Why Are Burt and Fields Calling Each Other Attila in Severance, Explained

Severance ’s new season has been packed with major shocking revelations since its first episode’s arrival on Apple TV+, but nothing else might be able to top the eerie plot twist in episode 6.

The storyline picks the previous episode’s primary plot lines, following Irving’s life after he got fired from Lumon for his innie’s behaviour at the ORTBO; however, he isn’t written off the story yet as Irving appears to be quite determined to bring Lumon to justice, unraveling all of its dark secrets and eventually completely destroying its reputation.

Still, even if Lumon and its big bosses are obviously set up to be confronted by the former employee, there’s something that so far has slipped Irving’s mind — that is, a planned betrayal from the one he expected the least to do so.

Severance’s Season 2 Episode 6 Unravels Burt’s Evil Nature

In the new episode, Irving keeps his promise as he goes on to visit his former co-worker and love interest Burt after the latter invites him to dinner at the end of episode 5. Unlike his innie, outie Burt lives with his husband Fields, which is already quite an uncomfortable premise for Irving, though things get even more complicated throughout the course of the evening.

Irving soon starts feeling hostility coming from Fields, and it only gets creepier when Burt suddenly reveals that he and his husband are calling each other “Attila” after previously using the word “hon.” Burt then smiles at Irving, wondering if he “knows history.”

The history here is most likely a reference to the historical figure Attila the Hun — the ruler of Huns in the V century, infamous for his cruelty and even killing his own brother to gain full control over the power they shared.

This is also a striking reminder of Lumon Industries’ Kier Eagan who, probably inspired by Attila’s story, also killed his brother Dieter in an attempt to keep all the power to himself. Now, fans are sure that this not-so-endearing nickname sure does mean something.

Despite Retirement, Burt Is Likely to Stay With Lumon For Much Longer

As if Burt’s sudden change of mind in regard to his relationships with Irving wasn’t enough, the episode suggests he might have actually had a lot to do with the mess that Irving’s departure from Lumon caused.

As the three continue with their dinner, Severance sees the company’s security chief Mr. Drummond apparently raiding Irving’s house, using one key from a ring with a whole collection of those, which suggests Lumon Industries has a way to come into any of its employees’ house in case there’s a need to.

The show’s fans were quick to connect the dots as some suggested that Burt’s dinner was nothing more than just a red herring.

“Do not trust Burt whatsoever. getting Irving out of the house so his stuff could be raided?”, a Redditor ediskrad73 wrote, while others also went into a new discussion of Burt not being severed at all.

Another user braggpeak delved into the matter of Burt’s real purpose in Lumon, saying that “makes sense with that nice house, most other severed workers are not living like that” and thus implying that he has been the company’s spotter all along.