15 Clues To Severance Season 2’s Helly/Helena Innie Twist You Might Have Missed

Owing to so many intriguing story developments, Severance season 2's episode 4 has prompted viewers to come up with many theories surrounding its strange setting and Irving's future. However, at the same time, the episode also resolves a massive mystery revolving around Helena's identity. After leaving viewers divided about whether Helena replaced her innie, Helly, season 2's episode 4 finally confirms she actually did it. The lead-up to this fascinating story development had many hidden clues and hints carefully woven into the overarching narrative.

15 Helena Hesitates Before Hugging Mark

Her Reaction To Mark's Hug Shows Who She Is

One of the biggest clues hinting at Helena's true identity in Severance season 2's episode 1 is her reaction to Mark's hug. The two characters kissed in Severance season 1's ending, which made it hard not to wonder why Helena hesitated before hugging Mark back in episode 1. As the twist confirms, her reaction reflected how, unlike her innie, Helly, Helena met Mark for the first time and was naturally caught off-guard when he hugged her. For her, Mark was a stranger she was meeting for the first time, which made the hug awkward.

14 Helena Comes Running Out Of The Elevator

Helly Would Not Have Had A Reason To Run Out

The innies' narrative in Severance season 2 is a direct continuation of what happened to them in season 1's Overtime Contingency incident. Owing to this, Mark's innie finds himself in the elevator right after he yells, "She's alive," in his outie's home. Similarly, Irving finds himself knocking at the elevator door because he was knocking at Burt's door moments before the Overtime Contingency ended. Owing to this, since Helly was tackled on stage for revealing the truth about Lumon during Overtime Contingency, she should not have been running out of the elevator upon returning.

13 Helena's Night Gardnerer Story Makes No Sense

The Story Makes Her Identity A Little Too Obvious

When the MDR employees ask Helena about her Overtime Contingency experience, she recalls meeting a gardener and asking him for help. Irv catches her red-handed by asking what a gardener was doing outside her home at night. Helena could have easily avoided raising suspicion by coming up with a plausible story before replacing her innie. However, she seemingly underestimates the innies and makes Irv suspicious about who she is.

12 Helena Assures There Are No Cameras Or Microphones

Her Faith In Lumon's Claims Makes Her Suspicious

After Milchick reveals that Lumon has removed all video and audio-recording devices from the MDR department, Helena supports his claims and keeps encouraging Mark to openly talk about their next plan of action. Helly never trusted Lumon and would not believe Milchick if he told her they were not surveilling their moves. The fact that she tries to convince Mark and the other workers that they can trust Lumon establishes she is not who she claims to be.

She Seems Envious When She Sees Her Innie Kiss Mark

Before Severance season 2 reveals that Helena replaced Helly, it shows that Helena closely observed her innie before deciding to replace her. When Helena watches the CCTV footage of her innie kissing Mark, she also seems envious. This scene subtly foreshadows the episode 4 twist by revealing that despite being an Eagan and having the freedom to do many things her innie cannot, Helena cannot help but feel jealous of her innie. She replaces her not only to keep a close eye on the MDR workers but also to experience her innie's sense of freedom and emotional connection with Mark.

10 Helena Makes Mark Question His Purpose

She Asks Him Not To Care About His Innie

In Severance season 2's episode 1, Helena tries to convince Mark that he should not care too much about what his innie wants. She tries to talk him out of looking for his wife, Gemma, in the Lumon building, hinting at how she is there to ensure the innies do not go too far in their quest to find answers. Helena also seems too oversold on her innie's romance with Mark based on the CCTV kiss footage. As a result, she tries a little too hard to project the same idea on Mark when Mark and Helly were only starting to like each other before they kissed in season 1.

9 Helena & Lumon's Other Leading Figures Would Never Let Helly Return

Helly Almost Destroyed Lumon's Reputation

Given how Helly almost exposed Lumon's wrongdoings and ruined the company's reputation in the outside world, it would make no sense for Helena and her family to let her innie return to the office. Owing to this, the fact that she returns after Mark's request to the board is enough to give away who she is. Mark, Dylan, and Irv were fairly compliant before Helly joined Lumon and planted the seeds of doubt against Lumon in them. Letting her return would have always been a major risk for Lumon. Therefore, it makes sense that they replaced her with Helena.

