[SithCeNtZ]

Originally Posted by Zebedee DuBois

Not sure if these thoughts are worth spoiler-ing, but will err on the side of caution.

Spoiler!

1. I concur with the thought that Helly R is posing as an innie - though I don't know why since all their conversations appear to be recorded. The other reason for her off-ness could be the romantic thing, and I think outie Helena was intrigued by that kiss as well.
2. I think Lumon has control over the outie as well as the innie. I guess both are classified as Lumon employees. The ability to get them all back to the severed floor by offering a pineapple gift basket points to switches in the outies that can be activated. Selvig asks if a pineapple was involved. When an employee is severed, the company has control over both entities. The theme of Evil Industry exerting mind control over the populace.
3. The Keir cult worship is creepy AF. It doesn't appear non Lumon employees are even aware of the cult the innies are immersed in. Perhaps it is a control tool for the severed who have a child-like emotional level - or a mechanism for full emotional control.
4. Rikken is a hoot.

Spoiler!

On 1, I think it makes sense she would want to go down as herself after her innie tried to kill her and sabotage her entire company. Plus as you said, I think she's intrigued at why her innie kissed Mark.

On 2, I agree and disagree. On the pineapple thing, I took that as more of a sign that Cobel was saying that Mark wasn't important and everything they do is extremely calculated. The gift wasn't a true apology or anything like that, it was a standard calculated decision by the company.
On the other hand, I think there is definitely control going on but in a different way. Watching Dylan G in this episode, I think they are grooming his innie to take over his outie completely. I think his wife is annoyed with his outie as being lazy and unhelpful, but his innie is motivated and "better". That's why she lies as to how it went. And once they offer his innie this opportunity, then Lumen controls him forever because they can always "kill" his innie at any time. Dylan G will become a company man for life. It wouldn't surprise me if several other characters like Cobel and Milchek have already had this happen.