Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Severance season 2, episode 9, “The After Hours.”
Severance star Sarah Bock breaks down why her character, Miss Huang, shows Dylan (Zach Cherry) empathy. For most of this season, Miss Huang has had a mostly harsh attitude toward the innies and made an effort to avoid humanizing them, including not wanting them to throw a funeral for Irving (John Turturro). However, in Severance season 2, episode 9, Miss Huang apologizes to Dylan after the heartbreak he endures with his wife, and Miss Huang even apologizes for not facilitating the visitations better. This scene takes place after Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman) tells Miss Huang that she is being transferred.
During an interview with Decider, Bock was asked why Miss Huang seemed to soften her attitude towards the innies during her final hours on the Severed Floor. Bock reveals that Miss Huang’s atittude changes because she now views the innies as human, which breaks her and leads to the moment of empathy with Dylan. She also clarifies that the chronology of her scenes in this episode was originally different, which gives her a different perspective on Miss Huang’s reactions. Check out Bock’s comments below:
Originally, the format of Episode 9 [was different]. The first scene I’m in was actually the last scene before I got on the bus. So the Dylan thing came before that. But I think now, with the information she has about being sent away and the continuous amount of times she’s seen the innies need to be humanized — whether it be through Irving’s funeral or through Dylan’s heartbreaking exchange with his wife — I think she’s realizing now that these are humans. And I think it finally breaks her. And she has that moment of empathy.
What This Means For Severance
Season 2 Explores The Tragedy Of The Non-Severed Characters
Season 2 has taken time to explore how the innies are not the only Severance characters being dehumanized by Lumon. Most of the exploration has been focused on Mr. Milchick and Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette), but episode 9 ensures that Miss Huang receives the same nuanced focus as well. Miss Huang, Mr. Milchick, and Cobel have been fully dedicated to Lumon and given everything they have to the company. Despite their sacrifices and dedication, none of them are appreciated or treated fairly by their Lumon superiors.
Related
Severance Season 2 Episode 9 Ending Explained: How It Sets Up The Finale
Like every Severance season 2 episode, episode 9 ends with a major cliffhanger that perfectly paves the way for the Apple TV+ show’s season 2 finale.
In some ways, Miss Huang seemed even harsher than Mr. Milchick or Cobel, but episode 9 clarifies that she is just as vulnerable and just as damaged by Lumon as they have been. Miss Huang is ultimately just a child who has been trying to do as she has been told. Despite how angry and heartbroken Dylan is after what transpired with his wife, he is able to recognize the innocence and tragic truth of Miss Huang’s situation, which is why he sincerely tells her, “It’s not your fault” instead of delivering a sarcastic or hurtful remark towards her.
Miss Huang Is Part Of Severance Season 2’s Greatest Strength
Bock’s comments make me even more intrigued to see where Miss Huang’s story is headed in the season 2 finale and in Severance season 3 as well. The series excels at depicting its characters one way, only to later show that this is only a small part of their true selves. Getting to see more sides of non-severed characters like Miss Huang, Mr. Milchick, and Cobel has been one of the best parts of Severance season 2. Cobel is already working against Lumon, and hopefully Miss Huang and Mr. Milchick will soon join the revolution against the corrupt corporation.
Source: Decider
Severance
8/10
- Release Date
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February 18, 2022
- Showrunner
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Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman
- Writers
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Dan Erickson