This was an excellent episode.
Milchick was not gonna switch Helena to Helly until Helena called him Seth which was the only thing that could convince him she was not playing the role of Helly anymore. They didn't think for a second that one of the MDR could find out she was embodying Helly but also guess her real identity. Once again and, as you said with the marshmallows, they underestimated them because they really think they are superior than their subordinates. I don't think they really see them as real people (Helena's father certainly does not given how he spoke about Helly).
The implications of Helena having sex with Mark while pretended to be Helly are monstrous. This was a rape. Towards both Mark and Helly. Helena is a horrible person to have done that but I don't think she viewed it as a rape. How can you rape someone if you are not considering the being in front of you as a person ?
As for the reasons Helena did that, I think you're right that she was jealous of Helly and the kiss she exchanged with Mark. She wanted to experience that for herself but also stole it from Helly as she deeply hates her innie. But there is also a more prosaic reason. She was sent to the severed floor as a spy and learned from day one Mark S. knew Ms Casey to be his outie's wife and wanted to find her. Obviously Lumon would try to stop him in his project. Sleeping with him and pretending to be in love with him may simply had been a distraction to prevent his plan of succeeding.
At last, the last scene removed all ambiguity about firing a severed employee. It was a death sentence. Everyone in that moment knew it was an execution. But now Mark and Dylan have the confirmation that Lumon sees it also as an execution. They are not firing him. They are killing him. And they do this without hesitation in a cold-blooded manner. Is this enough to start a revolution ? I sure hope so.
Great video as usual. This season 2 is not disappointing until now. I'm eager to see what comes next. Until then take care of yourself.
Aurelius 19
2025-08-29 16:22:19 +0000 UTC
High five! You did call it. The end of this episode hits so hard. Irv. Irv. Irv.