Helena Eagan Identity Twist of Severance: Explained
The massive Helena Eagan twist in Apple TV+'s Severance fundamentally changes the course of the second season. Severance's narrative serves as a warning about the dangers of corporate drudgery and how often individuals are deprived of their identity in the modern workplace under authoritarian, punishing policies. The titular severance process, which separates individuals's personalities into two—one for personal life and one for employment life—personifies this. With the Helena twist of the show highlighting the Eagan's cult-like dedication to their ideas and techniques, Severance season 1's ending takes these themes even farther.
Though Severance's array of characters is rather diverse, one whose fate has surely changed following the season 1 finale is Helly R. Played by Britt Lower, the severed worker has her "innie," her job mentality turned on outside Lumon's building. Uncertain of her location, Helly must negotiate the lives of her "outie" personality. This reveals fresh information about the covert company Lumon, which also throws a bombshell twist on the identity of Helly's outie that begs many more concerns regarding the plot of Severance season 2.
Severance's Helly Is Actually Helena Eagan, Lumon's CEO's Daughter
After turning on the Overtime Contingency, Mark, Irving, and Helly run amok in their outie bodies in Severance Season 1, episode 9, "The We We Are." Undoubtedly, Helly, who wakes up in the middle of a Lumon gala and finds that her outie is Helena Eagan, the daughter of Severance's Lumon CEO Jame Eagan, would shock Severance most of all. Given her suffering as a detached worker compelled into a job she did not choose for herself and her captivity at the hands of Lumon, Helly is naturally stunned to learn this.
Given Helly's outie's close ties to Lumon, her Severance season 2 narrative will be interesting to see develop. Helly was clearly the character shown to be most impacted by severance right away during Severance season 1. From her numerous attempts at fleeing that resulted in a terrible attempt to take her own life to the video produced for her by her outie personality indicating that severance is necessary, her tale is recontextualized by the Helena Eagan disclosure promising huge events in Severance season 2.
Why Helena Eagan Uses the Severance Process Described
One of the main mysteries following Helly's identification as Helena is: why the latter went through severance. Severance season one features separated employees as regular people just trying to make ends meet. Severance's staff are normal people from Mark, a modest man trying to move past his loss, to Irving, Dylan, and Burt helping themselves or their family. This represents a great difference where Helena is worried about a member of the privileged elite going through the severance process.
Helly discovers in the last episode of Severance Season 1 that Helena underwent severance to increase public acceptance of the operation. The severance process is divisive in the world of the show, as is predicted, and Helena tries to justify it by building her own innie. For Helena, though, this does not work out when Helly wakes during the Lumon gala and fervuously reports the suffering of the innies under Lumon's hands. Though it is yet unknown how this affects Helena's objectives, it most definitely cannot be favorable for the Lumon CEO or the impression of severance following the first season's events.
Every Clue To Helly's Identity Twist In Severance Season 1
While the Helena Eagan bombshell is a big surprise, Severance season 1 has hints toward Helly's outie identity. When Helly is observing Helena's severance operation in Severance episode 1, she offers a major hint to her identity. "When we heard you were coming here it was like a miracle," says Milchick - Helly's boss as Helena gets ready for the operation. What you're doing is really fantastic. This initially seems to be about Helly rapidly filling Petey's empty Macro Data Refinement position. But Milchick is obviously drawing on Helena's commitment to Lumon by means of personal severance.
The second clue that Helly is Helena Eagan shows up in Severance episode 4: her taped resignation request is strongly denied by her outie less than a day after it was delivered. Knowing that Helly is Helena Eagan, the hard stance Helly's Outie takes makes much more sense than the various thin justifications Helly's Outie offers at the time for why Helly cannot stop. Helena wants to illustrate the validity of severance to the public, thus she cannot let it be known that her innie hates her job in Lumon's company, a story most likely covered in Severance season 2.
What has the show creator, Britt Lower, said about the Helena Eagan Twist in Severance?
