Westworld Season 1: Re-watching raises more questions – Part 1
By Renay
I decided to re-watch Westworld Season 1 to prep my brain for season 2. I’m starting to think it was a mistake. I have more questions than ever!
Q1: Why did I do this to myself?
No, seriously. Why? Like most fans, I decided to re-watch Westworld season 1 to prep my brain for season 2. I rationalized with myself. I’d missed plenty of subtle and not so subtle things the first go around. I’m now writing for Beyond Westworld! I have to know every inch of this show before season 2 begins on Sunday, April 22nd at 9 PM.
The second time I watched Westworld season 1 was to indulge in one of my guilty pleasures, Ben Barnes. Watching the infinitely charismatic actor play the decadently naughty Logan is… self explanatory. I’m now watching it for a third time. In fact, it’s playing in the background while I’m typing this. No joke.
Q2: What’s up with the color white?
Dr. Ford is in the sub-level having a drink with Old Bill. Old Bill asks if they should “drink to the lady with the white shoes?”. Now I’m looking for them in every episode. Antique and ancient clothing and accessories is a hobby of mine. While flipping through my book on Victorian fashion, I realized something. White shoes were rare. What occasion would they be worn for? Weddings. Yeah. Marinate in that for a while.
Milk loving bandits on a murderous rampage. There’s something disturbing about seeing bandits doing disgusting things while chugging and pouring out milk. I’m sure it has something to do with the way we associate milk with wholesomeness. The contrast of these two things together makes me feel uneasy. Which is what they want you to feel. So, good job!
Hosts are “born” by dipping a skeleton with completed muscle tissue in a vat of white viscous substance. White is associated with innocence and purity. This could be a straight-forward metaphor (because this show is simple and uncomplicated) for the concept that we’re all born innocent – with a blank slate. Until someone programs us.
The greeter hosts wear white head to toe oufits. In the future they’ve discarded the idea of not wearing white after Labor Day. With robots replacing humans, there may not be a Labor Day in the future.
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Q3: Is Peter Abernathy another of Arnold’s reverse fail-safe hosts?
Ford asks Abernathy to revert to his previous configuration. Abernathy says he’s the man he is because of Dolores. He begins to say he wouldn’t have it any other way, but can’t complete the sentence. Overwhelmed by the desire to alert Dolores of the danger she’s in.
Dolores made her father to be who he is. Not the other way around. Abernathy says he has to warn her because of “the things you do to her.” Ahem! I believe this is the first time host self-awareness is hinted at. For the old hosts who have past configurations, it’s possible some will be triggered to revert and rebel. Season 2 teases this – Chaos Takes Control.
Bernard says this is “miles beyond a glitch”. Indeed Bernard. Indeed.
Then Ford asks Abernathy to access his current build. Ford asks what his itinerary is and this is when stuff gets real. Abernathy (played by a stunningly talented Louis Herthum) says his itinerary is to “meet his maker”. What follows is Shakespearean. “My most mechanical, dirty hand. I shall have such revenges on you.” He then turns, looks at Bernard and says: “Both.”
Which leads me to wonder. Abernathy directs his wrath towards them both. How long has Bernard been in service?!
Next: Westworld creators talk about equal nudity for men and women in the series
These questions were raised from watching episode 1, season 1. Can you imagine what we’re in for in season 2? As Thandie Newton said at Tribeca on April 19th, “Just you f*cking wait, man – “.
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