Another element of all this is just the straight up misogyny behind how people see Hellyna, which is to say: it’s easier to focus on just one part of a female character and say that that trait is All She Is rather than accept that female characters can be nuanced and contradictory. Much like, you know, actual women in real life. No one is just one Thing. Helly is not just suicidal, prone to self harm, Lumon-hating, and “not cruel.” She’s also selfish, loving, funny, protective, and to an extent grateful for the severed floor’s existence because it allows her a place to live. You can’t just shove her into a box and then be surprised when she bursts out of it.

Something interesting I’ve noticed is how often Helly is depicted in fanart either holding the extension cord, or actively hanging herself in the elevator. To be clear this isn’t a criticism of these works by any means - they’re all gorgeous, stunning pieces. But the proliferation of this visual as the defining symbol of her character does, I think, reflect the larger fandom perception of Helly and explains why she’s getting the response she’s getting after the s2 finale.

Because the hanging happened in 1.04. 15 episodes have happened since. And yet I do feel like some fans have kind of frozen Helly in that moment. And I get it - it was one of the most emotional and impactful moments on the show, and in many ways it was the inciting incident that really put s1’s innie rebellion into motion. But it also was the start of Helly accepting who she is, and realizing that other people actually do care about her. In 1.05 we got Mark’s line “Look, I know you don’t want to be here, but I’m glad you are” as a direct response to the hanging, plus Dylan and Irving brainstorming ways to help cheer Helly up. After the hanging, her connections to MDR deepened to the point that by s2 they rivaled all the connections Helena had ever made in her entire life.

My point is - much like the “Helly was never cruel” line, the hanging was just one part of Helly’s character development. Both her and the show have moved on. “The real Helly would have pushed Mark through the door.” “The real Helly would rather die than stay on the severed floor.” Maybe Helly in 1.01-1.04. But not now. She has a life she loves now, and she doesn’t want to lose it.