(just so we’re clear, while the kier-imogene dynamic is clearly paralleled with helena and mark, it is also reiterated in cobel and mark, dr mauer and gemma, and even burt and irving to some extent; season 2 has also made it a point to show us that helena and cobel are both victims in their own ways while being perpetrators. it is not a black and white situation and misogyny will get you blocked.)

yeah yeah evil middle management whatever milchick is constantly trying to insert Fun into the process, and while it's mostly corporate manipulation, corporate crucially does not approve of it. he is really putting too much effort into things. he dances during the Music/Dance Experience. sets up a scavenger hunt during the ORTBO when it could've been a powerpoint. the entire concept of an ORTBO actually. the bonfire. he reads out loud and does the voices. none of it ever goes well (what with the biting and the carrot penis etc) but he doesn't stop, even despite the negative feedback from the Board. he wants to be playful and childish so bad but he can't, and he keeps trying to provide that to the innies because he clearly wishes someone would do that for him, but they hate it, they don't appreciate it, and he takes it sooooo personally it's stupid

and she is serious. she can get real fucking serious real fast with subordinates and superiors alike. she can fix her face into this subtle yet penetrating show of dominance, again, against anyone. but no matter what her voice is still so thin and high because shes a baby

the first time we see her break that professional facade is at the ORTBO where she has the same childlike wonder as the innies do at fire.

That to me feels very intentional in order to make us instantly relate to the innies, who see none of the money they earn and enjoy none of the product of their labour.

Would our opinion on severance change from the start if we knew, for instance, severed employees made a thousand dollars a day? What about five thousand? Ten?? What’s the amount at which you’d split your soul? We are all imprisoned by capitalism, what would it take for you to make that step over the edge into becoming one of its jailors?

I was so goddamn excited when iMark and oMark started talking with the camcorder, and it was so clear that iMark was incredibly touched at the start, that his outie had been thinking about him, wanted to talk to him, apologized to him. But oMark fucked up BAD the moment he belittled iMark's relationship with Helly and got her name wrong. It mirrored Helena getting Gemma's name wrong in the restaurant, and it was the same flavour of disrespect and disregard. oMark obviously isn't anywhere close to as malicious as Helena, but this scene made it extra clear that he doesn't see iMark as his full equal, and iMark realized it too.

So when the time came, it made perfect sense that he acted how he did. Mark nearly died, accidentally committed murder, and more in the span of a few minutes. iMark rescued Gemma, saw her safely out the fire escape door, and in doing so discharged his duty to oMark. He was in an insane and impossible situation, somehow managed to accomplish his mission, and then once that was done, he stepped fully into his agency for the first time in his short life and made the choice HE wanted to make!!!

I completely and fully disagree with people saying that that choice didn't make any sense. Of course he and Helly don't know where they're going. Of course they don't know what they're doing. But they were ready for death, had had their final parting, and then iMark said no!