Severance: Unpacking the Bleak Revelation of "Sweet Vitriol"
"Sweet Vitriol," the eighth episode of Severance’s second season, marks a significant departure from the show’s previously contained narrative. For the first time, the audience is fully immersed in the world outside the sterile Lumon Industries office, the immediate environs, and the enigmatic Kier, Pennsylvania. This week, the spotlight shines intensely on Harmony Cobel, brought to life by Patricia Arquette, a character who has been subtly simmering in the background after her disruptive actions in the first season. This episode not only thrusts her back into the forefront, but it also exposes the grim reality that lies beyond the reach of Lumon’s influence, a world tinged with desperation and decay.
The episode opens with Cobel arriving in Salt’s Neck, a location alluded to in previous episodes. The town’s very name evokes a sense of desolation, a "cold harbor" in Severance parlance. While it might be tempting to draw parallels to Lumon’s "Cold Harbor" project or the mysterious testing floor, the phrase here simply describes a place abandoned and desolate. The visual presentation of Salt’s Neck reinforces this bleakness: dilapidated buildings, antiquated vehicles, and a population that seems aged beyond their years. Severance has consistently employed retro aesthetics, but Salt’s Neck takes it to an entirely new level, portraying a community seemingly trapped in a bygone era.
Cobel’s destination is the Drippy Pot Cafe, a meager establishment frequented by only two patrons, both appearing weary and unwell. The cafe’s sole employee, a man initially known only as the waiter but later revealed to be named Hampton, seems marginally better off than his customers, engaging in playful banter with them. He subtly provides one of the customers with a bottle of ether, hinting at the town’s hidden struggles and the escapism its residents seek. The arrival of Cobel is met with undisguised animosity. It’s clear that she is not welcome and that her presence stirs up unpleasant memories for the inhabitants of Salt’s Neck.
A tense exchange ensues between Cobel and Hampton, touching upon the town’s decline and the role Lumon played in its demise. Despite his evident contempt, Hampton agrees to a request from Cobel, a meeting at a nearby factory. As Cobel travels through Salt’s Neck, Lumon’s presence is subtly highlighted, with the company’s name appearing on various buildings. The factory itself bears the prominent "Lumon Industries" sign, underscoring the corporation’s deep roots in the town’s history. However, the present-day reality is one of abandonment and decay, transforming Salt’s Neck into a ghost town haunted by its past.
At the factory, Cobel reveals that she requires Hampton to drive her to Sissy’s. Sissy, played by Jane Alexander, is identified as a relative of Cobel’s. Hampton expresses deep resentment towards Sissy, referring to her adherence to "the Nine" and her status as a pariah within the community. Cobel’s primary concern is avoiding detection near Sissy’s house, fearing that her car might be recognized. Her need for Hampton’s help underscores the urgency and the potential consequences of her actions.
Hampton’s motivation for assisting Cobel stems from her current predicament with Lumon. It is revealed that the two shared a past, growing up together and working for Lumon. Cobel euphemistically refers to their time as "colleagues," while Hampton bluntly labels it "child labor." The episode gradually unveils the town’s history, centered around an ether mill reminiscent of the one where Kier Eagan supposedly met his wife, Imogene. Lumon’s mill, however, exploited children, subjecting them to grueling hours and deplorable conditions, leading to widespread ether addiction. By aiding Cobel, Hampton seeks to undermine Lumon, a symbolic act of rebellion against the corporation that ravaged his community.
Concealed in the back of Hampton’s truck, Cobel manages to reach Sissy’s house undetected. Sissy is visibly distressed by Cobel’s unannounced arrival. It is established that this house served as Cobel’s childhood home until the age of twelve and that her mother passed away there in the intervening years. As Cobel frantically searches the house, a wealth of information is revealed. Sissy refers to Hampton as a "huff peddler," prompting Cobel to retort, "You gave him his thirst for it." This exchange is clarified by a plaque on the wall, recognizing Celestine "Sissy" Cobel for her work as a "Youth Apprentice Matron" for Lumon, suggesting her involvement in the ether mill that exploited children.