8 Helena Struggles To Find The Switch To Her Computer

The Switch's Location Is The Least She Should Know

Soon after Milchick walks the MDR workers through Lumon's new reforms in Severance season 2, they return to work. As they turn on their computers, the camera specifically focuses on how Helena struggles to find her computer's switch. Given how Helly consistently worked at Lumon for several weeks before the Overtime Contingency incident in Severance season 1's finale, she would never fumble the switch.

7 Helly Always Wanted To Leave Lumon

She Almost Killed Her Outie In Her Efforts To Leave

Helly resorted to desperate measures in Severance season 1 to escape Lumon. She even tried to kill her outie to be able to get out of the job she hated. Owing to this, it makes no sense that she would suddenly be okay with returning to Lumon after being given the opportunity to leave for good.

6 Helena Does Not Lead in Severance Season 2

She Blindly Follows Mark Throughout Season 2

When Mark and Helena set out to look for the Goat department, Mammalians Nurturable, Helena seems a little apprehensive while Mark leads the way. Her whole demeanor during these moments seemed strange because Helly would never think twice before leading the way. During her entire season 1 arc, Helly stood as the most courageous Lumon employee and showed no resistance during her quest to find the truth about Lumon.

5 Helly Was Not "Cruel"

Helena's Rude Response To Irv In Severance Season 2 Gives Her Away

Irv realizes Helena is not who she claims to be in Severance season 2's episode 4 when she rudely snaps back at him for suspecting her. Even in season 2's episode 1, she seems oddly insensitive towards Mark when he talks about Gemma. Her lack of empathy and constant need to fake that she cares about her fellow employees hints at who she is.

4 Helena Suddenly Appears On The Outside Trail In Episode 4

All The Other Innies Suddenly "Awaken" In The Snowy Landscape

Before the MDR workers set out to find Woe's Hollow in Severance season 2's episode 4, they suddenly "ding" into consciousness and find themselves in the middle of nowhere as they transition from their outies to their innies. Helena, however, suspiciously appears out of nowhere when Irv makes his way to Mark. When Irv asks her where she came from, she even pretends to not know, again raising suspicion.

3 Helena Walks & Talks Differently

She Seems Too Different From Her Innie Counterpart

Helly seems to have a confident strut throughout season 1, which Helena lacks in season 2. Even when she talks, Helena seems too laidback and soft-toned compared to Helly. Unlike her outie counterpart, Helly, in season 1, was often loud and assertive, unafraid to challenge authoritative figures like Milchick.

2 Milchick Hints He Has Met Her Outside

He Says He'll Buy Her Drink Someday

After walking the MDR employees through Lumon's reforms and perks in Severance season 2's episode 1, Milchick strangely looks at Helena and says, "...Maybe I'll buy you a drink in a bistro someday." There is no way he would suggest meeting an innie in the outside world and buying them a drink. This makes it hard not to believe he has met Helena outside, probably at a familiar bistro.

1 The Lumon Elevator Does Not "Ding" After Helena Enters

Severance Season 2 Nearly Spoiled Its Helly/Helena Twist In Episode 2

The Board listens when Mark requests them to bring his former team members back in Severance season 2's episode 2. Before the episode's credits start rolling, it shows how all the outies make their way to the Lumon elevator that transitions them into their innies before taking them to the severed floor. Interestingly, the elevator "dings" twice for Mark, Dylan, and Irving — once after they scan their ID cards and again moments after they enter the elevator.

For Helena, however, it only dings once after she scans her card. Since the second ding seems to represent the outies' transition into their innies, the lack of the second ding for Helena confirms she does not transition into her innie before reaching the severed floor. This was perhaps one of the biggest clues in Severance season 2 that gave away her true identity.