Praise Kier and Recap 'Severance' Season Two With Us

Summary

All Of It
Episode: Praise Kier and Recap 'Severance' Season Two
Host: David Fuerst (filling in for Alison Stewart)
Release Date: March 24, 2025
Guest: Erin Quailey, Freelance Writer and Licensed Therapist

---

Introduction

In this episode of All Of It, host David Fuerst steps in for Alison Stewart to delve into a comprehensive recap of Season Two of the critically acclaimed dystopian series Severance. Joined by Erin Quailey, a freelance writer and licensed therapist from Vulture, the discussion navigates through the intricate plot developments, character arcs, and the cultural significance of the show's latest season.

Initial Reactions to the Season Finale

The conversation kicks off with Erin sharing her immediate reactions to the Season Two finale. At [03:24], Erin expresses her emotional engagement with the show, emphasizing the depth of feelings and questions it invokes:

“My favorite part of the show is how it makes me feel and how it makes me think about how I feel... a lot of exciting feelings and thoughts at the end of that.” [03:24]

David acknowledges the overwhelming nature of the finale, hinting at the extensive analysis it warrants:

“I have so many questions. I should warn you in advance, this could be a five hour conversation, but I'm ready.” [04:07]

Analyzing the Final Scene

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the final freeze-frame scene featuring Mark S. and Helly R. Erin sheds light on the homage to classic cinema, particularly referencing The Graduate:

“To me, it most strongly reads The Graduate. So they're running... maybe thinking, where is this going?” [04:50]

David initially draws parallels to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, but both hosts converge on the cinematic inspiration behind the scene.

Key Scenes and Character Developments

Erin highlights pivotal moments, such as Mark's attempt to communicate with his innie through a camcorder. She delves into the psychological aspects, relating it to adolescent rebellion and the quest for personal identity:

“Any Mark is starting to sort of come into his own. He wants his own loves and his own life...” [06:25]

The discussion also touches on the exceptional performances, notably Adam Scott's portrayal of both innie and outie Mark, which Erin praises for its authenticity:

“Adam Scott really sort of nailed it. He's not in his any Mark suit... just transformed into each character was quite stunning.” [06:25]

Listener Theories and Perspectives

Listener Call: Jeff from Queens
Jeff shares his perspective, appreciating the season's homage to The Graduate and expressing a desire to leave some questions unanswered to foster viewer engagement:

“I think it's enjoyable to sort of ponder them and come up with your own solutions rather than have solutions forced on you.” [08:03]

Listener Call: Avi from Flatbush
Avi discusses the thematic elements related to different branches within the company and speculates on the broader implications for Mark and his teammates:

“Maybe the other refiners in our branch were working on Gemma, too... maybe they'll reincarnate Kir.” [12:21]

Listener Call: Emily from Maui, Hawaii
Emily reflects on the vibrant fan community and the resurgence of creative fan art inspired by the show's intricate design choices:

“People have just really responded to that with incredible art that it's worth watching live so that I could browse all this.” [19:22]

Deep Dive into Psychological Themes

Erin leverages her background as a therapist to explore the show's psychological depth, particularly the portrayal of dissociative identity disorder and its impact on the characters' psyche:

“These are people who have chosen to give themselves dissociative identity disorder... there's a lot to just being human and grief and trauma.” [26:13]

Surprising Elements and Speculations

Addressing listener questions, Erin reveals unexpected plot twists, such as the true identity of Helena, which adds layers to the narrative complexity:

“The reveal in the Ortbow where Irving drowns Helena... I was very amazed by that.” [21:33]

She also discusses the enigmatic character Milchick, contemplating his motivations and potential role in future seasons:

“Either he's going to join the revolution... or he's going to wrestle with his demons.” [29:29]

Concluding Thoughts

As the episode draws to a close, David and Erin summarize their admiration for the show's intricate storytelling and character development. They acknowledge the potential for future seasons to expand on the existing mysteries and character relationships, leaving listeners eagerly anticipating what's next.

