Westworld: ‘Phase Space’ Part 2 in-depth review

Photo Credit: Westworld/HBO Image Acquired from HBO Media Relations
Photo Credit: Westworld/HBO Image Acquired from HBO Media Relations

A review of Westworld Season 2, Episode 6 in 3 parts: Part 2

Spoilers ahead for Westworld season 2, episode 6, “Phase Space”!

Westworld
Photo Credit: Westworld/HBO Image Acquired from HBO Media Relations

Falling from Grace

The journey of William takes a different turn of events with the arrival of his daughter Grace, who has found him and is now doggedly following along, with Lawrence’s posse. Just as any doting father is happy to see his child, William spends the entire day with her as she convinces him that the game has ended, and he should head to the boats with her to leave Westworld.

As William and Grace are spending quality time getting to know one another, there is an endearing, teary-eyed moment, but they will not be making the journey together as they lament of the death of his wife and her mother. It might be possible that Grace was called into the park because of Theresa dying, who was really her mother and William’s wife.

Perhaps Grace is desperate to get her father out of a place that she only considers as ‘a game’, before he also ends up attacked by robots like her mom. However, expectations are not met, and Grace finds herself yet again abandoned, and alone.

This is very dangerous for William, as he is likely to meet up with Dolores or Maeve again in the parks, and neither will be happy to see him. Will Grace continue fighting to get him out, or will she return to civilization alone?…

Westworld
Credit: HBO

Tunnel Vision

The scene turns to Bernard and Elsie who are walking along the railway tracks back to the Delos train station entrance located in a mountain, as she discusses updates being still sent by Ford’s quarantine notices.  She has some hope the system can be restored, but Bernard is not convinced. The location also becomes very significant in this episode! 

As they move through Delos Labs, they find a terminal and start reviewing the QA activity log to restore parts of the system, but they realize that the CR4-DL is improvising and blocking any change attempts. It has also been connected to every ‘discreet system’ in the park for some days.

They also notice that the source code cannot be viewed, which could lead them to the person sending out the messages. Bernard’s suggests that someone must access the system ‘in person’.

Westworld Season 2, Episode 6
Photo Credit: Westworld/HBO Image Acquired from HBO Media Relations

It’s all in your head, Bernard

Bernard and Elsie are now trying to find a way to hack into the hack into the CR4-DL and the only way to do it is to use Bernard as a key to enter via a backdoor in the form of an old docking station.

This station is used with older hosts and he is not too concerned about the consequences of entering the CR4-DL, with the wrong shaped skull and a great deal of pain. Bernard has a desire to find out what is happening in there, and who is manipulating the hosts, as Elsie states the new data is trying to kill them.

From what Elsie is implying, the CR4-DL is a place where every single mind resides. I am starting to think this could include human souls, which is why he stole the red ball from the laboratory in his flashback.

Next: Westworld season 2, episode 6 recap: Phase Space

This indicates the souls or ‘organic data’ could be transported into the CR4-DL the same as host data using the balls or ‘soul capsules’. Bernard is just a shell as he sits in the docking station.

Outside, a new Strike Team Assembles to meet with Ashley but they are not very friendly. This is the second time that Ashley has been criticized by senior Delos staff.

This conflict may unravel to become a significant moment in future episodes. Coughlin is not impressed with Ashley and regards him as a rookie and doesn’t want his contributions or help, rendering him a guide to his team as he goes off in search of Charlotte.

Read ahead for part three of this Westworld recap!

Westworld airs every Sunday on HBO at 9 PM EST!