Apple TV+In Severance Season 2 Episode 6, Milchick mentions somewhere called “Wintertide” as he’s speaking to Miss Huang – and this finally explains why she joined Lumon.
Ever since Severance returned, questions have surrounded Miss Huang, the strict deputy manager of the severed floor… who also happens to be a child (and everyone loves to point that out).
We know she plays the theremin, and Episode 5 seemed to reveal she isn’t severed; she told Milchick he shouldn’t let the MDR team have a funeral for Irving because it would make them feel like “real people.”
Until Season 2 Episode 6, that was about it (besides her occasional habit of playing games at her desk). However, a frosty conversation with Milchick reveals some key information about her backstory.
Wintertide is a university in the world of Severance
While unconfirmed, it appears that Wintertide is a university in Kier, and Miss Huang is working as an intern at Lumon as part of a fellowship.
In Episode 6, Milchick calls Miss Huang into his office after his performance review. Remember, Mr Drummond cited two complaints against him: improper application of paper clips and his incessant use of big words. Miss Huang is the only person who would raise those concerns (probably out of spite).
“I feel I should remind you, you cannot graduate from this fellowship until I have deemed you Wintertide material,” he tells her.
Apple TV+“This will mean using your time well, focusing on your own duties, and eradicating from your essence childish folly.”
Taken completely at face value, that sounds like Miss Huang working at Lumon as part of a fast track to university. The use of the word fellowship is crucial, too, as Columbia University explains: “Fellowships are funded, short-term opportunities, that can last from a few weeks to a few years.
“They can be focused on professional, academic and/or personal development. Fellowships are sponsored by a specific association, organization, institution, or government which sets the eligibility requirements.”
Wintertide could have a darker meaning
Apple TV+There could be a simple reason for Wintertide’s name; after all, Kier seems to be a region that’s perpetually cold and snowy. However, there may be a darker meaning.
As fans have pointed out, there’s a 2023 movie called Wintertide with the following synopsis: “As an isolated northern city battles a plague of depression that transforms its victims into zombie-like automatons, a woman discovers that the key to immunity lies within her dreams.”
While we’ve still not been to Salt’s Neck, presumed to be Ms Cobel’s mysterious hometown, perhaps that’s where Wintertide is based. Or, maybe, it’s just a fun Easter egg – either way, it’s left viewers curious.
“I think the creators are enjoying throwing us these breadcrumbs. They’ve noted they don’t want to play games with the viewers and so want to give answers. But they also know we like to analyze and theorize and solve,” one wrote on Reddit.
Another fan cited Winter Tide, a 2017 novel set in the Cthulhu Mythos universe created by H. P. Lovecraft. Again, it could be an Easter egg or nothing at all – or, just maybe, it means something more.
If you’ve watched Episode 7, find out why you need to read The Death of Ivan Ilyich, why the Damona Birthing Retreat is so important, and keep our guide to the Severance Season 2 release schedule bookmarked.
You can also read our breakdowns on Asal Reghabi, the Glasgow Block, and the Lexington Letter. There’s another big theory you should read up on too: Helly might be pregnant.
