Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Severance season 2, episode 9.Jen Tullock addresses why her character, Devon, calls Harmony Cobel for help inSeveranceseason 2, episode 9. The sophomore season of Apple TV+’s hit psychological thriller continues to explore the ramifications behind Lumon’s controversial medical procedure which “severs” an employee’s work and personal memory. After Mark experiences a sudden blackout due tothe reintegration procedure, Devon takes the drastic step of reaching out to Cobel. The former manager of the severed floor secretly infiltrated Mark’s personal life in season 1 by masquerading as the overly friendly neighbor “Mrs. Selvig.”
In an interview withVariety,Tullock explained why she thinks Devon is able to put aside her animosity toward Cobel after being staunchly against her.As Mrs. Selvig inSeveranceseason 1, Cobel offered to assist Devon with nursing her newborn in order to monitor Mark’s every move. While this was a significant breach of trust, the escalating danger around Mark’s reintegration forces her to reconsider Cobel’s potential as an ally. Read what she had to say below:
I don’t think that she does trust her. I think she’s ina moment of abject desperation. One of the only situations in which she would be willing to work with someone she now hates as much as Cobel is a family member being in danger, which she now knows Gemma is. And Mark is too, because he’s still attached to this corporation that Devon used to think was weird, but now knows is nefarious.
She never wanted to see that woman again, butshe knows she’s the only one that has the key. And having that stare down on that snowy cliff was intense. I was grateful that there wasn’t a ton of dialogue and how [director] Uta Briesewitz teased the tension out of that scene. She let all of that unspoken anger and resentment hang in the air.
What This Means For Severance Season 2
Mark And Devon Are Desperate To Find Gemma
Devon’s uneasy alliance with Cobel highlights the growing desperation ofSeverance’s protagonists as they edge closer to exposing Lumon’s dark secrets. After his innie’s shocking revelation in theSeveranceseason 1 finale that Gemma is still alive, Mark undergoes the reintegration procedure under the guidance of Lumon employee Reghabi. She previously performed the first reintegration procedure on Mark’s coworker and friend, Peter Kilmer,who later died from the process.
By merging both his innie and outie memories, Mark hopes to uncover where Lumon has been keeping his supposedly late wife. Despite being indoctrinated by Lumon, Cobel emerges as a potential ally. The former manager remains an unpredictable force, butDevon’s instinct to turn to her may not be entirely misguided—especially given season 2, episode 8’s dive intoHarmony Cobel’s backstory, which reveals she was actually the ideator of the severance procedure itself.
Why Ms. Cobel & Devon Take Mark To The Birthing Cabin In Severance Season 2 Episode 9
Severance season 2, episode 9 ends with Devon and Ms. Cobel taking Mark to a Lumon birthing cabin, begging the question of why this was necessary.
In season 2, episode 9’s final moments, Devon and Cobel enter the Ramona Birthing Retreat with Mark hidden in the back of the truck. Once inside, Mark transitions into his innie state, only to find Cobel already waiting for him in the birthing cabin to perhaps discuss the whereabouts of Gemma. Having been cast aside by Lumon,Cobel seems to be seeking redemption, yet whether she can be fully trusted remains unclear. With no direct access to Lumon’s headquarters, she now relies on Mark’s innie as the key to uncovering the truth aboutSeverance’s Cold Harbor project.
Our Take On Devon’s Trust Of Cobel
Mark And Gemma’s Fate Hinges On A Questionable Alliance
AsSeverancenears its conclusion, the tension is at an all-time high. Reghabi has made her opposition to Lumon clear, but her reintegration procedure killed Peter and now puts Mark at risk. When Reghabi flees at the mention of Cobel,Devon has no choice but to turn to the stubborn yet exiled Lumon executive, the only other colleague from the nefarious company that Mark’s sister knows.
While Cobel has seemingly resented Mark since the beginning of the series, this may stem more from Lumon shutting her out of the severance project which involves Mark’s wife. Given her deep knowledge of severance and her ties to Lumon’s research,she is both the most unlikely and perfect ally on Mark’s journeyto find where Gemma isas they remain on the precipice of uncovering Lumon’s most terrifying experiment.
