Severance Season 2 Episode 4 recap: Why did Irving get dismissed?

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for Severance Season 2 Episode 4

In Severance Season 2 Episode 4, called "Woe's Hollow," Irving's dismissal was a huge deal. It wasn't just like getting fired from a regular job; his whole life there got wiped out for good. This episode had Irving facing off with Helena Eagan, who'd been pretending to be Helly R. They had an intense showdown by a waterfall.

Irving didn't want to back down and was adamant about getting the truth out in the open. But because of this, Mr. Milchick had to take some serious steps and dismiss Irving. Now, without any way to bring Innie Irving back, it seems like he's gone for good in that world.

So, let's talk about the big things we found out and what they might mean.

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Helena Eagan gets exposed for not being Helly R. on Severance Season 2 Episode 4

Since Severance Season 2 kicked off, folks have been guessing about who Helly R. is. Turns out Woe's Hollow revealed that she's Helena Eagan, the boss's daughter, sneaking around the severed floor like a mole.

She pretended to be Helly to keep tabs on the MDR team, who were getting too rebellious for comfort. But she played it a bit too cool, especially with Irving.

He'd been suspicious of her since she said she saw a "night gardener" during the big Macrodat Uprising, which didn't sit right with anyone. Then came the moment of truth, right at the heart of Woe's Hollow.

Irving cornered Helena and laid it out straight:

“Who would have the power to send their Outie to the severed floor?”

He had to know the truth. So he did what he had to do, dunked her face in some icy water like a witch trial, and made her confess to Mark and Dylan, as Milchick helplessly looked on. But that was the end of the line for Irving.

He might've figured it out, but it cost him big time.

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What does the permanent dismissal mean for Innie Irving after Severance Season 2 Episode 4?

Irving getting the boot isn't just a regular old pink slip—it's a full-on identity execution in the world of Severance. When they talk about someone being fired from the severed floor, it's not just about changing offices or taking a breather. Nope, it's like that person's work self gets wiped out of existence.

Mr. Milchick orders Irving's “immediate and permanent dismissal,” which means that his work-brain will be kaput. The last bit of this Severance episode has Irving strolling into the woods, basically fading away, leaving just himself behind. But hold up, is that really it for Irving's innie? We're not so sure.

Severance has a knack for bringing folks back from the metaphorical dead—like with Petey's merging and Mark dealing with his split personality. Plus, the show still needs John Turturro, who plays Irving, to stir things up, especially outside the Lumon bubble.

So, could Irving's home-self maybe figure out a way to wake up his work-self again? It's something to think about.

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The Glasgow Block and Lumon’s darker secrets, as seen in Severance Season 2 Episode 4

One of the most fascinating moments in Woe's Hollow was when Mr. Milchick gave that baffling order to "remove the Glasgow Block." This was right before Helly woke up again with the elevator ding that fans noticed to be missing in Episode 2, and it's got everyone talking about what he really meant.

In Severance Season 1, there was a glimpse of some control commands for employees who've been severed, like "Beehive," "Branch Transfer," "Lullaby," and "Goldfish." It seems like the Glasgow Block was used to keep Helly from waking up while they were working on the floor where she was cut off.

This brings up questions about how much power Lumon has over their employees' brains. If they can keep someone's thoughts buried forever, it makes you wonder what other tricks they've got up their sleeve. And let's not forget about Irving. Could there be a command that could bring him back?

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As Season 2 of Severance rolls out on Apple TV+, we're all dying to know more about the ins and outs of these mind-bending commands and what they mean for the people stuck in this weird world.

So, keep your eyes peeled and keep reading Soap Central!