Is Patricia Arquette’s Ms. Cobel In Severance Season 2?

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Severance season 2, episode 1!Patricia Arquette's Harmony Cobel is one of Severance's most enigmatic characters, but it's not entirely clear how she will factor into season 2. As the manager of the severed floor at Lumon Industries, Ms. Cobel instantly became a pivotal member of Severance's character list. Her arc got more interesting, however, when it was revealed that Ms. Cobel was also Mrs. Selvig, Mark's neighbor in the outside world. Despite her cult-like upbringing connected to the world of Lumon, season 1 proved that Ms. Cobel doesn't always play by the book.

BySeverance season 1's ending, Ms. Cobel was suspended at Lumon for not disclosing Helly's suicide attempt, as well as the actions involving her alias, Mrs. Selvig. Ms. Cobel was supposedly keeping an eye on Mark's Outie, but she continuously overstepped and even infiltrated Mark's family by becoming the lactation consultant to Mark's sister and brother-in-law. As secretive as Ms. Selvig was, Mark discovered her true identity before she ended up fleeing the mess she helped create.

Yes, Patricia Arquette Returns As Harmony Cobel In Severance Season 2

The Apple TV+ Show Has Confirmed Patricia Arquette Will Reprise Her Role

The last time viewers saw Ms. Cobel, she unsuccessfully stopped Helly's gala speech. Though she doesn't appear in the follow-up's first episode, Patricia Arquette will be back as Harmony Cobel in Severance season 2. She seemingly accepted her fate at Lumon for now, but it doesn't look like she will be gone for good. Mark's Outie has a notable run-in with Ms. Cobel in Severance season 2's trailer as he questions her about his wife, Gemma. Arquette has also teased Ms. Cobel's role in Severance season 2, saying (via Elle Canada):

"You’ll discover more about this as the season progresses—her origins, her connection to Lumon and it’s so important for her to stay committed to it. She’s fused it with so much of herself, and has given up and lost so much. The only way she can manage that loss is to turn to the company."

It's important to note that Harmony Cobel is not severed, so she's been fully aware of her actions in the world outside of the workplace. It's unclear how she will spin the truth about her Selvig identity, especially now that Mark and some of the other characters know about the alias. Considering how season 1 ended and how much of her life has been dedicated to Lumon, it will be intriguing to see how Cobel comes into play following the MDR incident, as well as the changes that came along with it.

Why Cobel Is Missing From Severance's Season 2 Premiere & When She Could Return

Patricia Arquette's Severance Character Won't Be Absent For Long In Season 2

Miss Huang speaking to Mark Irving Dylan and Helly in the hallway in Severance season 2

As for what happened to Arquette's character, Milchick updates Mark in the Severance season 2 premiere, revealing that Ms. Cobel had been officially fired from Lumon Industries for her conduct. Milchick, who is now the Severed Floor manager, tells Mark that Ms. Cobel used her Selvig identity because she had an "erotic fixation" on Mark's Innie and Outie personas. He's clearly trying to twist the perception of Ms. Cobel through his own manipulation tactics while setting up more conflict between his former mentor.

Seeing as Arquette has teased more of Harmony Cobel's background and connection to Lumon, the character will surely return early in Severance season 2. The character may not have directly appeared in season 2's premiere, but she still played a role. In fact, the episode is titled "Hello, Ms. Cobel," which is the welcome message stuck on Milchick's new office computer. Severance season 2, episode 2 is titled "Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig," so that could also be a good indicator that the character directly appears.

Source: Elle Canada