The latest episode of “Severance” delivered a spine-chilling jump scare that rivals the best in horror movies. In the episode, the Macrodata Refinement team ventures into the snowy Dieter Eagan National Forest for an outdoor retreat. Irving B., played by John Turturro, faces a terrifying encounter during a vision.
Mr. Milchick, portrayed by Tramell Tillman, reads the story of Lumon founder Kier Eagan’s confrontation with Woe, one of the Four Tempers of the soul. The tale sets the stage for Irving’s upcoming nightmare, building the image of Woe in the viewer’s mind.
Irving wanders into the woods and trips, knocking himself unconscious. He wakes up in a frozen, misty landscape, finding the MDR desks. Across from him, Burt G.
lowers and raises the partition between their desks, revealing a gaunt, ghoulish lady: Woe herself.
Jump scare in national forest
She stares at Irving briefly before continuing to type slowly.
Irving looks at his computer screen, where the numbers form the face of Helena, who has been disguised as Helly R. Suddenly, Woe appears beside him, making both Irving and the audience jump out of their seats. The jump scare carries significant meaning for Irving’s character arc.
It confirms his suspicion about Helena and allows him to overcome his sadness over losing Burt. Irving goes on to unmask Helena and, as a consequence, gets fired. However, he faces his termination bravely, having already conquered the temper of Woe.
Irving’s confrontation with Woe mirrors Kier’s story, suggesting that both characters successfully tame Woe by seeing someone for who they really are. As Irving walks toward termination with resignation, he has accomplished his mission of exposing Helena and Dylan G. If “Severance” continues this storyline, Irving may have three more tempers left to tame.
The episode’s jump scare not only delivers a thrilling moment but also serves as a pivotal point in Irving’s character development.
