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Westworld Season 1 Finale Fan Reaction: Violent Delights Have Violent Ends

by | December 4, 2016 | Comments

Westworld Episode 10: Ingrid Bolso Berdal, Leonardo Nam, Rodrigo Santoro, Thandie Newton. (John P. Johnson/HBO)

The first season of HBO’s thriller Westworld concluded Sunday with “The Bicameral Mind,” and it was a literal mind-blower. Fans took to social media to air their feelings, freakouts, and doubts about their own humanity.

But since we won’t get another new episode of the groundbreaking series for two years, this 90-minute finale had to wrap up a lot of loose ends ― and of course, raise a ton of frustrating new questions.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

STOP HERE IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN EPISODE 10, SEASON 1 OF WESTWORLD

THE ASSASSINATION OF ROBERT FORD BY THE CYBORG DOLORES ABERNATHY

Westworld Episode 10: Evan Rachel Wood. (John P. Johnson/HBO)

 

Dr. Ford’s (Anthony Hopkins) final, grand narrative had nothing to do with stereotypical savage hordes or even a return to the simpler times of that city swallowed by sand. Ever a thousand steps ahead of those scheming against him, Ford determined that the best story the Hosts can tell is the one they write themselves.

So, he plans for Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) to make a decision ― the first real decision she’s ever made in her life: to shoot Ford in the head, as he toasts goodbye to the snooty Delos board.

And according to social media, it will go down as one of the best death scenes in the history of television.

Of course, there are plenty of people who are already theorizing that murdered Ford was merely a Host ― because Westworld has taught us that we can’t trust anything we see on Westworld.

ROBOPOCALYPSE NOW!

Westworld Episode 10: Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood. (John P. Johnson/HBO)

It also looks like Dolores’ trip to the center of the maze has given the Man in Black (Ed Harris) what he was looking for all this time: a narrative where the Hosts don’t play by the rules. But now that the Hosts are at the top of the pyramid, are they going to stop at taking control of their own world?

Westworld Episode 5: Jimmi Simpson and Ed Harris. (John P. Johnson/HBO)

Speaking of the Man in Black, the finale finally confirmed what fans had suspected for many episodes, that he was in fact William (Jimmi Simpson) 30 years older in the present timeline.

But some fans appreciated the reveal nonetheless.

MAVERICK OR MADAME?

Westworld Episode 2: Thandie Newton. (John P. Johnson/HBO)

One of the most heartbreaking, if quick, revelations of “The Bicameral Mind” was that Maeve (Thandie Newton) was actually narrative this whole time, one that allowed her to awaken during analysis, recruit cohorts, and escape. Maeve had been a fan favorite since the beginning, and the idea that she was liberating herself, under the radar of Delos management gave hope to viewers. Not so anymore.

Westworld Episode 8: Tessa Thompson (John P. Johnson/HBO)

But there’s hope yet! Some suspect Charlotte Hale (Tessa Thompson) had programmed Maeve to escape with Westworld’s backed up data. If Ford had overwritten Maeve with the ability of free will, perhaps her choice to hop off the train and return to the park was not part of Charlotte’s narrative after all.

OPEN QUESTIONS

Westworld Episode 6: Shannon Woodward. (John P. Johnson/HBO)

Of course, it wouldn’t be an episode of Westworld without leaving a TON of open questions. What the heck happened to Stubbs (Luke Hemsworth) last week? Is Elsie (Shannon Woodward) dead or isn’t she? Was it Ford who gave Maeve the whole escape narrative – and will she ever actually be free? AND SAMURAI WORLD!?!

Needless to say, this supersized season finale has given fans a lot to chew on, and they’ll have plenty of time to digest: Season 2 likely won’t premiere until 2018.

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