Severancestars Britt Lower and Dichen Lachman have delved into the intense final scene of the hit AppleTV+ series' recent finale. Mark’s (Adam Scott) relentless quest to find Gemma (Lachman) reaches its climax at theend ofSeveranceseason 2, as he rescues her from the Cold Harbor room and brings her back to the severed floor. But just as freedom for the estranged couple seems within reach, Innie Mark makes a heartbreaking choice. As Gemma escapes via the stairwell, he stays behind with Helly (Lower) and abandons his outie’s wife to an uncertain fate.
In an interview with theLos Angeles Times,Lower and Lachman dissect their characters' reactions to Mark’s choice to remain on the severed floor. Lower confessed that she couldn’t “take [her] eyes off her” as Lachman’s Gemma banged continuously on the exit door window from the outside.Severancecreator Ben Stiller eventually put a pad on the door since Lachman was “hurting [her] hand from slamming it” repeatedly against the window in fierce desperation, making for one of the series' most gut-wrenching moments. Read what they had to say below:
Lower:Helly R. seeing Gemma, Britt seeing Dichen’s performance on the other side of the door, was really affecting. That last moment where she’s seeing this heartbreaking thing happening across the hallway,my eyes were just drawn to Dichen. That was just something that happened on the day. I remember just being like, ‘I can’t take my eyes off her, even if I’m being pulled away.’
There’s a connection there. There’s this moment where I think Helly R. is seeing an outie,having empathy for an outie, maybe for the first time, and seeing this other woman who loves the outie version of the same person that she loves on the inside. That has an effect, even as they’re running away like wild horses. That lingering image, that heartbreaking image stays with her as they’re both, like, ‘What are we doing? What’s next?’ And yet she’s free.
Lachman:On my side, there was a lot of technical things happening on that day because Ms. Casey is transitioning. By the time we got to the other side of the door, what was happening inside me with the frustration and stuff, it really helped my physicality to get into that emotional space.
Ben was so gracious. And Adam and Britt being there for me and giving me the time to get to this place where —I mean,they had to put a pad on the back of the door because I was hurting my hand from slamming itagainst the door. It was cathartic in a way too.
What Gemma & Helly’s Tense Showdown Means For Severance
Helly & Gemma’s Love For Mark Creates An Unavoidable Rift
TheSeveranceseason 2 finale deepens the emotional divide between Helly and Gemma,two women bound by their love for Mark yet trapped on opposite sides of his existence. Gemma endured the horrors ofthe Cold Harbor project, clinging to the hope of reuniting with her husband just as Mark’s outie was desperate to find her after learning she was still alive. Nonetheless, Helly and Mark’s innie have forged a powerful bond throughout their shared struggle at Lumon.
Despite her antagonism against outies,Helly does encourage Mark to save Gemmaand seeing her desperately calling for him behind the exit door will likely have shaken her resolve. Yet, leaving would erase the couple’s existence, as neither Helena Eagan nor Mark’s outie would have reason to return to the severed floor. Thereintegration procedure inSeveranceoffers only a fragile and uncertain co-existence, leaving them with one real option: to remain inside, even if it puts them in greater danger.
10 Biggest Questions Severance Season 3 Must Answer
Following the explosive finale of Severance season 2, there are several burning questions that the Apple TV+ series must answer in season 3.
With Mark sabotaging Cold Harbor and Helly defyingthe Eagan family, Lumon won’t let them slip away quietly. The company is sure to retaliate, making their survival uncertain. Meanwhile, Gemma is finally free, but she’ll likely be on the run as Lumon attempts to cover up their controversial severance experiments. She may be the key to exposing the truth and rescuing Mark, butafter seeing him abandon her for Helly, Gemma’s heartbreak may complicate what comes next.
Mark & Helly’s Choice Will Have Major Consequences
Image via Apple TV+
TheSeveranceseason 2 finale leaves Mark, Helly, and Gemma at a heartbreaking crossroads, with their choices shaping a dangerous future. While Mark and Helly cling to their existence inside Lumon, Gemma is likely to meet up with Cobel and Devon, who may help her to expose the truth behind Lumon’s nefarious experiments and bring back Mark’s outie.Severanceseason 3is poised to explore the complicated fallout, as the fight for freedom against Lumon intensifies. Mark and Helly’s rebellion may be their only shot at true autonomy inSeverance—or a fight they’re doomed to lose.
