SEVERANCE Season 2 Episode 1 Breakdown, Theories, Mysteries & More!

In this video we take a deep dive, review, and explain some of the biggest theories and mysteries in Apple TV's smash hit SEVERANCE season 2 episode 1, "Hello, Ms. Cobel."

0:00 Intro
0:29 Mark Returns to Lumon
0:56 Where is Ms. Casey?
1:51 Is Macrorefinement Resurrecting Kier Eagan?
3:33 What is the “Revolving”?
4:56 New Branches & The Man in the Hallway
5:41 Who is Ms. Huang?
6:23 Milchik’s Lies & The Paper
9:11 The Drawer of Japanese Plant Tools
9:48 How is Mark Reunited with the Team?
11:24 Helly’s Lie
11:47 Why They Decide to Stay
13:00 Ms. Casey’s Computer Screen
13:41 Trailer Sleuthing
15:37 Conclusion

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[FrankZen]

There's no cameras in the break room because Helly is the "camera"...

[BMORETODAY]

“DUDE WHATS WRONG? YOU POOR UP THERE?!” 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[drewbarnett]

I think the strongest evidence that Helly is actually Helena is the shot where “Helly” has to feel for the power button of the computer. All of her other weirdness could be chalked up to her lying about the gala or jealous that Mark has a wife, but if it was actually Helly she would definitely know where the power button is. And why else would that shot be included? I also think this explains the part of the trailer where Helena is watching security footage of the innies. She would need to study them to be able to fit in. It could be a compelling plot line for the innies to try and get their Helly back (maybe activating her chip themselves??)

[spotellis]

That is 100% helena, not to mention shes rich asf the first person she can think of after leaving her house would be a gardener.

[distantcam]

Bernard had a massive bonsai tree in his apartment.

Lumon built the silos confirmed!

[viis]

I think it’s possible that that’s Helena and not Helly on the severed floor, and she’s fishing for information out of the others.

[YesLikeTheMermaid]

Upon rewatching it, that is a million percent Helena. She’s so different. Agreed that Lumon would never let Helly back down there to spill everything she learned about who she really was.

Also…

“A night gardener?”
“I think so yeah. Maybe he has a different job during the day”

What a weird thing to say. I wonder if, in her privileged world, they have severed housekeepers who basically work 24 hours a day for them.

[BobbyJones-fe]

Lumons “refrorm” is hilarious because I remember at my old job our site director sent an email asking how they can improve work conditions. So many people replied with REAL changes that would help. They sent an email saying “you asked we listened” and the changes announced were more comfortable computer chair and better art work in the office. NO ONE ASKED FOR THAT. 😭

[HappyPower]

That is NOT Helly R, that's Helena 100%. She is acting strange and was weirded out by Mark hugging her.

[avgAaron]

Helly is definitely Helena at this point. The awkward hug in the beginning, her lying about her experience on the outside, desperately phishing for information out of all of her coworkers, her avoiding any conversation with Mark about their kiss, and her dismissive attitude towards any of Mark's suspicions about Ms. Casey's whereabouts. A small detail but it seemed like an important couple of frames at the end of the episode: when Helena was turning on her computer, she couldn't find the button. As an innie, she would've immediately found it just out of habit.

[djkeino]

I’m pretty sure all the Cobel references in the episode are to shine light on the fact that this was not 5 months. It was likely not long after the OTC. 5 months and still the welcome screen. The Bonzai tree / Harmony reference also to show that Milcheck just moved in, not enough time to replace Cobel completely. Furthermore, why the episode never showed they outies. Fooling us with ther perception of time having passed. Could be a deeper reason or just fun details to keep us on our toes.

[AreweAble]

I was struck by how good an actress Britt Lower is because I could tell IMMEDIETELY that was NOT Helly and was instead Helena, and every moment following backed that up. Great acting and direction. Also, on the writing side, a specific tell, other than the change in demenor, goals, feelings re innie/outie divide, sudden lack of drive, and over-interest in "what happened;" the group all agreed to find a *trusted* person on the outside. No way Helly would tell a random "gardener" (also what a rich kid thing to say re the gardener just being around an apartment at night) Also, Helena further shows her lack of understanding for not only average people but innies specifically ny describing her life as boring. Bruh. The innies have only ever been in the office building. Anything outside that is FACINATING, not at all boring! These people would flip over seeing the SKY, but Helena isn't empathizing with them enough to realize that.

[SeveredMouse]

S1E9 Cobel told Helly at the Gala that ‘she’d be long gone but her friends would suffer’

It was foreshadowing. Cobel was right.

[LacklusterFilms]

The end basically confirmes the theory that MDR is refining other severed employees chips. If this is being confirmed in the FIRST EPISODE then I'd say this season is going to be fucking wild

[teef-fxd]

Dylan preventing Irv from leaving, telling him to just try was really touching.

[millst]

Keanu Reeves has now voiced a building no one saw that coming 😂

[izzyxblades]

Quick note about bonsais, yes they are tiny versions of plants that are supposed to be bigger. But do you know how people are able to achieve this? Not only is the plant confined to a container that is too small, but to keep them looking mini, they are also shaped by being cut and at times being twisted with wires. The bonsai paste you see in the drawer is to help seal their cuts after the gardeners sever their branches. I don't know why none of the YouTuber mentioned this. They showed us the bonsai paste because that's what a gardener uses after they cut a bonsai plant, severing them.
It's metaphor for what Lumon is doing to their minds, keeping it small in a container, severing them so they can never be their full self.

[vaniad]

Excellent recap! 13:50 - maybe the number of balloons with Mark's face represents how many times he was re-started as a new.

[andrewholland]

What I thought was weird was the visual after mark gets “fired” the way his consciousness turns off like a tv. We’ve never seen that before. Next thing you know everyone is back without explanation

[DigitalSystematic]

The fact you got this much detail only hours after release is insanely impressive!