CAUTION: Spoiler alert for keen fans of Severance season 2, episode 9 – The After Hours
The After Hours presented a pivotal moment in as Mark Scout (portrayed by Adam Scott) and the formidable Ms Cobel (Patricia Arquette) exchanged truths about his spouse Gemma Scout (Dichen Lachman), reports the .
As the series hurtles towards its suspense-charged 76-minute finale Cold Harbor – hailed as the show’s most violent chapter yet – this latest instalment unravelled mysteries and saw the beloved MDR crew facing disruptions that could spell their end. Here are the main questions from The After Hours.
What did Burt do for Lumon?
Burt, played by Christopher Walken, was charged with confronting Irving (John Turturro), with an unforeseen visit to his house leading to the discovery of Irving’s incriminating notes on the company. In these, Irving labelled Burt as a “goon” for Lumon; however, Burt countered, noting that the company’s dialect was more “specific”.
During a poignant car ride, Burt divulged his work for Lumon was akin to chauffeuring for the mob, always ensuring safe passage for people without personally hurting them. Still, there was an undertone of guilt as he acknowledged his part in Lumon’s darker schemes, aware of the harm the company could do with him as an accessory.
Burt’s Lumon role wasn’t as sinister as first thought (Image: APPLE TV)
[THEORY]
In a scene echoing season one, Irving confessed he was “ready” to be loved, but by then it was too late for the couple’s doomed affair to blossom.
Actor Christopher Walken has drawn parallels between the love story of his character Burt and Irving to that of Romeo and Juliet, suggesting their romance can never be.
What does ‘devour feculence’ mean?
During an intense confrontation within Lumon Industries, Mr Milchick, played by Tramell Tillman, finally took a stand against board member Mr Drummond, portrayed by Darri Ólafsson. After Mr Drummond demanded an apology for again using long words, Milchick boldly retorted with the phrase “devour feculence”, a euphemistic way of telling someone to “eat s***”.
This pivotal scene marks a turning point for Milchick who had been always trying to do things by the book. After a gruelling performance review and an incident involving offensive Kier paintings, Milchick reached his breaking point, especially when compounded by the repercussions of Mark S’s repeated absence from work.
Helly was spotted by Jame Eagan trying to memorise the directions to the testing floor (Image: APPLE TV)
What’s the deal with Helena’s egg?
Meanwhile, fans are abuzz with theories about Helena Eagan, played by Britt Lower, and her breakfast choice—a single egg. Some viewers interpret this singular detail as a hint that her character might be expecting Mark’s child, drawing analogies to the process of cellular division and embryonic development.
However, some fans have proposed alternative interpretations of the egg cutting scene and the design on Helena’s plate. One fan shared their theory on , suggesting: “Not a duality (innie/outtie), but a multiplicity of selfs [sic].”
This comment appears to allude to the various ways in which Gemma Scout has been severed by Lumon and how the corporation aims to dissect people’s psyches.
Another viewer offered a different perspective, stating: “Cutted (egg) (chip). Forced(child and witches) (to be in there). And separated (eggs) (from memories?).”
This theory aligns with the notion that Lumon intends to harvest human eggs to cultivate a child labour force indoctrinated under Kier’s philosophy, thereby achieving optimal productivity and efficiency.
The After Hours pays homage to The Twilight Zone (Image: APPLE TV)
What does the golden thimble and Marsha White signify?
The episode title The After Hours is a tribute to the 1960 Twilight Zone episode bearing the same name, where Marsha White (Anne Francis) purchases a gold thimble for her mother at a department store. She is directed to the ninth floor via the elevator, where she encounters a store clerk who mysteriously knows her name and procures the item for her.
However, upon noticing a dent in the thimble after descending in the elevator, she seeks to return it to a store manager on another floor. The manager informs her that there is no ninth floor, only a storage room.
In an unexpected turn of events, Marsha finds herself locked in the department store and somehow makes her way back to the ninth floor where she discovers that the mannequins have come to life. It turns out they have a pact allowing one of them to live as a human for a month at a time, each taking turns.
The twist is that Marsha is actually a store dummy who forgot she wasn’t human and was a day late returning for another to take their turn. As she reverts to her mannequin state, Marsha admits she enjoyed her human experience.
Milchick finally stood up for himself (Image: APPLE TV)
These themes resonate with Severance, where Innies are viewed as less than human, each Innie perhaps a mannequin to be used – much like Gemma’s various costumes for the different rooms on the testing floor. Fans of Severance should also note that The Mighty Casey is the title of the next episode following The Twilight Zone’s The After Hours.
The Mighty Casey tells the story of a robot baseball player capable of throwing super-fast balls. When his creator gives him an artificial heart, Casey starts to develop human emotions and no longer wishes to play baseball due to his empathy for the humans he would defeat with his superior abilities.
Casey eventually becomes a social worker, with his inventor passing on the blueprints for creating robots to the manager of a struggling baseball team. The episode concludes with the implication that the manager used these plans to construct an entire team of Casey-like robot baseball players.
This development aligns with Lumon’s goal of implementing Severance globally and potentially creating a workforce under their control. Moreover, Ms. Casey’s role as a counsellor, conducting wellness sessions with Lumon employees, mirrors the Casey robot’s aspiration to be a social worker.
Gemma’s tempers were tested in various rooms at Lumon (Image: APPLE TV)
What did Jame imply when he accused Helena of tricking him?
Jame Eagan’s unexpected appearance on the Severance floor included a cryptic comment to Helly, stating that she “tricked him”. This remark echoes Mark’s earlier statement to Helly, revealing that Helena had deceived him into a romantic encounter at Woe’s Hollow.
However, Jame’s words suggest an alternative interpretation: Helena may have utilised the Glasgow Block to return to the severed floor, and Helly might not have actually returned after the events at Woe’s Hollow. Helly was observed attempting to memorise Irving’s instructions to access the restricted testing floor via the dark corridor and black elevator when Jame interrupted her.
Considering Lumon’s surveillance capabilities, it’s possible that Jame was monitoring his daughter’s actions as she tried to find a way to the forbidden floor. The line could also be referencing Helly’s intimate encounter with Mark or even Helena’s stalking and conversation with Mark at the Chinese restaurant.
This cliffhanger will likely be resolved in the next episode.
Severance season 2 concludes on Apple TV+ next Friday