Episode 4 of Severance Season 2 has confirmed a major fan theory, but it has come with serious consequences. Since Mark S. (Adam Scott), Helly R. (Britt Lower), Irving B. (John Turturro), and Dylan G. (Zach Cherry) returned from their Macrodat Uprising outing, their situation has become much more difficult.
By the end of this unsettling episode, a major revelation has come to light—Helly R. has actually been Helena Eagan (also played by Britt Lower) all along. She nearly managed to keep this a secret, but Irving was determined to uncover the truth.
Irving B. Begins to Doubt Helly R. in Severance Season 2 Episode 4
The episode begins with a gripping scene as the Macrodats awaken in the midst of a vast, frozen expanse, bundled in thick fur coats and hats. They soon realize this is the start of their first Outdoor Retreat and Team Building Occurrence (ORTBO), Lumon’s unique term for a company retreat.
During this event, the group follows the path of Kier Eagan and his twin brother, Dieter, toward a place called Woe’s Hollow. Although they try to stay united, tension builds as Irving keeps asking questions that make the others uncomfortable.
Like many viewers who have suspected something off about Helly R. since her return, Irving watches her closely, but he does so from the perspective of someone who has changed. His time in the outside world has not been kind to him.
He found Burt G. (Christopher Walken), the person he cared for most in his innie life, happily living with someone else. Before he could even speak to Burt, he was forced back into Lumon, leaving him frustrated and full of distrust. Unlike before, Irving is no longer as polite or cooperative, and his skepticism becomes his greatest asset.
When Helly claims that she has only seen a “night gardener” in the outside world, Irving cannot shake the feeling that something is terribly wrong.
Mark and Helly’s Relationship Faces New Challenges
As Irving keeps his suspicions to himself during ORTBO, Mark begins to grow even more attached to Helly. This shift causes further division between Irving and the others. Mark’s growing affection for Helly makes it harder for him to question her true identity. This situation works in Helena’s favor, as she uses Mark’s trust to maintain her cover.
She even plays with the idea that Mark’s innie might be emotionally distancing himself from Ms. Casey because of Helly’s presence. Taking advantage of the situation, Helena creates an intimate moment with Mark in her tent. During this encounter, Mark makes a love-blind confession—he says he does not care who Helly’s outie really is.
By manipulating him into saying this, Helena has stolen an important moment in Mark and Helly’s relationship. Now, Helly is left unaware of a critical event, and Mark faces a difficult choice. He must decide whether to tell her the truth or keep this complex and unsettling situation hidden from her.
On top of that, Mark must now question his own priorities. If he truly cares about Helly more than his outie’s wife, Gemma, does that mean he will abandon his mission to free her? If he does, he will be betraying his own outie in a deeply personal way.
Irving Exposes Helena Eagan at a Great Cost
Irving’s doubts are finally confirmed when Helly insults him in a particularly cruel way. She accuses him of being overly emotional because he will never see Burt again. This statement feels too harsh and uncharacteristic of the real Helly, which forces Irving to confront her the next morning.
“What you said to me last night, it was cruel,” he tells her. “Helly was never cruel. So if you’re not her, then who are you?”
At that moment, he pieces together the truth. The only person with enough power to send their outie to the severed floor must be an Eagan. Without hesitation, he forces Helena under the freezing water beneath the tallest waterfall on the planet.
The situation escalates quickly until Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman) arrives, bringing back the real Helly R. at the last second. Helena, finally exposed, cries out for Seth, which ultimately seals her fate.
The consequences for Irving’s actions are swift and severe. He is immediately dismissed, and every trace of his existence as an innie is erased. His sacrifice carries a deep sadness because, throughout the episode, he appears increasingly at peace with himself.
Even though Helena’s words were meant to hurt him, she was partially correct. His broken heart might have been the final push he needed to risk everything. Even if it meant his own erasure, he was determined to expose the truth.
If Irving never returns, his actions will be remembered as the most selfless act the MDR department has ever seen. His friends will not let his sacrifice be for nothing.
Now that the innies have reached what series creator Dan Erickson refers to as their “adolescent” stage, the divide between them and Lumon will only grow. The battle between the workers and the company has reached a new level.
Milchick and the Lumon executives are not ones to back down easily, but now they have something they were not prepared for—a martyr. New episodes of Severance Season 2 premiere every Friday on Apple TV+ in the U.S.