karen Aldridge), explaining that his conversation with Gemma felt strange.
“It didn’t feel human; it felt like a nightmare,” Mark says. He wonders why she only spoke in facts. Dr. Reghabi responds, “All I know is she’s essential.” Mark talks about grief and how people would do anything to bring someone back. Then, he realizes, “For me, it might actually happen.”
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A Hidden Path and an Important Clue
Dylan G. tells Mark and Helly about Irving’s drawing, describing it as “a black hallway with a black elevator that only goes down.” Mark and Helly conclude that Ms. Casey must be on a lower floor. Dylan mentions that he left the directions behind the poster in the Break Room because he doesn’t want to get in trouble.
He is concerned about losing his visits with his outie’s wife, Gretchen (Merritt Wever). Helly offers to retrieve it and asks if it is behind the poster where Dylan appears brave. Dylan walks out without responding, and Mark doesn’t commit to searching.
Frustrated, Helly exclaims, “Did everyone sever their balls in the elevator this morning?” Mark ignores her, feeling too hungry to argue. As he opens the fridge, his vision blurs between the Lumon-approved snacks and his outie’s food at home.
Milchick’s Warning and Mark’s Confession
Milchick sits in his office, lost in thought. Miss Huang (Sarah Bock) enters and asks about his performance review. He admits, “Many valid concerns were raised, which I look forward to addressing.” Before she leaves, Milchick turns serious.
He reminds her that she cannot graduate from the fellowship unless he approves her for Wintertide. He explains that this requires her to use time wisely, focus on her duties, and eliminate childish behavior. Miss Huang acknowledges his words, though she seems disappointed when Milchick assigns her to monitor the severed floor from her desk.
Meanwhile, Helly and Mark talk inside a bathroom stall. They discuss Milchick’s elevator threats. Helly believes Lumon is trying to intimidate them and keep them apart. “They don’t want us working together because they know what will happen if we do,” she states.
Mark struggles to speak but eventually confesses something shocking: “Helly, we shared vessels.” She doesn’t understand, so he clarifies, awkwardly admitting, “We had, uh, sex.” At first, she thinks he means Ms. Casey, but when Mark reveals it was Helena, Helly’s expression changes. She suspects it is another tactic to create distance between them. She leaves abruptly, saying she needs to take a walk.
Dylan’s Outie Struggles While Milchick Pushes Himself
Milchick works alone in a dimly lit supply closet. He clips a large stack of papers, his hands shaking from the pressure. His performance review is clearly on his mind.
In the Outie Family Visitation Suite, Dylan G. meets Gretchen again. He tries to guess what his outie’s first date with her was. He guesses “scuba,” but she corrects him, saying it was Thai food. However, she does mention that his outie took scuba lessons.
Dylan realizes that his outie has gone through many phases, including woodworking. Gretchen wonders if he is searching for something that truly fulfills him. Dylan struggles with this idea, believing his outie must be happy since he has her. “I wish we could really be together, all the time,” he confesses. Gretchen hesitates but then agrees to hug him again. They embrace warmly before the hug turns into a kiss.
Mark and Helly Create Their Own Moment
Helly sits curled up in a hallway, lost in thought. Mark stares blankly at his computer. As Dylan and Gretchen share an intimate moment, Mark and Helly reflect on their own past experiences. A montage of their kisses plays before they meet again in the hallway.
Helly expresses frustration that Helena used her body to manipulate people. “She tricked my friends, used my body to get close to you, and controls all of us. It’s disgusting.”
Mark asks if she wants to know what happened at the ORTBO, but Helly refuses. She doesn’t want Helena’s memories—she wants her own. “Would you like that?” she asks. Mark responds shyly, “Yeah, I’d like that. But how?” Helly leads him to an unused office filled with plastic-covered desks.
“Ta-da, a tent.” They crawl underneath, nervous but excited. As they kiss, they take control of their own moment together, separate from their outie selves.
