Is the story of Grakappan from Severance Season 2 Episode 5 real?

Early on in Severance Season 2 Episode 5, aptly titled Trojan’s Horse, Milchick compares Helena Eagan going undercover as Helly since the events of the Season 1 finale to the story of Grakappan. (Prouncouced Grak-Shoe-Pin) But is the story of Grakappan actually real, or just made up by Milchick?

What is the Story of Grakappan?

The story of Grakappan is referenced by Milchick early on in the episode when Helly questions why her outie, Helean Eagan, was on the Severance floor imitating her. After pondering the question, Milchick responds with a question, “Have you ever heard the story of Grakappan?”. Understandably, none of them had.

“In ancient times the King of Sweden himself was known to go incognito amongst his people in the hopes of learning their true grievances. He would don an old, gray robe, a Grakappan, the name for which he was remembered, to disguise his royal vestments,” Milchick would explain. “Kier Eagan himself was known to do so in his ether factories, and Ms. Eagan was carrying on this noble tradition.”

So, according to Milchick, Helena Eagan was essentially doing her own version of Undercover Boss to try and learn the grievances of the MDR team to make Lumon a better workplace. We, the viewers, know that is not the case, and thankfully Mark, Helly, and Dylan aren’t buying it either.

The show, and more importantly management in Severance, like Milchick, are no strangers to making up stories, so it would be understandable to wonder if the story of Grakappan is actually true or even a rea♒𝐆l thing.

So is the Story of Grakappan actually real?

Yes, the story of Grakappan is actually real. After the end of the Scanian🧜 War between Sweden and Denmark in 1679, King Charles XI became known as the Greycoat, or the Grakappan in Swedish. He would intentionally disguise himself and visit villages across Sweden seeking🐬 to spot corruption against the populace from higher orders of power, usually the corrupt church.

Onღe famous story from King Charles XI actions as Grakappan talks of him visiting a village in disarray while its priest lived lavishly, while𒉰 another nearby village was in outstanding condition but its priest was in poverty. King Charles XI switched the two priests to solve this issue.

So the basis for Milchick’s comparison of Helena Eagan’s actions is based on real events. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if his story about Kier Eagan doing the same as his ether factories is a fabricated part of the story.