Westworld: Pathways to reality: The best and worst moments from S2E8

"“Reality is what we take to be true.” –Physicist David Bohm"

Westworld ‘Kiksuya’ initial thoughts: Caution, spoilers ahead!

‘Kiksuya’ is easily the most moving and memorable episode of the series so far for me, so this was a really tough breakdown. I adored every second of it, and I’m pleased that it actually confirmed some of my more “out-there” theories in addition to some beautiful surprises. It was hard to narrow down the best moments, and there really are no worst scenes, so this was a challenge. Let’s get to it, shall we?

Best Moments

• Akecheta’s realization of consciousness and memory (which is what the episode is all about). The flashbacks are beautifully shot, impeccably performed, and overwhelming with emotion.
• Reunion with Kohana, who has also gone off her path. Their relationship is probably the truest in the series. In particular the exchange: “Take my heart when you go,” followed by Akecheta’s reply: “Take mine in its place.” Simply stunning.
• The parallels with Maeve leading up to Akecheta being in somewhat-psychic communication with her the whole time. Lovely narrative arc.
• Akecheta’s connection to Maeve’s daughter. This was a small but meaningful moment.
• Honestly, every scene with Akecheta and/or Kohana, because let’s be real here—they blew us away this episode. Julia Jones and Zahn McClarnon were flat-out world-moving here.

So-Called “Worst” Moments

There aren’t really any worst moments, so I’m going with most underwhelming.

• The reveal of Dolores as “the Deathbringer.” We all saw that coming.
• The teensy glimpse of the Valley Beyond. Definitely leaves viewers anxious to see more!
• Akecheta’s realization that Kohana is gone. Heart-breaking and, again, performed with fantastic range and attention to detail by the incredible Zahn McClarnon.
• I had hoped for more Arnold memories than Ford interactions in this episode, but maybe that’s to come.
• Fans have been theorizing for ages about the Man in Black and Ghost Nation, so it wasn’t as big a revelation as it was probably intended to be.

Final Thoughts

This was my #1 Westworld episode to date, which is saying a lot. Maybe it’s because I’m registered Cherokee Nation and identify with some First Nations subtleties, but honestly, I think we all know it was the standout performances by Zahn McClarnon and Julia Jones, who carried it all the way. Beautiful arc into both Arnold’s Maze and the Maeve storyline.

Themes of love and family and memories are not something one associates with A.I., but it’s there. As I’ve said before, from a neuroscientific standpoint we only define being “real” as being human, and we define human as…human. That doesn’t make sense. We can’t define a word by itself, and we certainly can’t use that to call it superior or more genuine than something else.

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It’s not how we are built that makes us real. My sister has a so-called “artificial” neurostimulator implanted in her spine so she can walk. Is she human? I know a man with a false hand—is he not human? I’m a synesthetic Savant, which means my brain doesn’t work anything like what we normally define as human—am I not human?

We take medications to help with things like brain chemistry, heart problems, and other “natural” malfunctions—are those people no longer real? In this case, I’m agreeing with Arnold’s conclusion that the hosts are more real than we are.

I’m reminded of the words of my favorite poet, John Keats:

"“Poetry itself a mere Jack a lanthern to amuse whoever may chance to be struck with its brilliance — As Tradesmen say every thing is worth what it will fetch, so probably every mental pursuit takes its reality and worth from the ardour of the pursuer — being in itself a nothing — Ethereal thing[s] may at least be thus real, divided under three heads — Things real — things semireal — and no things — Things real — such as existences of Sun Moon & Stars and passages of Shakespeare.Next: Westworld: Season 2, episode 8 recap: Part oneThings semireal such as Love, the Clouds & which require a greeting of the Spirit to make them wholly exist — and Nothings which are made Great and dignified by an ardent pursuit — Which by the by stamps the burgundy mark on the bottles of our Minds, insomuch as they are able to “consec[r]ate whate’er they look upon..Eve[r]y point of thought is the centre of an intellectual world — the two uppermost thoughts in a Man’s mind are the two poles of his World he revolves on them and every thing is southward or northward to him through their means — We take but three steps from feathers to iron.“"

Combine this with some Kafka and Bertrand Russell and Keats’s concept of “negative culpability”, and you have the makings of reality in any form you choose.

What were some of your favorite and not-so-favorite moments from the episode? Share your comments below!

Westworld airs every Sunday on HBO at 9 PM EST!