---

Notable Quotes

• Erin Quailey at [03:24]:
  “My favorite part of the show is how it makes me feel and how it makes me think about how I feel... a lot of exciting feelings and thoughts at the end of that.”

• David Fuerst at [04:07]:
  “I have so many questions. I should warn you in advance, this could be a five hour conversation, but I'm ready.”

• Erin Quailey at [06:25]:
  “Adam Scott really sort of nailed it. He's not in his any Mark suit... just transformed into each character was quite stunning.”

• Jeff from Queens at [08:03]:
  “I think it's enjoyable to sort of ponder them and come up with your own solutions rather than have solutions forced on you.”

• Avi from Flatbush at [12:21]:
  “Maybe the other refiners in our branch were working on Gemma, too... maybe they'll reincarnate Kir.”

• Erin Quailey at [26:13]:
  “These are people who have chosen to give themselves dissociative identity disorder... there's a lot to just being human and grief and trauma.”

---

Conclusion

This episode of All Of It offers a thorough and engaging exploration of Severance Season Two, blending analytical insights with fan perspectives. Through thoughtful discussion and expert commentary, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the show's cultural impact and the nuanced storytelling that continues to captivate audiences.

Transcript

[David Fuerst]

All of it is supported by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states. Listener Supported WNYC Studios this is all of it. I'm David Fuerst in for Alison Stewart, who is on vacation. On today's show, we talk about the NCAA Basketball tournaments and why March Madness is as much a cultural event as a sporting one. With sports reporter Priya Desai, we continue our conversation with women who work behind the scenes in music with Ariel Low, a producer and engineer. And we have one of the stars of the musical Buena Vista Social Club with us today, along with a member of the creative team. That's the plan. So let's get this started with the television show I Can't get out of My head, choreography with Mr. Milchick and a marching band, camping with the Macro Data Refinement team and more goats than you have ever seen inside a corporate office space. After the stunning overtime contingency sequence that ended season one, I wasn't sure if season two of Severance could possibly be as mind altering and all consuming as the first. And wow, was I wrong. The dystopian television series recently aired the final episode for season two and the finale delivered some answers and left us with a lot of questions, capping off a season full of surprises and moral dilemmas. So it is time right now for a watch party to recap Severance Season two. And this probably goes without saying, but listeners, if you are a Severance fan but haven't seen the season two finale yet, a heads up there will be spoilers in this conversation. The entire season is fair game since the final episode has been out for a few days. So if you want to turn us off and come back a little bit later in the afternoon, here is your big time spoiler warning. Okay, Erin Quailey is a freelance writer and licensed therapist who has been recapping each Severance episode for Vulture and she joins us now. Erin, welcome and are you ready for this music dance experience?

[Erin Quailey]

Hello. Yes, thank you. Praise Kier. I'm ready for some defiant jazz.

[David Fuerst]

Praise Kier. Thank you. Yes. So we would like to have you join this conversation as well. Did you watch the Severance season two finale over the weekend? Do you have questions? Do you have theories? We want all of your opinions and reactions on the second severance season. You can call or text us at 212-433-9692. That's 212-433, WNYC. Aaron, let's just start. Get started right away with the final episode. What was your immediate reaction after you watched?

[Erin Quailey]

Oh, boy. I mean, I. Oh boy.

[David Fuerst]

Yeah.

[Erin Quailey]

Personally, I personally think, I know. I'm really, I'm a huge fan as well as, you know, a recapper of the show. And I know that a lot of people are looking for concrete answers, but my favorite part of the show is how it makes me feel and how it makes me think about how I feel. So I really enjoyed how that finale left us with a lot of feelings to process. And I, I just, you know, a lot of conflicting thoughts and a lot of, a lot of, a lot of questions too, but questions that I enjoy pondering. You know, where, where are they going? What's going to happen? What is, what's season three even gonna look like? So a lot of, a lot of exciting feelings and thoughts at the end of that.