Milchick’s Inner Struggles and a Sudden Shift
Milchick, alone in the supply closet, rereads his performance review. He focuses on one criticism: that he uses too many big words. Looking at his reflection, he repeats his warning to Miss Huang. He gets increasingly angry, simplifying his words: “You must grow up. You must grow up.” His voice becomes louder until he simply shouts, “Grow!”
Mark and Helly, happy after their private moment, walk down the hallway. Helly asks if it was different with her. Instead of answering, Mark kisses her. Suddenly, his nose starts bleeding. They go to Miss Huang for an examination. When asked if Helly punched him, she jokes, “Not today.”
Mark suddenly switches back to his outie self at home, disoriented. Dr. Reghabi is with him, asking if he knows where he is. He struggles to answer. She tells him that memory crossover is a good sign and suggests flooding his severance chip to speed reintegration. Mark, confused and frustrated, leaves to find food.
Irving’s Dinner Raises Questions
Outside Lumon, Irving waits nervously in his car before his dinner with Burt and Fields. When he knocks, Burt jokingly pretends not to recognize him. Fields calls Burt “Attila” and teases him about feeding Irving “a pile of loose corn.”
During dinner, Burt shares that a church sermon convinced him to undergo severance. The pastor claimed that innies had individual souls that could go to heaven separately. This led Burt to get severed so his innie could reach heaven.
Meanwhile, Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson) breaks into Irving’s apartment, searching through his files on Lumon. He focuses on Burt’s name and address.
Later, Burt mentions that Fields used to call him “hon,” but around ten years ago, it changed to “Attila.” Fields corrects him, saying it was actually twenty years ago, before severance even existed. Irving is puzzled, realizing Burt’s past doesn’t align with what Lumon claims.
A Shocking Encounter and Mark’s Fate
At a Chinese restaurant, Mark eats a large meal before noticing Helena Eagan sitting nearby. She recognizes him and joins his table. She casually mentions hearing good things about his work. Mark, still adjusting, replies, “Thank you. I’ve heard nothing at all about my work.”
Helena apologizes for the Overtime Contingency incident, saying it won’t happen again. When Mark questions how much she knows, she reminds him, “I’m, like, the head of the company, Mark.” She then brings up his late wife, mistakenly calling her “Hanna.” Mark corrects her. The mood shifts, and Mark abruptly leaves.
Back home, Mark agrees to restart the reintegration process. Dr. Reghabi inserts a large needle into his brain port. His memories of Gemma and Helly merge. Suddenly, Devon knocks on the door. Mark rushes upstairs, sweating and disoriented. Moments later, he collapses, seizing as foam spills from his mouth.
Will Mark survive? What is Burt hiding? And what is Helena’s true plan? Severance continues to reveal more mysteries, leaving viewers eager for what comes next.
Conclusion: A Future Unraveling with Secrets and Consequences
Episode 6 of Severance continues to pull viewers deeper into the unsettling world of Lumon Industries, revealing new layers of deception, manipulation, and emotional turmoil.
Mark’s growing entanglement with his past and present selves, Helly’s desperate attempt to reclaim her identity, and Irving’s dinner with Burt all suggest that severance is far more complex than anyone at Lumon admits. Each character is struggling to understand the blurred lines between their innie and outie experiences, and the psychological toll is beginning to show.
The shocking encounter between Mark and Helena raises significant questions. Why did she approach him so casually? Was it an innocent meeting or a calculated move? Meanwhile, Irving’s realization about Burt’s past could expose deeper secrets within Lumon’s severance program. Dylan’s intimate moment with Gretchen also hints at the possibility of love breaking through even the most rigid barriers.
The episode ends on a chilling note as Mark collapses, caught between two realities. Will he survive the reintegration process? What is Lumon truly hiding? As the season nears its climax, the stakes have never been higher, and the battle for identity and truth is far from over.
