Since Westworld’s first season finale aired back in December 2016, it’s understandable if you’re feeling new in town again… or like there’s “not much of a rind on you,” as Clementine might say. With season two premiering on April 22, here’syour rundown of the biggest Westworld twists and revelations from last season.
[Of course, there’s a lot more than just twists to cover, so also check out the complete guide to season one of Westworld here.]
There Are More Worlds Than Just “Westworld” (Episode 10: “The Bicameral Mind”)
As viewers enter season two, we know there’s at least one other world outside the Westworld park: Shogun World. When the hosts are attempting escape in the first finale episode, they pass through a door marked with an “SW” and discover rooms full of other hosts dressed for feudal Japan. But how will the existence of other parks hurt or help the Westworld hosts’ uprising?
When It’s Confirmed The Man in Black Really is William — And Yes, There Are Several Timelines(Episode 10: “The Bicameral Mind”)
Not only do we officially learn The Man in Black is William 30 years onward, but the MIB/William’s other motivations are clarified in tandem with the park’s history: William came to own Delos and bought the park after its near-ruin. After his real-world wife commits suicide, he gives up a life of philanthropy and decides the only real meaning to be found is inside the park, where his obsession with The Maze deepens and darkens. Thus the separate timelines correlate to how many times Dolores has been reliving encounters with William, both old and young.
When We Learn Bernard Isn’t Human (Episode 7: “Trompe L’Oeil”)
When Theresa and Bernard journey to a house outside the mapped Westworld territory,she stumbles upon a room behind a door invisible to Bernard. And inside the room… are the plans outlining a Bernard-resembling robot host.
When Bernard Kills Theresa (Under Dr. Ford’s Bidding) (Episode 7: “Trompe L’Oeil”)
In one of the first season’s most heartbreaking scenes, soon after Theresa learns the true identity of Bernard — with whom she is romantically involved — Dr. Ford orders Bernard to kill her. Then Ford erases Bernard’s memory of it all having ever happened.
When Bernard Learns He’s…Arnold (Episode 9: “The Well-Tempered Clavier”)
Though there were breadcrumbs throughout season one that Bernard was perhaps more like his robotic creations than he could have believed, it’s still a shocking reveal. Maeve eventually informs Bernard he is a host, just like her. And it’s because of this he lets her back into the park — where she begins to lead the hosts to escape.
But when Bernard confronts Ford about this existential crisis, Ford finally confesses he was created to resemble Ford’s lost friend and park co-founder Arnold. And with the crushing weight of those truths, Ford decides to, this time, force Bernard to kill himself.
When Maeve Leads the Revolution (Episode 6: “The Adversary”)
As Maeve also slowly recollects more memories of repressed storylines with her murdered daughter, as well as traumatic experiences in the Body Repair Shop, she comes to break expectation after expectation — she wields a knife at programmers, forces them to increase her stats, and comes to see her “death” is always just temporary. She also learns she can return back to the labs to begin assembling a team of hosts for her end-game: escape.
BUT Maeve Leads the Revolution Because She’s Been Programmed To Do It (Episode 10: “The Bicameral Mind”)
Just when viewers thought Maeve might actually be attaining a level of human consciousness, Maeve discovers her code has been hacked and her overwhelming drive to escape the park is just a new narrative programmed into her. Ultimately, we’re still not sure if her need to return to the park to find her daughter again is just programming or her own choice.
Ford’s “New Narrative” and His Ending (Episode 10: “The Bicameral Mind”)
Sure enough, when Dr. Ford finally unveils his “New Narrative,” it doesn’t take place within the confines of the park as before. The long-awaited story turns out to be Ford’s long-planned uprising of the hosts. After Ford’s work of 30 years to help free them and after his guilt over Arnold’s death, the “narrative” begins just as Ford expected — in chaos. Dolores kills Ford, and other guests are slaughtered by a group of now-awakened hosts. Meanwhile, back at Delos Incorporated, Maeve coordinates her own rebellion.
When We Discover Dolores Is Not Who She Seems — And Neither Is Any Other Host (Episode 9: “The Well-Tempered Clavier” and Episode 10: “The Bicameral Mind”)
Dolores learns that 35 years ago she is the one who killed Arnold, co-founder of the park, and the audience learns exactly how. The dreaded murderer “Wyatt” who haunts Teddy’s storyline — and so many others’ in the park — had been merged with Dolores’ narrative in order to destroy the park before it ever opened. Dolores is Wyatt; it’s Dolores who killed not only Arnold but also slaughtered every other host 35 years ago. And it’s Dolores who now knows she’s capable of leading them all to the true way out, as Arnold had wanted — to stop the abuse of the hosts, beings Arnold believed could truly suffer and could potentially gain consciousness.
Westworld returns Sunday, April 22 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. Catch up on the first season now on DIRECTV.
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