The episode delves deeper into Cobel’s past and her relationship with Lumon. Mr. Drummond from Lumon contacted Sissy to inform her of Cobel’s difficulties. Cobel was a highly regarded student in the community, receiving the Wintertide Fellowship, a distinction also mentioned in connection to Miss Huang. A significant revelation revolves around Cobel’s mother, who suffered from a debilitating illness and whose life was seemingly ended prematurely. Cobel suspects Sissy of pulling the plug, while Sissy claims her mother took matters into her own hands. Regardless of the truth, it is evident that Cobel’s mother held a deep-seated disdain for Lumon and its ideology.
Unable to find what she seeks in her own room, Cobel attempts to access her mother’s locked room. Sissy declares that the room will remain closed until everyone she knows is with Kier, implying their death. Cobel’s desperate search for the key leads her to ransack Sissy’s room, unearthing a treasure trove of Easter eggs for devoted Severance fans. A shrine dedicated to various tenants, potentially "the Nine," a photograph of Kier, a card bearing the phrase "You must be cut to heal," and four small busts, including a goat, adorn the room.
Cobel finally locates the key, enters her mother’s room, and confronts the unresolved grief and trauma associated with her mother’s death. She briefly uses her mother’s oxygen machine, succumbs to tears, and eventually falls asleep. Hampton, having waited patiently outside, enters the house against Sissy’s objections to wake Cobel and expedite her departure. A moment of vulnerability unfolds as they discuss Cobel’s mother’s aversion to Lumon. Hampton offers Cobel ether, prompting unsettling responses. "I haven’t done that since I was eight," Cobel confesses. Hampton replies, "You ready to man the vat for 10 hours?" The laughter that follows is laced with the chilling reality of Lumon’s exploitation. The tension dissipates as they share a kiss, solidifying their renewed bond.
Remembering that Sissy would not have discarded her belongings, Cobel ventures outside to an underground storage area. There, she discovers her possessions scattered about. A yearbook from the Myrtle Eagan School for Girls reveals that Cobel was both the valedictorian and the recipient of the Jame Eagan Wintertide Fellowship. She also finds a bust of Kier, her reward for the fellowship. Cobel pries open the bust, ultimately uncovering the object of her search: an old notebook.
Instead of immediately leaving, Cobel returns to the house to confront Sissy with the notebook. The notebook reveals a shocking truth: Harmony Cobel, not Jame Eagan, was the true inventor of severance, responsible for the overtime contingency and the Glasglow block. She was instructed that all knowledge should be shared and that seeking personal credit would result in banishment. This revelation sheds light on the precarious position she always occupied at Lumon. Stunned by this revelation, Sissy attempts to burn the notebook to suppress the truth, but Cobel intervenes. Their encounter concludes on a bitter note, exacerbated by the realization that Sissy has alerted Lumon to her presence.
Hampton, finally addressed by name, allows Cobel to escape in his truck while he remains behind to face the consequences. As she departs, Cobel’s phone rings again. This time, she answers Devon’s call. Devon informs her of Mark’s reintegration, and Cobel asks to speak to him. Mark comes to the phone, placing the conversation sometime after the events of the previous episode, and Cobel implores him to tell her everything.
"Sweet Vitriol," filmed entirely in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, stands out as a remarkable episode of Severance. Its singular focus, distinctive atmosphere, and visual style set it apart from previous installments. The revelations presented in the episode expose the deeply entrenched evil of Lumon, highlighting their exploitation of children, the destruction of a community, and Cobel’s significant role within the company. With only two episodes remaining, it is apparent that Cobel seeks to be informed of Mark’s actions and potentially offer assistance. However, the question remains: can she be trusted? The fate of Helly, Irving, and Dylan, who have been absent for several weeks, also hangs in the balance. The anticipation for the remaining episodes is palpable.
