Westworld: Go behind the scenes of the Mesa shootout in “Les Écorchés”

Sunday night’s new episode of Westworld, “Les Écorchés,” saw a convergence of story arcs at the Westworld headquarters. Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) and her army assaulted the Mesa so she could retrieve her father Peter Abernathy (Louis Herthum) from Charlotte Hale (Tessa Thompson) and destroy the Cradle, where every host is backed up. Meanwhile, Bernard (Jeffrey Wright) learned more about Dr. Ford’s (Anthony Hopkins) plans, and Lee Sizemore (Simon Quarterman) brought Maeve to the Mesa after Delos’ QA teams shot her multiple times. It was an eventful night.

In this week’s behind-the-scenes video, the cast and crew discuss filming the big action scene at the episode’s center. Roll the tape:

The Mesa HQ has gone from a controlled, placid environment in season 1 to a chaotic hellscape in season 2. You’ve gotta love the flip.

This was a big episode for Dolores/Wyatt, who confronted her human puppet masters head on.  “The test this season was not losing my mind playing Wyatt, because she’s absolutely terrifying and a complete anarchist,” Wood said of her character. “But she’s kind of making sense, and that’s what I think makes her the most terrifying.”

Wood also talks about the relationship Dolores shares with her father. “Him and I, since the pilot, were really committed to making this father-daughter relationship as real as possible.” Dolores knows Peter must be sacrificed if she’s going to be free, but the two share a tender moment before Dolores gets back to her mission.

"I think that’s definitely a scene where we see all the different layers to her, and we’re reminded of why she’s doing what she’s doing. But then on a dime, she can switch right back into Wyatt who takes no prisoners."

As for Dolores’ motives in season 2, Wood is adamant that “she’s not a psychopath. I don’t think she’s getting pleasure out of what she’s doing, but I think we also wanted to allow her moments of victory. The slight little smile. Because, bless her heart, she has been through a lot, and I think she deserves to enjoy it a little.”

Wood has spoken up for Dolores during this season. We’ll see if she does anything else that needs defending in Episode 208, “Kiksuya.”

Next: Westworld season 2, episode 7 recap: “Les Écorchés”

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