Severance Episode 8 Recap: Free Air

Every time I think I have a handle on this show, it just takes me for another spin. Last week’s episode seemed like we were headed for answers, and while we definitely moved forward in terms of the story, we have somehow left this episode with even more questions.

The cold open seems like we are getting some time with outtie Irving, but by the end of the episode, it’s actually another question. The show is clearly setting up threads for us to follow for next season while also progressing the plot of this season’s climax. It is a delicate balancing act that it is pulling off very well so far. The split structure of the show lends itself very well to this. Consider the reveal that Gemma is Ms Casey. It moves the story forward for us as viewers, but doesn’t do anything for the characters. So the show gets to have both the moment we find out and whenever Mark finds out as “big” moments even though only one of them is actually consequential.

The end of the quarter is nigh and tensions are high-ish over whether or not Helly, and the whole team as a result, will make quota. She makes it and the team earns not only a Waffle Party but a “Coveted as fuck egg bar”. A visibly relieved Cobel orders a surprise wellness session for Mark. He finds out in that session that Ms. Casey is getting fired. She tells him that she’s only been awake 107 hours. Dichen Lachman, like most of the cast of the show, has been really good at inhabiting this strange character. She’s being set up for more and I can’t wait to see what she brings to the other version of Ms Casey/Gemma that we hopefully will get to see.

Ms Casey gets sent to the testing floor and we see what outtie Irv has been painting all this time. The passageway and elevator to who knows where. Why does Irv have this place in his outties head? Is the black paint the goo that kept seeping in whenever he slept?? Questions Baybeee Questionssssss

At the egg bar social, Mark and Helly say nice romantic things to each other and I am still not sure how I feel about them. Especially now that we know some version of Gemma is still out there. Meanwhile, Irving is crushing eggs in compliance manuals, we know where his head is at.

In a somewhat shocking turn of events, Cobel gets fired. I’m not sure Milchick ratted her out, what does he have to gain? The board also knows about her visits to Devon and Ricken. I’m not sure Milchick knew about that. Did Graner somehow get them info before he passed? More progress accompanied with a nice slice of fresh questions.

Mark shares that he kept Ricken’s book and Dylan completes a quote that Mark starts. That’s the moment they all know there’s no turning back. The elevator scenes, phew, the call back to Petey with the dinner line, Miss that dude. Mark and Helly’s romance has felt a tad rushed for me but this moment got me, It definitely another wrinkle in this whole thing. Shortly after Helly leaves, Mark gets out and on his way out we see the preparations for the Gala are underway.

Dylan arrives at Perpetuity for his waffle party, he drizzles syrup on to hi waffle and makes quick work of it as Cobel is driving home crying and cursing out Natalie. He heads into a different room and a group of masked dancers(where did they come from??????) come out and perform for him. Masked is wrong, they are wearing the heads of what I assume are different Eagan family member while dancing to a violin heavy part of the score. ( I am a whore for the scoreeee). Stiller and his collaborators make an interesting choice to cross cut the dancing with Cobel having an absolute meltdown and it works well. It’s quite affecting but you’re not sure why. Patricia Arquette, my word, through the whole season she’s gone for it every time she got the chance. Enjoying her performance.

Mark checks in on Selvig/Cobel before heading to Ricken and Devon’s. Selvig appears later and Mark mentions he is thinking of leaving Lumon. Irv starts another painting, and Dylan heads into the security room to wake the innies up. He manages to get it open right before we cut to black, but not before a few interesting cuts. We see Helly very briefly at what looks like an event with a glass in her hand. Early in the season, Milchick mentioned how happy they were that Helly decided to get severed, maybe we’ll find out why.

Bits and Bobs

I just wonder if it might be helpful for us to stand behind her and chant her name.

What in earth is that Kier Eagan cartoon?.

Because we are people, not parts of people. Can someone be fully two people? This takes me back to my days in theology class talking about the hypostatic union.

What is the testing floor?

How’s Ms Casey? You know Im over her but still wanna be friends\

I thought Dylan’s gift was so sweet. Waiting until the final moments to show it was a very good decision.

I’m not sure I know what the red lights mean or if they mean anything at all but any splash of color in this white place is always interesting. Another thing that was interesting visually is the pitch black walk way before the elevator to the testing floor.

Let’s find out whats for dinner

Another sighting of the Charlotte Cobel tubes

So the gooey black stuff that Irv has been seeing is Paint????