[David Fuerst]

I have so many questions. I should warn you in advance, this could be a five hour conversation, but I'm ready. Could you just focus for a moment on that, that final, that freeze frame that the season finishes with of Mark S. And Helly R. At least I think it's Helly R. Running, running off down the hallway together.

[Erin Quailey]

Yeah. Yeah. So actually, I know that there's been a lot of debate over whether or not that's Helena or Helly R And Brit Lauer and I think maybe Dan Erickson have confirmed that it is indeed heli. So people, you know, if people are concerned about that, which rightfully so, Helena fooled us all for four episodes.

[David Fuerst]

So earlier this season. Yes.

[Erin Quailey]

Yeah, it fooled some of us at least. So. And I think, you know, a lot of people have been talking about different homages to different, you know, classic movies that, that could sort of, that maybe Ben Stiller or Dan Erickson were thinking about. And to me, it most strongly reads the Graduate. So they're running and, you know, they have little smiles on their faces and then by the end of their run, that freeze frame, they're kind of maybe thinking, where is this going?

[David Fuerst]

Thinking twice about what they've just done.

[Erin Quailey]

For sure. For sure.

[David Fuerst]

My initial was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, you know, or Paul Newman and Robert Redford are running directly at the camera into certain doom. Right?

[Erin Quailey]

Oh, right.

[David Fuerst]

But then the more I thought about it, the Graduate hit me as well. So. Yes. Let's hear your thoughts. You can join this conversation. The number to call again. 212. 433-WNYC. That's 212-433-9692. And I have to ask you about this incredible scene in the final episode of the season. Mark's inny and Mark's outy finally find this way to communicate with each other right through the use of a good old fashioned camcorder and the severed birthing center. And things do not go smoothly as Mark Scout needs to ask his innie for help. And Mark S isn't sure whether to trust the Audi who has, you know, imprisoned him essentially in this severed existence and things just spiral from there.

[Erin Quailey]

Yeah, I mean my initial, I don't know, instinct in looking in that scene was more of, you know, a father and an adolescent, sort of like newly rebellious. I read an article from Variety very early on in the that where Dan Erickson said if the first season the Innies were children, the second season they're, they're more like adolescents. So I guess that sort of stuck with me. And yeah, I mean I'm sure that there are plenty of different ways to interpret that, but I think, you know, any Mark is starting to sort of come into his own. He wants his own loves and his own life and, and he can't have that if he's doing what Audi Mark asks. And in addition to all that, if he's doing what Audi Mark asks, maybe he'll be okay with reintegration, maybe he'll be safe, but he won't be following his passions. And then also all of his friends are at risk too. So that scene was definitely a highlight. And Adam Scott really sort of nailed it. He's not in his any Mark suit with his hair all done. And the opposite, he doesn't have all that to call upon when he's the Enie Mark. So just the way he sort of transformed into each character was quite stunning.

[David Fuerst]

So believable, you're right. So believable that I didn't even think about it, you know, as acting. It just was happening. Yes, for sure. Really incredible planning and acting and conception the whole season and the whole scene there. If you want to join the conversation, we're going to get to your calls right now. 212-433-9692. Let's hear from Jeff joining us from Queens. Welcome to all of it.

[Jeff]

Hi.

