Includes MASSIVE SPOILERS for Severance’s season 2 finale!
As expected, theSeveranceseason 2 finale has left audiences with just as many questions as answers, including some surrounding Helly and Helena in the episode’s closing moments.Severance’sseason 2 endingwent out with a bang, with Mark finally saving his wife, Gemma, from the Lumon building against all odds. However, at the final moment,Mark’s innie makes a pivotal choice to stay behind, choosing his own life with Helly over his outie’s future with Gemma.
The duality between Helly and her outie, Helena Eagan, has been a central source of intrigue throughoutSeveranceseason 2. Both versions of the character are played by Britt Lower inSeverance’scast, with the actress' terrific performance offering powerfully subtle differences between the two. Mark, along with the audience, wasfaked out by Helly’s outie, Helena, in season 2, episode 4, “Woe’s Hallow,” when she pretended to be her innie to have sex and grow closer to Mark. With that in mind, it’s possible Helena would have done the same in the season’s climax.
Britt Lower Confirmed That It’s Helly, Not Helena, In Severance Season 2’s Final Scene
This Scene Wasn’t Another Helena Fakeout
Although the TV series doesn’t confirm one way or another whether we’re seeing Helly or Helena in theSeveranceseason 2 finale, actress Britt Lower’s words in an interview withLA Timesseem to provide confirmation. Of course, it would be a tremendous betrayal if we found out that it was Helena who convinced Mark to stay behind rather than fulfill his outie’s goal of leaving with his wife. Mark’s innie has no affection for Gemma, andSeveranceseason 2 has already shown how susceptible he is to Helena’s manipulation.
Severance: Lumon’s Goat Department Explained
As Helly and Mark venture around the severed floor in Severance season 2, they discover more about the mysterious goat room and their purpose.
It’s important to note that, throughout this interview, the actors behind Helly, Mark, and Gemma all refer to the character as “Helly.” Specifically discussing how she approached her character’s psychology in those final moments,Britt Lower explained, “There’s this moment where I think Helly R. is seeing an outie, having empathy for an outie, maybe for the first time, and seeing this other woman who loves the outie version of the same person that she loves on the inside."She explains that Helly’s choice was motivated by a desire for love and freedom, setting up conflicts forSeveranceseason 3.
Why Helly Running Away With Mark Still Makes Sense For Her Character
Helly Doesn’t Want To Be Left Alone
Helly’s struggle throughout season 2 has been about accepting that she is also Helena Eagan. Whether or not she wants to be that person, she has to admit that, physiologically, she is this other person and, therefore, has the potential to be equally flawed.Helly made this choice to be with Mark’s innie even though it was selfish to Mark’s outie and Gemmabecause she’s still a human being and has desires of her own. She’s been concerned about losing her innie family for multiple episodes ofSeverance, and she doesn’t want to lose Mark.
