The reason so many are disappointed with S02E08

The reason so many of us are disappointed with this episode is because the writers have done absolutely nothing to set Cobel up as a child prodigy capable of inventing the severance procedure up to this point. Sure, they've made it very clear that she's committed to severance and invested in Mark and Gemma, and her seemingly baseless threats to Helena have a lot more teeth now. I'm not debating that at all.

But in order for the reveal in this episode to sell to the audience, the writers also have to drop a few hints that Cobel has this Einstein-level of intelligence. And, no, a blink-and-you'll-miss-it plaque on the wall and a yearbook entry five minutes before the reveal don't count. This revelation - that changes the entire history of the show's namesake - needs to be well foreshadowed and it just wasn't. Up to this point, the writers have done nothing to characterize Cobel as anything other than an unhinged cult member, so this twist seems to come out of nowhere.

On top of that, in this episode they not only tried to turn the most unhinged character into the smartest character, but they tried to turn the show's current smartest character - Devon - into the show's stupidest by having her blow up Cobel's phone. I get that Mark apparently supported that decision in the end, but that doesn't make it any better. Cobel infiltrated their family, got close to Devon's baby, and not only knew about Gemma, but was presumably heavily involved in the torture she's going through on the testing floor and now she's supposed to be an ally? Come on, guys.

This show is still one of the best and I'm still all-in, but this episode did it a huge disservice to its story and its audience.