[Avi]

Thank you. Good afternoon to both of you. I certainly would say I enjoyed season two, although I didn't think it quite measured up to season one, but it was still excellent. I thought some of the Plot devices used in season two were really just sort of not up to the standard of season one. That said, I certainly loved the ending. I thought the homage to the Graduate was both excellent or well executed and excellent, I think. Personally, I hope they don't make a season three. I think this is a case where less is more. We had some questions answered. You're obviously left with some questions. And I think it's enjoyable to sort of ponder them and come up with your own solutions rather than have sort of solutions forced on you. And the last thing I would say is you could make an argument that the crux of the series season one and season two was really about saving Jemma and saving an innocent person. And that the rest of the moral questions, again, are up to you as the viewer to sort of ponder and think about. But that Mark S. Did the honorable thing and that he saved Gemma, which was the honorable thing to do. But the rest between Marcus and Mark Scout again, is sort of left up for debate for the viewer to figure out. And again, we don't need those answers. Jeff, thank you. Those are my thoughts.

[David Fuerst]

Jeff, thank you so much. Great comment, Aaron. What about that? Humans, we want answers to everything, right? But what about just leaving it there?

[Erin Quailey]

Yeah. I mean, I am a big fan of the lingering endings to things, but I just love these characters so much. So I want to see them more. And I trust the creative team behind Severance to bring us another season that's sort of full of more of those questions.

[David Fuerst]

What about what Jeff was saying? How would you rate the season overall as compared to the first season when all of this was so fresh and new?

[Erin Quailey]

That's a great question. I think I have a few of people I know liked this finale much better than the previous finale. I loved the season. I don't think there's anything like the first season one finale. Cause it just made us. It literally set off people's Apple watches because it was so stressful to watch. So I. I think I really. The first season finale was definitely. I liked it better than the second season finale. But that's not to say I didn't like the second season finale. I think it's amazing and wonderful in its own way. And I think, you know, season two had to evolve in a certain way. I. I am sad that we didn't get more of our core four refiners together. We. We literally just had that one moment at the Orbo where Irving is literally drowning. Hel. She becomes helly and they're not even together. So I am Kind of hoping for more of that in season three. So I don't know how that would even happen, but I'm hoping for it.

[David Fuerst]

That's like you like to see all the buddies together at the table in the diner in Seinfeld, right? Sure. Well, let's get another question. This Avi calling from Flatbush. Welcome to all of it.

[Reed]

Hi. Thank you. Well, I love the second season, and I agree that it has a lot to do with. A lot of what I loved about it has to do with the feelings that we're going to, you know, like, that are so particular to the circumstances, but also just kind of universal. I mean, like Milchick dealing with racism in the office or the Dylan. Dylan's affair with his. Audi's wife. And. But I did have one question, but also I just. I thought it was interesting in the context of the finale, since you were just talking about it like they were both. Both season one and season two were these, like, heist finales almost. And I saw something about how Mark's run in the beginning of season one, in the first episode, that long run in the hallway, he was, like, studying Tom Cruise's running in Mission Impossible, which I thought was, like, interesting in the context of the finales. But my question had to do with the numbers that they're working on in the Office, which we learn is for Mark, at least, is connected to Gemma. But other people in the Office are working on numbers, too. So I wondered, who are those numbers connected to? Or are they, you know, are they kind of red herrings or whatever? Or are they actually also kind of connected?

[David Fuerst]

Yeah, those numbers. One of the big mysteries, for sure. Aaron, what do you think?

[Erin Quailey]

Well, Avi, I actually have been thinking about that today, specifically. I don't know. Maybe you read my mind. I don't know, but I think. I don't know. So there's a lot of talk about Branch 5X in the first episode because two of the refiners played by Bob Balaban and Aaliyah Shawkat, came from that branch and it closed. So why did that branch close? And Bob Balaban's character, Mark, I forget his last initial, but the other Mark, he's talking about how they never met quota. So I don't know. In my mind, maybe the other refiners in our branch were working on Gemma, too, and they were able to work on those files because they knew Mark. That's kind of what I'm thinking. And I'm thinking maybe the 5x whoever was down there that they were working on Something terrible happened to that person. Or maybe they just weren't able to refine the files because they didn't know that person. I'm not sure. But I do think that all of the refiners were refining Gemma. And I feel really bad for Dylan because what's going to happen to him and his work confidence when he is no longer able to refine. But that's just my theory. So I want to see them all back in Lumen and working. But who are they going to. I mean, can they possibly work on someone else now that they.

