Why Helena Eagan Being Severed Is A Secret In Severance

WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Severance season 2 episode 6!While Helena Eagan is “like the head of the company” in Severance, her severance procedure is generally hidden from the public. Severance season 1's ending revealed that MDR’s Innie Helly R. was actually Helena Eagan, the daughter of Lumon CEO Jame Eagan. She underwent the severance procedure as a huge PR move to promote the procedure and make her father proud, leading to a gala in which she presented her severance experience to Lumon executives and high-profile, powerful individuals connected to the company in the season 1 finale.

However, it’s implied that the public and Lumon’s lower-level employees, including those who are severed, aren’t aware that Helena Eagan has an Innie counterpart on the severed floor five days a week. That becomes more clear when Outie Mark becomes confused about why he keeps seeing flashes of Helena (as Helly) during his reintegration process. Additionally, when Helena follows Mark to the Chinese restaurant in Severance season 2, episode 6, neither makes any reference to her having undergone the severance procedure despite talking about the OTC incident, as she only mentions her role as CEO-in-waiting.

Knowledge Of Helena Having An Innie Makes Her & Lumon's Plans Vulnerable In Severance

Helena Going To The Severed Floor Was A Huge Risk

It seems the primary reason why Helena would keep her severed state secret from the public is to make her less vulnerable. If Outies find out that one of Lumon’s top personnel is on the severed floor with them all day, they might become more suspicious of the company’s intentions. Plus, it would leave her vulnerable to potential attacks or manipulation while in her Innie state if people on the outside tried to infiltrate Lumon’s severed floor – not unlike what seems to be going on between Irving’s Outie and whoever he’s been calling in season 2.

Reghabi also may not know that Helena Eagan is severed, as it's implied that she left Lumon before Helena had her procedure.

Helena’s severance not being widely known may also be a calculated strategy to ensure that everything went smoothly before revealing it to the world. If something went wrong with her on the severed floor that couldn’t be hidden from the public, such as if Mark hadn’t saved her during Helly’s suicide attempt in season 1, then that would jeopardize Lumon’s promotion of the procedure. Lumon clearly values its message and reputation over its people, but even they had to know that the procedure and Innie vs. Outie complexities hadn’t been truly perfected by the time Helena got her chip.

Helena Is Able To Manipulate Mark By Hiding The Truth From Him

Mark Knowing The Truth Would Open Up Another Wave Of Suspicions

While it’s possible that the public will eventually be informed about an Eagan family member undergoing severance to market the procedure better, Helena can use their ignorance to manipulate Outies. In particular, Mark. Even before Mark and Helena slept together at Woe’s Hollow, she had become obsessed with him. After Irving nearly drowning her meant her Innie had to return to the severed floor, Helena had decided that, instead of pursuing Mark’s Innie, she'd focus on his Outie.

Severance Season 2's Remaining Episode Schedule
Episode #	Release Date
7	February 28
8	March 7
9	March 14
10	March 21

However, Helena has to know that Mark’s Outie would be hesitant to trust her if he knew that she wasn’t just severed, but working with his Innie every day. As “the head of the company,” Helena would know everything that he’s doing on the severed floor, and would have even more personal access through her Innie. Additionally, with Mark not knowing the truth about Helena, she can manipulate him to see what he knows by feigning ignorance, while also trying to get Mark to trust her by acting like she has more power at Severance's company than she currently does.