[rating=8.00] “Contrapasso”
To find the center of the maze is to “win” Westworld, or so it’s been made clear to us as we move further away from the park and into the mystery it’s enveloped by. While early speculation has led to a plethora of fan theories, we know at least a few things to be true. The Man in Black is not Arnold, in fact Ford is fully aware of his galivanting about the park as the self-proclaimed “villain.” During their first on screen interaction not only does Ford criticize the Man in Black for his anxious need to find a greater purpose, but he likens himself to god. His life didn’t go the way he planned, so instead, he’s made his own.
What I find interesting is Ford’s ability to simply control the hosts with a thought or motion, lending to the idea that perhaps his own subconscious is connected to their systems. In that case, the idea of the androids gaining a newfound sentience has stable legs. Truly the brain is a computer, so the idea of the complex human mind connecting to an epicenter of artificial intelligence isn’t all that crazy. Ford’s subconscious could be the key to the glitch the hosts are experiencing.
Then there’s always the voice that Delores has been hearing. While she confirmed her last interaction with Arnold was over thirty years ago when he died, she immediately turns around and goes back on her assertion, speaking to an unknown source about Ford’s ignorance. I’m partial to shows with a fucked-up twist dealing with mental illness (see: Mr. Robot), so part of me is hoping this is all somehow stemming from Ford without his inherent knowledge. He’s lost so much of his humanity, perhaps it has split off into two different personas?
The flashback Delores has after standing next to the graves and the dead man’s bell tells a different story though, and we perhaps hear Arnold’s voice for the first time. “You will know how to find me.” Playing off the idea of the brain being a computer, I think it would be fair to wonder if Arnold was able to upload his own consciousness into the host’s before he died, holding the ultimate control of the park even after he was gone. Delores also had a strange flashback to what could be equated as her childhood, but the brevity of it left us with only the church we saw Ford eyeing before. Perhaps this was where Arnold met his demise. Or then again, this could be the key to unlocking the “secrets” both the man in black and Delores are now seeking.
While there’s always a chance this underlying story is just part of the game, there’s a different pacing to the maze aspects than we see with anything else in the park. Yes, it could all lead to a disappointing end/Arnold’s last revenge on Ford and the park itself, but at least it will be entertaining along the way.
As Delores engulfs herself in this new narrative that she’s chasing, Maeve is embracing her newfound sentience. After her last brush with death she has been sent back to the chop shop where the “butchers” piece her back together again. Her story has taken a turn, as not only has she gained awareness of the world around her, but she has also gotten to the point where she’s able to control other androids around her. This is crazy dangerous. Maeve can feel her humanity creeping in, but even that is part of the program. Between her and Delores the machines are going to take over the park and, oh god it’s right behind you! Just kidding, hopefully.
Unfortunately, as William feared, the story has perpetuated him into a dangerous situation taking place outside of the regular bounds of the park. After their little stint in Pariah they’ve been pushed into this alt revolution occurring between those of Hispanic descent and the still reigning white old west types. What I find most interesting is that while the park is designed to keep the story going, this time it doesn’t seem to be for the guest, William (who is potentially going to be a part of the investment to keep the story going) but instead, Delores. Again, this goes back to her hearing voices, and having an unknown connection to Arnold early in the park’s history. But thus far we’re still in the dark about how they’re driving her. Is it narratively? Or is it deeper than that, tapping into her inherent human emotions that have been so lovingly driven into her?
The big problem we found this week came from a revelation about the “stray” from before. While digging around, programmer Elsie finds a laser satellite contraption made to explicitly filter classified park information out into the ether. While would suck as normal corporate sabotage, they’re now facing problems with the androids gaining sentience and storylines running amuck. This could be the end of the park as they know, either from the public finding out about the dangers that await them, or from this unknown source that could be behind the issues they are facing in the first place. Either way, there’s some fuckery going on that will be covered up before it comes back to bury the whole operation.
I’m still on board with the idea of alternate timelines within the series, though as we learn more about the characters and their interactions it becomes less and less likely. Unless Ford and the other programmers are also hosts to a greater power, their interactions are indicative of everything happening in the present. Ford is too old to be able to bounce back and forth between these story loops without us seeing the difference in his age. I’m hoping next week we get more from Maeve and her sudden awareness of self, but for now I think we’ll all just have to be pleased with Delores finally breaking out of the damsel in distress role.