[David Fuerst]

How do we move forward from here? For sure, yeah. Thank you for the question. And incredible the way the season opened with running. Right. The endless running in the hallways, running to Ms. Casey's now abandoned office. And the season finishes with running now instead of Mark running alone, he's running with Helly r away, essentially from Ms. Casey.

[Erin Quailey]

Yeah, no, for sure. I think the hallways in general are such a good. I mentioned this in my recap. The very first episode has literally a minute and a half of just Mark walking through the hallways. And I do think that the hallways. The running to Ms. Casey and running away from Gemma, for sure. But I think the hallways just sort of ask us to have patience with the show because the hallway scenes are always very long and they're. They're not always super exciting. And I think. I think that that's one of the things that makes Severance special in this, you know, landscape of so much television. I think it's. It's asking us to sort of have patience with it.

[David Fuerst]

So that's an interesting. Yeah, very much so. Yeah.

[Erin Quailey]

Yeah. But also they can be thrilling, too, like the finale. So I definitely. I love the hallways. The hallways.

[David Fuerst]

I love the hallways, too. It doesn't feel. I mean, it just. It's part of getting lost in that world, you know? Oh, my gosh. We have so many calls coming through right now. Let's take. If you want to join the conversation. 212-433-9692. Reed in Brooklyn. Welcome.

[Jeff]

I have a theory about what's going to be happening in season three. So I think that while this team is working on Gemma to try to create a product so you don't have to experience going to the dentist or flight turbulence. And so they're trying to create a, like, packaged any for, like, we saw in season one with the person who had their. Any go through pregnancy. And I think maybe the other teams are working on different forms of that. And I think that all the stuff with James is Going to be very important. I think they're reincarnating Egans. I know that Jane was doing some really weird things in terms of the implied affairs where Cobell brings Mark and his sister into the Emmy pregnancy house. I also want to highlight the. As this is from a post that I saw when they say in the last scene, I'll see you at the equator when Mark arrives to that door in their world, that door is the equator, right between the Audis and the Ennis. And so I thought that was like a brilliant, brilliant way to wrap up as well as like the visuals. The needle drop of windmills of your mind. Incredible. Reminded me of like an episode of Mad Men or the Sopranos. And I do have to say, while I think it landed the. It landed it very well, there was definitely the, the reintegration red herring kind of bothered me because I was so excited they were going to start that they were going to do that in like the beginning of the season. And it really turns out that they just kind of like teased that a little bit. And I thought that to me was a little frustrating because I wanted to see a little bit more of that. But again, I think that they stuck the landing with the conversation between inny and outy Mark and then the last scene.

[David Fuerst]

Aaron, a lot to react to there. I'm sure you've heard every theory that there is, right?

[Erin Quailey]

Well, I like that theory about how they're working on different types of severance. I actually hadn't heard that one before. Like different. I mean, we've only ever heard of this other branch 5x and then wherever Daario came from. I don't know, maybe they are working on different things in the service of reincarnating Kir. I love that theory too. And I don't think the Gemma thing suggested the reincarnation of Kir, but I mean, that's a cool idea. I want to see Kir reincarnated. Or maybe I don't want to see Kir reincarnated. I don't know. But the equator thing, also really cool point. I liked the whole conversation they had about maybe the equator is just one big building because that is the severed boundary and that could be considered the equator, but also the severed floor could just be like one big building that becomes so big that it's a continent. So I hope it is because then they can run somewhere and hide. At least hide out for a little while.

