Severance Season 2 Episode 5 Summary: “Trojan’s Horse”
The critically acclaimed series Severance continues to bewilder and engage its audience in the fifth episode of its second season, titled “Trojan’s Horse.” Picking up from last week’s impactful revelations, it was revealed that Helena Eagan had been pretending to be innie Helly R., leading to Irving B.’s tragic fate as he sacrificed his innie life for this truth.
A Look Back at Episode Four
Episode four, “Woe’s Hollow,” thrust viewers into a surreal winter landscape for an unconventional team-building retreat. This episode marked a pivotal moment for Irving B. as he took a courageous stance in the woods. However, it foreshadowed his grim departure from the innie world when he bravely threatened Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman) by attempting to drown Lumon heir Helena Eagan in a creek upon realizing her true identity.
Mysteries Unfold with “Trojan’s Horse”
“Trojan’s Horse” opens with an eerie scene featuring an unknown person whistling Gordon Lightfoot’s iconic tune “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” while gathering dental instruments. This figure descends into the foreboding Exports Hall using the same dark elevator that Irving B.’s outie obsessively paints—a portal shrouded in enigma.
Tension on the Severed Floor
Upon her return to work after intense events at Woe’s Hollow, Helly finds herself facing Mark and Dylan (Zach Cherry) under strained circumstances due to Irving’s definitive exit from their lives. Milchick offers up casual explanations about this absence—that Irv merely embarked on an extended cruise trip—while using Swedish folklore—the tale of Gråkappan—to justify Helena’s engagement with those who have been severed.
The workspace undergoes alterations; every relic related to Irving has vanished—downgading their four-person environment into three desks—and even team photos have disappeared without explanation. Dylan voices a desire for acknowledgment through conducting a memorial service for their lost colleague.
A Commemorative Funeral Amidst Dark Humor
The somber yet absurd memorial service honors Irving complete with mugs emblazoned with his face and even a watermelon artistically carved into his likeness. In delivering what becomes both crass yet revealing eulogy, Dylan expresses remorse over not fulfilling Irv’s final request while sifting through feelings of loss.
Afterward, he unearths a concealed map once belonging to Irving behind an innocuous motivational poster—a detail contributing newfound layers of significance considering Irv had yelled those famous parting words moments before they shut him down by the waterfall.
An Uneasy Relationship Between Mark and Helly
Tensions escalate between Mark and Helly following these unsettling developments; trust is waning after Helena’s manipulations come light. Things become increasingly complicated when Caleb discloses information about Ms. Casey being connected as Mark’s outie spouse—intensifying paranoia regarding Lumon’s extensive surveillance capabilities prompts suspicion that everything shared could have been leaked back up through management channels.
Unveiling the Layers of “Severance”: Episode 5 Insights
Conflict in Beliefs: Devon and Ricken’s Disagreement
Amid the structured world of Lumon, Mark S.’s sister, Devon (portrayed by Jen Tullock), confronts her husband Ricken Hale (played by Michael Chernus) over his decision to adapt his self-help book, The You You Are, in a way that aligns with Lumon’s objectives. To her, this shift feels like a betrayal against his core values. She accuses him of pandering to corporate interests and distorting his message into Lumon-endorsed propaganda. Nevertheless, Ricken argues that he views this as a strategic “Trojan horse,” capable of influencing change from within the system.
A Complicated Encounter: Irving Meets Burt
In an intriguing twist, Irving’s outie unexpectedly runs into Burt’s outie (Christopher Walken), who has been discreetly observing him. Burt reveals he was dismissed from Lumon due to an “unauthorized romantic relationship” with another employee. Understanding that their innies share more than just workplace ties—especially after Irv called out for him during the so-called Overtime Contingency—Burt invites Irving for dinner along with his partner Fields. This gesture hints at deepening connections and could potentially lead to new insights into their respective inner lives.
The Review That Strikes Hard
The episode also delves into Mr. Milchick’s (Tramell Tillman) inaugural performance evaluation as floor manager at Lumon—a review filled with strict critiques such as excessive use of complex language and mismanagement of office supplies like paper clips. Furthermore, Drummond pointsly comments on Milchick’s ineffective “kindness initiatives” which have failed to suppress employee curiosity about their true nature within the company structure. The intense scrutiny raises questions about how severed employees are perceived by those managing them—and whether they are genuinely seen as human beings.
Mark’s Evolving Dilemma
Mark undergoes significant struggles while secretly working alongside Dr. Reghabi (Karen Aldridge) on reintegration efforts; symptoms worsen markedly—including bouts of coughing and distressing visions that blur reality itself when he envisions Ms. Casey/Gemma (Dichen Lachman). This amalgamation signals an unsettling milestone—the first time since her presumed death that Mark has encountered anyone resembling his departed wife.
Weaving Storylines Together
As we reach the conclusion of Episode 5 in Season 2, several narratives intertwine:
- Dylan now possesses crucial information regarding Exports Hall.
- Mark grapples with deteriorating health tied directly to reintegration while becoming increasingly entangled in remembrance.
- Tensions rise among MDR team members attempting to navigate changes following Irv’s absence amidst Milchick’s heightened control.
- Intrigued by possibilities unfolding outside structured environments—what will happen between Irving and Burt now? And what secrets lie behind Irv’s cryptic phone booth conversations?
Layers Within “Trojan Horse”
The title “Trojan Horse” resonates on multiple levels—not only symbolizing Ricken’s problematic book but reflecting various characters’ attempts at subverting Lumon’s overarching authority stealthily.
With meticulous character development paired with increasing suspense throughout each scene, this episode serves up fresh revelations about Lumon’s enigmatic operations every step along the way—grounded firmly in relatable human experiences and emotions thanks particularly to standout performances like those delivered by Lower during Helly’s workplace reintroduction and Cherry mourning for Irving.
Catch Up on Severance
Catch all episodes from both seasons one and two streaming now exclusively through Apple TV+. New episodes premiere every Friday evening after 6 p.m PT—but you can binge-watch them once released!
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