Severance Season 2, Episode 4, “Woe’s Hollow,” is a masterpiece unlike anything Apple TV+‘s workplace thriller has delivered before.
Written by Anna Ouyang Moench and directed by Ben Stiller, the ambitious, format-shattering installment can be succinctly summarized in these relatable words from Dylan G: “Holy shit. Out-fucking-side!”
Less succinctly, the standout episode features a stunning location shoot, unveils more Lumon lore, shows Severance‘s innies like we’ve never seen them before, and ends with both a jaw-dropping twist and a major cliffhanger.
Though each episode of Severance‘s sophomore season is mysterious and important, “Woe’s Hollow” is the first real breathtaking, mind-blowing installment that will leave fans in awe. So in celebration of the momentous feat, cast members Britt Lower, Adam Scott, Tramell Tillman, John Turturro, and Zach Cherry spoke with Decider about filming the iconic episode.
Major Severance Season 2, Episode 4 spoilers ahead.
“Woe’s Hollow” shows Milchick (Tramell Tillman) and Miss Huang (Sarah Bock) taking the core MDR four on a two-day Outdoor Retreat Team Building Occurrence (ORTBO) to the place where Kier is said to have tamed the four tempers.
“Story wise, it’s so cool that Milchick created this world for the innies. Everything from the last detail — like the seal that’s rotting in the forest — it’s so smart, and so mischievous of him as well,” Tillman told Decider when he visited our studio back in January. “The way I see it is that Milchick knew the innies desperately wanted to be outside. So it’s kind of like how a parent to a child is like, ‘You want to go outside? OK. Let me take you outside. This is what’s outside.’ It’s to create this image of ‘It’s safer indoors with us.’ Unfortunately, it doesn’t go well. There’s a hitch at the end of the [episode], which is a real page-turner for me. And it really sets the season on a whole other level.”
During their snowy excursion, the team learns a twisted tale of Kier’s late twin, Dieter Eagan. Helly has baby goats (code for “sex with Mark S”) in a tent. And the hitch Tillman teased? Irving realizes that Helly’s outie, Helena Eagan, took her place on the Severed Floor after Season 1’s OTC drama. Following his epiphany, he nearly drowns the CEO in waiting, and as punishment for his actions, Milchick “permanently” dismisses him from the company.
When asked about her thoughts on the big Episode 4 twist, Lower — who gives a career great performance this season, achieving dazzling duality as Helena and Helly — described the exciting challenge of uncovering different facets of her character.
“There’s something called the Droste effect, which is this ad for a cocoa. It was a woman holding this can of cocoa. And on the can of cocoa was her holding the can of cocoa. And then, in the end, it’s just to infinity,” Lower explained, referencing the famous Dutch cocoa company packaging. “That’s what it feels like, creating characters that are different parts. There’s like, this recursive effect, as if looking in an infinity mirror…like a Russian doll.”
While the “Woe’s Hollow” storylines are incredibly compelling and performances from Lower, Tillman, and Turturro are next-level, the stunning views and landscapes of the unique filming location absolutely make the episode. So what was it like getting out of the office and shooting an ORTBO?
“Cold,” Zach Cherry swiftly concluded during a Zoom interview.
“Cold,” Turturro echoed. “But beautiful and vibrant. I think it was a good experience for all of us together. I loved doing it, even though it was really arduous and snowy and stuff. But it was great…It was exciting to do it. It was basically like making a movie.”
“It felt like we were making a movie in the ’70s, like Sorcerer or Apocalypse Now or something, where people would just go out into the land, into the world, and start filming stuff,” Scott explained. “There we were, all alone out in the wilderness making the show. And we were out there for a while — more than what it usually takes to film an episode of television, that’s for sure… It was crazy. And really fun. And unbelievably challenging, because we were working, obviously, up in the mountains.”
The episode filmed in Ulster County, New York’s Minnewaska State Park Preserve, “situated on the dramatic Shawangunk Mountain ridge, which rises more than 2,000 feet above sea level and is surrounded by rugged, rocky terrain.” Awosting Falls served as the Woe’s Hollow waterfall, and on The Severance Podcast, Ben Stiller shared that Irving’s dream sequence was filmed in an area called Sam’s Point, the team filmed scenes in a snowy blueberry field, and the Scissor Cave location was particularly challenging to access.
“We would have to take these Gators up the mountain every morning — these little vehicles —and then rope up, we had safety lines. It was like an actual team building experience about team building,” Lower explained. “And pretty breathtaking, in terms of the views.”
“Yeah. Sometimes a little nerve-racking. We were up really high,” Turturro chuckled. “And exotic [views]. I slept really well after those days, I’ll tell you that.”
Despite the chilling temperatures and arduous conditions, since Season 1’s sets were largely limited to Lumon’s Severed Floor for a number of the actors, including Tillman, the field trip was ultimately a refreshing change of pace.
“We get to go outside!” Tillman exclaimed. “It is so fun to be able to travel. It was like a big field trip. And we had the best crew to ensure that we were safe, that we were warm, that we had everything that we needed at our disposal. And I have to give credit to our cinematographer, Jessica Lee Gagné, who was incredible in creating these shots. I mean, every shot of this outside experience, it’s like art. It’s fascinating.”
Though Tillman agrees the experience was “freezing,” he also took a moment to celebrate the furry fits that he and his fellow cast members wore, explaining that he was involved in choosing Milchick’s distinct snow white ensemble.
“It’s funny about that, because Ben had this idea of creating this world where Milchick had more of, like, a ski outfit. But I thought it would be more interesting for him to tie in with the more historical aspect of Kier of that time,” Tillman explained. “He wants to create this experience for them as well. Like, these are the footsteps that Kier Eagan has walked. So let’s embody it fully. So this kind of 18th century, 17th century garb was really quite fun to really embody and live in, with Milchick having his own spin on it.”
Craving more “Woe’s Hollow” insights? Be sure to read Decider’s in-depth Season 2, Episode 4 recap.
New episodes of Severance Season 2 premiere Fridays on Apple TV+.