[David Fuerst]

We know there's a lot of goats down there, that's for sure. We have to take a very Quick break. We are recapping season two of Severance with Aaron Quailey, freelance writer, licensed therapist who has been recapping every Severance episode for Vulture. We'll continue this conversation in just a moment. And yes, spoiler alert. We are talking big time severance spoilers. So big heads up there. 212-433-9692. This is all of it. This is all of it on wnyc. I'm David Fuerst in for Alison Stewart who was on vacation. And we are recapping season two of Severance right now with Erin Quaily. She has been recapping every episode for Vulture. And yes, a big heads up. If you are just joining us, we are definitely going through a lot of Severance spoilers right now. So you have been warned. If you want to join the conversation. 212-433-9692 and let's hear from Emily calling in from Maui, Hawaii. Do I have that right, Emily?

[Emily]

Yes, that's right.

[David Fuerst]

Do you have a question?

[Emily]

Yes. So it's interesting. Yeah.

[David Fuerst]

Yeah.

[Emily]

Well, I just, I normally try to save the new shows, you know, to watch when I can enjoy them, but I started watching it as close to live as possible. It airs at like 3pm in Hawaii and so I could watch all the fan art and edits that are coming out on Twitter mostly. But I think a lot of this community is coming from Tumblr because it's just been really amazing to see this whole new generation of video editors not, you know, TikTok, not vertical, but in order to appreciate the full quality of the show, their full video edits, horizontal, you know, doing really creative stuff that I haven't seen in quite a long time. It's like really revived this art form. Just people really responding to how much detail was put into the design choices of the show. There's so many visual themes and things, things to notice and appreciate and people have just really responded to that with incredible art that it's worth watching live so that I could browse all this.

[David Fuerst]

Stuff without spoilers responding in real time very quickly too. Right. So you want to watch it fast because it could end up getting spoiled if you're looking at any of this social media. Erin, what about that? The very quick responses people are having to this.

[Erin Quailey]

Yeah, I mean there was, people were sort of suspicious of heli, Helena being heli. And there was an edit where. Or maybe this was after we found out she was. No, it was before there was an edit where someone took the intros from the first episode and then the. Where they go down into the severed floor and then the one where they're getting ready upstairs to go into the elevator and they mash them together within hours of this. That episode, I think it was the third episode airing, and it was amazing. And people were scrutinizing the tones of the dings on the elevator. And. And I've just. And I mean, I've seen so much amazing fan art, and it's. So I think that's a testament, again, to what people have been saying about the emotions that this show brings up in us because people feel so connected to it and people feel inspired by it. And I think that the art that's being created is kind of just a testament to all of those things the show is hitting upon in our. In our psyches and in our hearts.

[David Fuerst]

I want to read a quick text here. Someone writing in to say, aaron, I love your recaps. I often wait to watch the show until I see your recaps are posted, because I want to be able to read the recap right away after the episode. It's a package deal. Their question for you is that when you shared this at times in your recap, what are the things that most surprised you this season?

[Erin Quailey]

Oh, gosh. Oh, man. I think so. One of the things that surprised me, and I don't want to get anyone cross with me, but I do get the episodes in advance. So I did get to watch the first four episodes pretty quickly. So I did not fully guess that it was Helena. And I know that when those episodes started airing, people in the very first episode guessed it. But the reveal in the Ortbow where Irving drowns Helena, that was just, like, amazing to me. I. My brain exploded. So I think that in addition to the amazing work that John Turturro does in that scene, I was very. I mean, I had, you know, maybe a little bit of suspicion because Helena's not always on the up and up. She was watching that video with Mark where she's making out with him. But I think that that was a big surprise for me and I. I really enjoyed that. So I think there was that. And then, I don't know, I think just the standalone episodes as well, because they hadn't really done that yet. So I really appreciated that. But I understand the frustration with some viewers with those. But I really enjoyed them.

[David Fuerst]

Well, you're talking about how earlier in the season it was revealed that Helena Egan, Helly's outtie, had been pretending to be Helly R since she returned to Lumen Irving suspected it all along. Right. And revealed it in dramatic fashion. But this sets up some extremely bizarre and complicated love triangles. Right. I mean, these aren't triangles. We need bigger shapes with relationships between innies and innies and innies and outies. It's complicated.

