Milchick’s Severance Season 2 Episode 6 Story Reverses One Of The Darkest Helly Scenes From Season 1

Severance season 2, episode 6 reverses a dark Helly R. (Britt Lower scene) from season 1 with Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman). In the absence of Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette), and due to his role in stopping the Overtime Contingency Protocol during Severance season 1's ending, Milchick has been promoted to manager of Lumon's Severed Floor. This has led to a noticeable shift in the dynamics at Lumon, along with the series showing more of the story from Milchick's perspective.

Several pivotal and even eye-opening scenes have occurred as a result of this change, including when Milchick receives the Kier Eagan paintings from Natalie (Sydney Cole Alexander). The season has showcased the lengths Milchick will go for Lumon while also exploring the problematic ways Lumon attempts to "reward" him. Despite seeming almost robotic at times in season 1, season 2 has now humanized him, which is most apparent in Milchick's "Grow" scene.

Milchick's "Grow" Scene Flips Helly's Break Room Torture From Severance Season 1

Milchick Creates A Version Of The Break Room For Himself

Severance's Break Room is where severed employees are sent to be punished after they break the rules. Helly is sent there in season 1 after her failed attempts to escape the Severed Floor. She is forced to repeat a passage hundreds of times to Milchick until he believes that she means what she is saying. In season 2, episode 6, Milchick essentially creates his own Break Room by repeatedly telling himself to "grow" while looking in the mirror. He begins by saying he must "eradicate from your essence childish folly" until the phrase is simplified to "grow."

An edited image of Milchick and Miss Huang smiling in Severance season 2.

I Seriously Don't Understand Milchick & Miss Huang's Dynamic In Severance

Severance season 2 has created a lot of confusion so far, but the dynamic between Milchick and his assistant, Miss Huang, is genuinely baffling.

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It is heartbreaking to see him punishing himself for the way he speaks, which was unfairly highlighted as a point of concern in his employee review. Milchick is punishing himself in the same way he punished Helly, repeating the word until he believes he means what he is saying. Milchick is not severed, but he has internalized some of the thinking forced on the severed employees, and is now using these tactics on himself. He believes this is what he must do to better serve Kier Eagan's teachings and to stop being guided by his own feelings and beliefs.

Will Milchick Finally Snap & Turn Against Lumon In Severance Season 2?

Milchick Has An Important Choice To Make

At this point, Milchick is still loyal to Lumon, but he is about to reach a crossroads where he will have an important decision to make. He will either become more cruel towards the Innies or turn against Lumon. Since his "kindnesses" have not yielded the productive results that he thought they would, he may feel that cruelty is the only way to get the Macrodata Refinement Department to cooperate. He can embrace becoming more of a zealot following Kier's teachings and put aside the ways that Lumon has made him feel uncomfortable.

On the other hand, Milchick may find that he cannot bring himself to become the cruel boss that Lumon wants him to be. Lumon insults him with blackface paintings of Kier, demeans him for having a robust vocabulary, and does not appreciate the many sacrifices he has made for the company. Milchick may be at his breaking point, which could involve him rebelling against Lumon. He may even team up with the Innies and with Cobel, who can be united by the injustices they have faced as they fight back against Lumon in Severance season 2.