Apple TV+After Harmony Cobel’s backstory episode, star Patricia Arquette has finally given a reason behind her bizarre and memorable pronunciation of Mark’s name throughout Severance.
It’s been a while since Cobel was last on-screen in Severance Season 2 – the second episode, in fact. But Episode 8 takes a turn and focuses on her backstory, finally justifying why she views herself as one of the most important figures in Lumon. (It’s because she is.)
Cobel has always remained something of a mystery, much like the rest of the Apple TV+ show itself. But among many of her strange habits, one thing fans have noticed is her dreamy, sometimes exaggerated pronunciation of “Mark.” (“Mahhrrk.”)
Now, star Patricia Arquette has revealed why she says it that way, and where she got the inspiration from.
Patricia Arquette explains “Mark” pronunciation in Severance
Speaking to Variety, Arquette explained that the pronunciation was her own invention, which came after she learned more about Cobel’s character and backstory.
“I came up with that when they were telling me how Harmony grew up in this place, and even just the lore of tempers and all the different things — there was an old world-ishness about it,” she said.
“I knew I wanted to have this sound, since I knew that Harmony hadn’t really been raised so much by her mom as these figures of higher authority. And, I thought, authority has this certain tone. If you think about a drill sergeant, there’s a certain kind of meter and a certain kind of tone and a certain kind of authority.
Apple TV+“And then you think of all these different people in upper management, the way that upper management sounds. I think she had formed a sound based on her idea of what that is.”
She also explained how the TV show Maude (which ran from 1972-1978 in the US) partly inspired Cobel’s speech and language.
“There was a certain way that Bea Arthur speaks, that there’s a tiny, tiny pinch of the tip of the hat to Maude also,” Arquette added. “And there’s some joy that I think Cobel has to luxuriate on his name. It means a lot to her.”
Severance Season 2 Episode 8 is available to stream now.
For more, check out everything else out on Apple TV+ this month. You can also take a look at the best TV shows of 2025 so far, and keep up with the Severance Season 2 release schedule.