[Erin Quailey]

Very. I think Britt Lauer called it a love hexagon or something like that. So. And she also said something along the lines in a recent interview of she sees Gemma and she kind of falls in love with her a little bit through the window. So, I mean, maybe that adds a wrinkle to it as well. I don't know. But, yes, bigger shapes, for sure.

[David Fuerst]

Fascinating. We'll need to invent some new shapes, perhaps in season three. Let's take another call if you want to join this conversation as we are recapping season two of severance 212-433-9692. Tony in egg Harbor, Wisconsin, welcome.

[Jeff]

Hi. Thanks for taking my call. I think it's really a nod to the Twilight zone in the 60s.

[David Fuerst]

Oh.

[Jeff]

Because it was that dark shadow kind of abstract dream state, which I think the series really encapsulated visual images of what we dream. And, you know, goats in a conference room is like something that one could conceive in their dream. And I think, you know, someday I'd love to see a videotape of the images that I dream of because they're so unusual and out of this world that I think the series was really about our dream state in our inner thinking, in our mind.

[Erin Quailey]

Yeah, I definitely, I, I agree with that. And I mean, we. We get the Chickae Bardo episode, which truly is sort of weaving through Mark's mind and weaving through Gemma's experience, which is also sort of very dreamlike because she doesn't live most of her day in her, you know, in an aware way, but she's having all these nightmare experiences, basically these little pockets of nightmares throughout her day. So I. And I also think that any experience itself could also be considered sort of a dream, because when we dream our bodies, I think. I mean, I'm not super expert on this, but I think our bodies do react in some way to what we're dreaming, what's going on in our mind. You know, sometimes you'll flail about in your dream and your body is sort of experiencing that while your mind is experiencing your dream. And that's what's happening to the Innies. And then when they become the Audi again, again, I do think their bodies retain some of that. So I think you're Right. The whole episode is just sort of pockets of how different parts of our brain and how different parts of our brain process things in different states of consciousness. For sure.

[David Fuerst]

Does your role as a therapist come in handy for analyzing this show? And maybe. I mean, I feel like I need some time to decompress after an episode finishes. Do you feel that way as well?

[Erin Quailey]

I do. I was just talking to my. My sister about how I. After the. I watched the Chikaya Bardo episode, I. I had like, lots of different dreams. My. My brain was definitely working overtime. I watched it right before bed. But I definitely had a lot of things to process, and my brain was definitely doing it, doing it for me in my dreams. And then the next day, I had lots of ideas. So I. I think that I. I think that this show is definitely a show that plays a lot with psychology and plays a lot with. I mean, these are people who have chosen to give themselves dissociative identity disorder. So I think that, wow, you know, there's a lot. There's a lot to be. To be seen there, but there's a lot to just being human and grief and trauma and things like that. So I, you know, I definitely enjoy, you know, using my. My other life as a therapist to sort of think about the show for sure.

[David Fuerst]

Okay, we're going to get to another call. A very quick question here that came into someone saying, is Christopher Walken an assassin tasked with eliminating John Turturro, whose love for John made him let him go?

[Erin Quailey]

So I think there's a couple layers here. One is that he. I think I could be wrong here, but I believe that his. Before he became severed, he was kind of a Lumen goon, which is what Irving called him. And I agree with that assessment. Who would pick up people and take them somewhere else and not ask what was going to happen to them once they got there. So people do have a theory that he was the one sort of taking people like Gemma stealing them and bringing them to Lumen for, you know, severed experimentation. So I don't think he ever. I mean, it's definitely understandable that we would think of Christopher Walken as an assassin because he has.

[David Fuerst]

You don't want to see him sitting in your apartment when you get home.

