WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for Severance season 2, episode 4!Severance season 1’s ending saw MDR’s Innies go to the outside world, Lumon responded by having Helena take the blame for Helly’s speech, firing Irving and Dylan, and trying to convince Mark to stay and finish his “Cold Harbor” project. Mark’s condition for Lumon to bring back Dylan, Irving, and Helly was ultimately successful upon their return in Severance’s season 2 premiere – or so they thought.

Inconsistencies in Helly’s behavior and stories in season 2 led many to theorize that she was actually Helena, which, it turns out, Irving also suspected. At the end of Severance season 2, episode 4, “Woe’s Hollow,” Irving drags Helena to a nearly-frozen lake and threatens to drown her unless she and Milchick tell the truth about her being not just an Outie, but an Eagan. Eventually, Helena screams, “Seth, do it,” proving Irving correct as the Innies don’t know Milchick’s first name. Following the elevator “ding” noise, Helena finally switches back to Helly, with Irving being fired for his actions.

Why Helena Was Really Posing As Helly At Lumon In Severance Season 2

Helena Couldn't Risk Helly Sabotaging Herself & Lumon Again

After Helly R. went into her Outie’s world and made a speech about the torment and subjugation of Innies at Lumon, it seems Helena had no intentions of ever returning to the severed floor. Helena is one of the faces of Lumon Industries as not just a member of the Eagan family, but also the daughter of CEO Jame Eagan. Helena undergoing the severance procedure was her way of trying to make her father proud by making the procedure seem more inviting for other high-profile figures, but it backfired due to her Innie becoming the severed floor’s most rebellious employee.

Helena was able to stop herself from becoming Helly when going down the elevator to the severed floor by turning on the "Glasgow Block."

Therefore, Helena was extremely conflicted when hearing about Mark’s condition that he’ll only finish Severance’s Cold Harbor project if MDR brings back Helly, Dylan, and Irving. If Helena truly agreed, then she would risk having her Innie continue to sabotage her position at Lumon and ruin the project that is crucial to her family’s future power and control. Helena couldn’t let herself become Helly again on the severed floor, so instead she decided to study footage of Helly, pretend to be her, and take over her Innie persona while manipulating Dylan, Irving, and Mark into giving her information and secrets.

The rebellious, likable, and confident nature of Helly exists deep within Helena, but is trapped by the circumstances of her Outie’s history and expectations.

Another reason why Helena opted to pose as Helly on the severed floor was that she was extremely jealous of Helly. Yes, Helly is Helena, but she’s a version of her that she can’t allow herself to be on the outside world. Helly isn’t inhibited by the expectations of her position, familial strife and dynamics, self-loathing, and power plays that Helena has been suffocated by all her life. The rebellious, likable, and confident nature of Helly exists deep within Helena, but is trapped by the circumstances of her Outie’s history and expectations.

So, part of Helena wanting to pretend to be Helly was rooted in her desire to truly get to be that version of herself. Helena was deeply jealous that Helly found love with Mark, had genuine friendships with people like Dylan and Irving, and had the guts to tell the truth and go against what was expected of her. Tragically, the life that Helena was unconsciously living on Lumon’s severed floor for a few hours a day was better than the one she had been living all her life.

How Irving Realized That Helly Was Actually Helena Eagan

Irving's Nightmare & Realization About The Eagans' Power Helped Him Learn The Truth

While Irving had been suspicious of Helly since she lied about her Outie in Severance’s season 2 premiere, he finally got to the truth after an informative nightmare in Woe’s Hollow. Early on, Irving believed that Helly was lying after she mentioned seeing a “night gardener,” then noticed several other inconsistencies that indicated she might be Helly’s Outie. Helly really being her Outie was eventually confirmed to him after she commented on Irving being upset about never seeing Burt again, with Irving confronting her by saying, “What you said to me last night was cruel. Helly was never cruel.”

Irving had confirmed to himself that Helly was actually her Outie, but it wasn’t until his nightmare in the woods that he discovered she was an Eagan. In his nightmare, Irving saw the “gaunt bride” from Kier Eagan’s tale about “Woe,” saw Burt opening and closing the dividers at MDR’s desks, and noticed letters on his computer screen that ultimately spelled “Eagan.” After this nightmare, Irving realized that the only person with enough power to send their Outie onto the severed floor instead of their Innie would, in fact, be an Eagan.

Will Helly Still Be Allowed To Return In Severance Season 2?

Why Would Helena Allow Her Innie To Come Back?

While Helly is officially back as her Innie self in Severance season 2, episode 4’s ending, there’s no telling how long she’ll stay. The same problem still exists for Helena, where she can’t really allow Helly to be among MDR’s employees and further rebel against Lumon and ruin her Outie’s reputation. Additionally, it’s much more complex now that Mark’s Innie slept with Helena (thinking she was Helly), as both are in love with him. Severance would be very different without Helly’s Innie persona involved, so she’ll likely stick around while Helena plans her next moves with Cobel and Irving.