The newest episode of Severance season two, titled “Candy Vitriol,” has been met with combined reactions from followers. Some have criticized its slower tempo in comparison with earlier episodes and puzzled why we would have liked a whole episode following Concord Cobel (Patricia Arquette). Particularly after the unimaginable episode earlier than it, “Chikhai Bardo,” which gave us an in depth backstory on Mark and Gemma’s relationship, what’s taking place to Gemma now, and ended with Mark waking up from “journeying” after flooding his severance chip. A lot is occurring on the planet of Severance proper now between Mark’s integration, Gemma’s testing, and Helena spying on the innies. Many followers are confused as to why the showrunners determined to air a Concord-centered episode now.
Severance
- Launch Date
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February 18, 2022
- Showrunner
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Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman
It is true that “Candy Vitriol” lacked the identical fast-paced, dialogue-heavy, visually arresting tone and setting we’re used to. It is also shorter than the opposite episodes at solely 37 minutes. Nonetheless, this episode was essential to the overarching plot of Severance. We realized useful info on Concord Cobel’s background that utterly adjustments the context of her character and the plot transferring ahead.
The data found about Concord straight impacts Mark and his reintegration and no matter Lumon’s objectives could also be. To emphasise how vital the episode really is, here’s a breakdown of the reveals and what they imply for the present going ahead.
Concord Cobel Was Pressured Into Youngster Labor
The episode begins with Concord getting into the icy city of Salt’s Neck, a rundown manufacturing facility city with seemingly few residents. She’s again in her hometown to retrieve one thing from her childhood house the place her Aunt Sissy nonetheless lives. Concord does not have an excellent relationship with Sissy, which is made evident when she asks an outdated buddy named Hampton (James Le Gros) to drive her there, so Sissy does not acknowledge her automobile. As soon as there, Concord instantly goes to her childhood bed room solely to find her aunt has offered the whole lot to the poor. Not donated, however offered to the poor.
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Whereas in her mom’s bed room, we study by means of a chat with Hampton that Salt’s Neck is house to an ether manufacturing facility run by Lumon. Ether is a colorless substance that was used as an anesthetic for industrial functions. Additionally it is addictive, and we study that a lot of the city has developed an dependancy to it. Not solely that, however the manufacturing facility employs youngsters as properly, as said by Hampton.
Concord huffs the ether with Hampton, claiming that she hasn’t executed that since she was eight, that means the manufacturing facility has employed youngsters a minimum of that younger to work there. Understanding that she was compelled into youngster labor in a city that was hooked on ether provides a layer to her character that makes a few of her previous actions comprehensible. She did not have an everyday childhood. All she’s identified her complete life is working and reporting to Lumon. Lumon has been an ever-present presence all through her life.
Concord Was Sought Out by Lumon As a result of She Was a Gifted Youngster
Concord was additionally an extremely clever youngster. She was so sensible that she was taken away from her household to check underneath a fellowship for presented college students. We study this when she goes into the shed and finds her yearbook from her time on the Myrtle Eagan College for Women, containing photographs of her and different college students who have been a part of the fellowship program. By the contents of the ebook we’re briefly proven, we uncover that Concord participated within the Wintertide Fellowship, the identical program Miss Huang (Sarah Bock) is working in the direction of by means of her work with Mr. Milchick on the severed flooring.
The Wintertide Fellowship is a prestigious fellowship funded and run by Lumon in honor of Jame Eagan (Michael Siberry), the eighth CEO of Lumon Industries and father of Helena Eagan (Britt Decrease), Helly R’s outie. Whereas she’s flipping by means of the ebook, a photograph of her accepting the fellowship from Jame is proven with a blurb beneath. The textual content reads: “Concord Cobel’s excellent dedication to the 9 Core Values has earned her the distinguished honor of being chosen because the 12 months of Wiles Wintertide Fellow.” Lumon has clearly been watching Concord her complete life, elevating her to imagine of their values and molded to their requirements.
She Did not Get to Say Goodbye to Her Late Mom Due to Lumon
Concord’s mom was severely unwell when she was a child. When she was whisked away to the Wintertide Fellowship, she was not capable of care for her mom and her Aunt Sissy needed to step in. Sissy is a staunch follower of Lumon and their ideologies and criticized Concord’s mom for questioning their morals. Sissy absolutely buys into Lumon ideas just like the 4 Tempers, the 9 Core Values, and severance. She believes Jame Eagan is to be praised as Kier is and by no means questions something Lumon does. Her dedication to Lumon has prompted a extreme riff between her and Concord.
Whereas Concord was away finding out underneath the Wintertide Fellowship, her mom’s sickness progressed. Concord wasn’t even notified in regards to the worsened situation of her mom’s prognosis till after she had handed. Sissy thought Concord’s work at Lumon was too vital to be interrupted, even when it meant Concord would by no means see or converse to her mom once more. Sissy informed Concord it was really her mom who determined to drag the plug ultimately, however Concord nonetheless feels Sissy is accountable.
It is comprehensible contemplating Sissy’s loyalty to Lumon and the truth that she prevented Concord from saying goodbye to her personal mom. This can be a super quantity of guilt and resentment that Concord has been carrying round for many years, affecting each facet of her life in and out of doors Lumon. It additionally explains the shrine she saved in her basement with the respiratory tube.
Concord Cobel Invented Severance and Its Process
The largest reveal occurs towards the top and makes the complete episode utterly price it. After looking the home excessive and low for the merchandise she wished to retrieve, Concord lastly ventures out to the shed to look by means of the rest of her issues. That is the place she discovered her yearbook from the Myrtle Eagan College for Women along with a bust of Jame Eagan’s head. Contained in the bust was rolled-up paper containing designs and blueprints. These designs and blueprints have been the concepts and formulation for the idea of severance and its process.
It was Concord Cobel who invented severance all alongside, not Jame Eagan as Helena beforehand said. Concord was informed that it was boastful and egocentric to take credit score for one thing she completed, so she by no means bought recognition for creating this revolutionary idea and process. When Sissy questions why she by no means informed anybody about her plans, Concord responds: “I used to be informed Kier’s data is for all. That if I sought credit score, I’d be banished.” Her response emphasizes how a lot she has given to Lumon and the way a lot they’ve taken from her. The corporate instilled in her that work was extra vital than her household, but handled her as a disposable worker and fired her when she made one mistake.
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The reveal additionally provides much-needed context to Concord’s habits, particularly in season one. She was at all times connected to the severed flooring and was outraged when she heard Petey was reintegrated, claiming it wasn’t potential. Concord wished to watch the outcomes of her creation first-hand and desperately wished to see how somebody may reverse the consequences of it. It additionally contextualizes why she has at all times been so loyal to Lumon, and why she lastly determined to take issues into her personal fingers as a substitute of assembly with the Board and Helena.
Concord has given her complete life to an organization that has proven her no grace or dignity, and it appears doubtless that she’s going to lastly flip her again on them. It appears she may even be instrumental in serving to Mark get better from reintegration. The episode could have been a sluggish burn in comparison with explosive earlier episodes, however it revealed info that shall be important to the way forward for the present.