Review: Severance, "Half Loop" | Season 1, Episode 2
The drama's second episode reveals more "innie" workings of its workspace
In its premiere, Severance dispensed with mystery regarding Mark’s decision to be severed: his sister Devon lays it out plainly, calling out her brother for thinking that eight hours separated from his grief from his wife’s death is a replacement for actual healing (or therapy). But his co-workers are their own mysteries, and we learn precious little about them: Dylan is motivated by perks, and Irving is a bit of a stick in the mud, but there’s no insight into their identities.
This is different for Helly, whose arrival is used to mirror our own disorientation with this space. And “Half Loop” doubles down on this by opening on Helly much as the premiere did, but this time showing us the moments leading up to her severance now that the show doesn’t need to obscure some of the details we learn during her orientation. We get our best look at the stone visage of the illustrious Mr. Eagan, the logic behind that weird question about his favorite breakfast (a test to see if th…