Given Helena's twist is such a pivotal point in the narrative of Severance season 1, it was inevitably one of the more talked about component of Apple Tv+'s thriller. This was true not only of show viewers but also of Severance's writers. From her innie's phony initials to the thorough motivations of Helena Eagan, Severance co-creator Dan Erickson was asked about the Helly twist in a long-length interview with Variety. Regarding the former, Erickson said Lumon called Helena's innie Helly R. complete with a phoney initial to throw her off the scene of her outie identity.
When questioned about Helena's motives, though, Erickson focused considerably more on the Lumon heir. Helena clearly went through severance as a PR move, but Erickson was also questioned about some ulterior reasons among the Eagan family. Erickson responded, under interrogation, regarding the key Identity Twist in Severance season 1: "The goal of what she's doing is to sort of show that Severance is good enough for an Eagan. We wouldn't do this just for the unwashed mass of people. The daughter of the CEO is eager to do and ready to do this. That is mostly what it is. But the more we learn about the Eagans, the more strange cult-like relationships abound. And it gets sort of about Helena having to prove her loyalty and prove her worth... to her ancestor's goal... it is also Jame testing his daughter in an odd, manipulative way."
What Helly's Time As Helena Eagan Reveals Ahead Of Severance Season 2
Though Helly's tenure as Helena Eagan is brief in Severance episode 9, it offers some hints as to the direction the story of Severance season 2 may travel. Helly has at last gotten an outside view of Lumon, and it is abundantly evident that the company's cult-like values are not only for the employees on the dead level. Helly sees her outie explain how she had to repeat the same nine values that form the basis of Lumon's corporate culture every night before bed as a youngster, therefore confirming her status as just as brainwashed as most of the Lumon staff.
This point of view is strengthened when Helly talks to Jame Eagan, the current Lumon CEO obviously steeped in the worship of his own family's design. Jame tells Helly that everyone in the world will "be Keir’s children” because Helena decided to sever herself - highlighting that much of Lumon's reputation has been staked on the success of Helena's severance. Given Helly's admission to the Lumon gala that the innies are being psychologically tortured, Severance season 2's plot will likely address a spiraling public relations disaster centered around Helena Eagan.
Second Severance Season: Expect this.
The Severance season 2 plot is currently shrouded in mystery, but the ending of season 1 set the stage for a dramatic and unpredictable season. Finding Helena Eagan's actual identity has set off a Pandora's box of questions. Now knowing Lumon's dark nature, Helly's relationship with her outie will be key in season 2 as she works to negotiate her own identity and rebel against the company that has controlled her. Season 2 will probably look at the more sinister effects of the severance process, dig into the Eagan family's sinister secrets, and expose more about Lumon Industries's inner operations.
Severance season 1 has been praised for its unique premise, its compelling characters, and its thought-provoking exploration of work-life balance. Critical praise for the series has come from its dark humor, intriguing narrative, and capacity to arouse curiosity and discomfort. Severance season 2 promises to deliver more of what fans loved about season 1, with even higher stakes and a deeper exploration of the complexities of the severance procedure. With its gripping storyline, its diverse cast of characters, and its exploration of the human condition, Severance is a show that is sure to captivate audiences for seasons to come.
Severance: A Look Back at the Series
From director and executive producer Ben Stiller and creator Dan Erickson comes “Severance.” Mark Scout (Adam Scott) leads a team at Lumon Industries, whose employees have undergone a severance procedure, which surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. This daring experiment in “work-life balance” is called into question as Mark finds himself at the center of an unraveling mystery that will force him to confront the true nature of his work… and himself.
Severance has become a critical darling for its unique and thought-provoking premise. The series has been lauded for its suspenseful storytelling, its clever use of symbolism, and its exploration of the human condition. With its diverse cast of characters and its ability to blend science fiction, mystery, and psychological drama, Severance has become one of the most compelling and talked-about series on television.