[Erin Quailey]

No, that scene definitely very viscerally affected me. I, like, couldn't breathe when I saw him in that chair. So I think that it's definitely understandable to think of him in Assassin, but I don't. Given what we know in the show, I don't think that he. I do think he was supposed to take Irv somewhere where something was supposed to happen to Irv, but he didn't. He chose not to do that, thankfully.

[David Fuerst]

And who was Irving talking to on that? On that. In that phone booth, that old school phone booth outside his apartment.

[Erin Quailey]

People think it's Cobel, but I. I highly doubt that. People do think that he is going. Cobell is going to find him in season three, though, because he knew about the black hallway. Because she was pretty surprised at that.

[David Fuerst]

Oh, she was intrigued.

[Erin Quailey]

Yeah. I would definitely love to see that in season three.

[David Fuerst]

Oh, my goodness. We have to take at least one more call here. Let's hear from Christian calling from Kingsburg, New Jersey. Welcome to all of it.

[Jeff]

Hello. Yes, thanks for taking my call. So many thoughts. I think this one hasn't been brought up yet is what is Milk Chick's deal? It looked like he was maybe having a crisis where he was, you know, second guessing throughout the season his involvement in Lumen and, you know, but then by the end, he seems pretty motivated to get out of that bathroom and put a stop to whatever they're doing. He doesn't seem like an ally. So I'm curious as to what we think Milchick's motivation is and is he actually having a crisis?

[David Fuerst]

Aaron? Yeah, I mean, answer everything for us.

[Erin Quailey]

I know. Well, I think I love Milchicken. Shamel Tillman is doing such amazing work.

[David Fuerst]

Incredible.

[Erin Quailey]

That scene where he's on the phone with Mark and Mark is saying division between. Mark is calling out and saying he basically needs a personal day and you just see everything on his face. Sort of the regret and the stress of his choices, but kind of to get to your point about where we're leaving him, at the very end of the episode, he jumps up on that vending machine. And I think you can sort of read it either way. You can read it as he's going to join the revolution and he's going to lead this marching band because we know he's good at leading the marching band and he's going to sort of help them or he's going to sort of continue to stay in Lumen and, you know, wrestle with his demons. If Milchick does join the revolution, though, who else is really left? I don't know. Drummond is gone and Helena is Helly. And I don't know what we have Jaime, I guess, and the evil doctor who doesn't really seem capable of much other than pining after Gemma. I don't know. I don't know who we have if we don't have Milchick. So I'm in it either way.

[David Fuerst]

Well, we know he's really good at the marching band. Leading the marching band, and we're gonna end with some of that music. But there's so many other things I wanted to get to. I mean, the new actors this season. A quick shout out to the goat breeder, Gwendoline Christie. I hope I'm saying her name correctly. Gwendoline or Gwendoline Christie. And Robbie Benson as the doctor, Sandra Bernhardt as the nurse. Incredible performances. Our gu Our guest right now has been Erin Qualy, a writer and licensed therapist who has been recapping Severance season two for Vulture. Erin, thank you so much for joining us.

[Erin Quailey]

Thank you very much. Praise Kier.

[David Fuerst]

Praise Kier. And thank you, everyone for calling and writing in. And let's go out on some of that marching band performance from choreography and merriment. Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Mario's Bistro.

[Erin Quailey]

The special tonight is the beef carpaccio. With the Venmo debit card, you can turn the basketball game tickets your friends paid you back for into a romantic dinner that you can earn up to 5% cash back on. Use your Venmo balance to pay for the things you love to do. Visit Venmo Me Debit to learn more. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A. pursuant to license by MasterCard International, Inc. Terms apply. DOSH cashback terms apply.

[David Fuerst]

NYC now delivers breaking news, top headlines and in depth coverage from WNYC and Gothamist every morning, midday and evening. By sponsoring our programming, you'll reach a community of passionate listeners in an uncluttered audio experience. Visit sponsorship.wnyc.org to learn more.