Westworld Theory: Is Bernard a copy of Arnold?

Now that we know Bernard is a host the popular Westworld theory that he may be a copy of Arnold is gaining traction.

SPOILER WARNING: AS WITH ALL OUR WESTWORLD THEORY POSTS THIS ONE MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS!

The reveal in this week’s episode of Westworld that Bernard was a host was the biggest twist yet from a show that loves to throw out crazy twists. The Westworld theory that Bernard was a host was already popular, yet the show is so elegantly written that those of us who thought this might be the case were still taken by surprise when the reveal finally happened.

We also know that hosts can’t see the things they aren’t supposed to see. That’s why Bernard couldn’t see the door to the underground lab until Theresa pointed it out to him and it’s why he said “it doesn’t look like anything to me” when he saw the sketches of the Bernard host.

This inability to see things that would compromise their view of themselves and their world by the hosts is important. In Bernard’s case it’s especially important when we think back to the photograph Ford showed him of Arnold.

Bernard saw two men in the photograph, and we now know those two men are Ford and Ford’s father, or at least the host version of Ford’s father. There’s an odd blank space in the photograph, like someone is missing.

If Bernard is a copy of Arnold he wouldn’t see Arnold in the picture, because that would destroy his perception of the world. So since we are seeing this scene from the point of view of Bernard we don’t see Arnold in the photograph either.

Another piece of the puzzle may be a question Ford keeps asking Bernard. Ford is constantly asking Bernard if he was working in the park when certain things happened.

“Were you with us back in those days Bernard?”

Now this could just be Ford not remembering if Bernard was around yet, but it’s unlikely. Ford isn’t the forgetful type, he’s the one pulling all the strings. Perhaps the question is a check of sorts. When Bernard was examining Hector he showed him images of the real world as a check on whether Hector was functioning properly. Hector’s response to being shown modern images was “they don’t look like anything to me.” Perhaps Ford’s question to Bernard is the same kind of check and Bernard’s standard “no, that was just before I arrived” is the response to that programming check.

Finally and most convincing to me are the scenes where Bernard and Dolores are interacting one on one. There are several things about these scenes that make me think that we may not be watching Bernard and Dolores, but Arnold and Dolores.

First the scenes take place in a basement lab that is similar to the one Ford has under the cottage. Bernard said that these basement labs were all over the park, used as mobile diagnostic labs, back in the early days.

In these scenes “Bernard” knows about the maze and wants Dolores to be free. If the Bernard we know is now a host had this knowledge wouldn’t that be a danger to Ford? Ford wouldn’t want a host to have that knowledge. This certianly ties into the multiple timelines theories, but it’s just hard to dismiss. Especially because we know Dolores and Arnold had a relationship and that she was probably involved in Arnold’s death.

We don’t have any evidence that a host is a copy of a real person yet, but we do have this eerie question from the Delos questionnaire on the Westworld website.

"You were in a car accident and unfortunately there is nothing left in the wreckage. Luckily you planned ahead and had your entire anatomy measured and mapped, and all of your memories logged and saved. An exact replica is constructed from all this information – is this you?"

Just another Westworld theory to keep you guessing!

NEXT: Breaking Down The Westworld Terms And Conditions

What do you think about this Westworld theory? Is Bernard a copy of Arnold? Let us know on Facebook or in the comments below.