Westworld: Breaking down the whirlwind season 2 finale
By Ariba Bhuvad
Westworld aired its season two finale last night and understandably we are all still trying to piece together the multiple timelines and the convoluted plot of it all–but we still love it, don’t we?
Westworld blew our minds once again with the sophomore season finale but left us gathering the pieces of the chaos in its aftermath. Thanks to The New York Times, we now have one article that leads us to all the different articles out there explaining season two and the epic season finale. We have so many questions, and not enough answers, so let’s see what amazing articles we can read to make sense of it all!
If you have not seen Sunday’s season two finale, please be cautious of major spoilers ahead! You have been warned, friends.
The New York Times
NYT broke down the season two finale with a recap diving deep into the Valley Beyond and all the biblical references of the episode. A 90-minute finale unleashed so much information and plot twists while tying in some heavy philosophical references. Check out their recap to gain a deeper understanding of what each reference meant in the context of season two’s story.
NYT’s Scott Tobias talked about the specific references that stood out during the episode:
"“Free will versus determinism would be a large enough theme for any show of its kind, but this week’s episode, titled ‘The Passenger,’ turns into a full-on biblical allegory, too, with references to Heaven, to Moses’s journey out of Egypt and to the Great Flood in Genesis.”"
The Atlantic
When exactly are we was the biggest question of season two and boy, was it a doozy. Throughout the season, we saw Bernard at different points in time, and sometimes we weren’t entirely sure it was actually him at all.
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The Atlantic’s Sophie Gilbert analyzed the final half-hour of the season finale and how it almost played out like a series finale. Her recap is instrumental in understanding the events that took place in the most crucial 30 minutes of the second season.
Particularly, she discusses Dolores/Charlotte’s escape out of the park and into the mainland and Maeve successfully saving her daughter by sacrificing her own life. I’d have to agree with her comment regarding Lee and his unnecessary death–but I guess he had to redeem himself in some way, right?
Another interesting point she makes is how Teddy made it into Host Eden–something we hope makes more sense when season three rolls around.
"“Dolores was reborn (born isn’t quite the right word but we do the best we can) into Charlotte Hale’s body, waved through security protocols by a (perhaps) in-on-the-secret Stubbs, and escorted onto a boat to her new life among humans on the mainland. Maeve made a triumphant escape, and survived long enough to usher her daughter to safety in a kind of robot paradise coded by Ford. Akecheta also made it to the other side, and a reunion with Kohana that was one of the most poignant moments of the season. Sizemore went out in a blaze of glory that seemed … unnecessary, logically? (He couldn’t have bought Maeve that much time, and Hector died anyway.) Dolores somehow (it’s unclear) brought Teddy back to life and dispatched him to Host Eden, even though the portal had already closed.”"
GQ
GQ’s Scott Meslow does a wonderful job breaking down every single wacky, crazy, and confusing moment of the season two finale. Many of us are wondering who exactly is dead after the massacre, and who is in host heaven. Thanks to Meslow, we are a bit closer to understanding. Check out his article to really get a handle on all the Westworld madness!
"“The Season Two finale really cleaned house on the core Westworld cast. For now, we’re down to three major characters, all of them hosts: Dolores (who can also secretly influence the Delos Corporation in her Charlotte Hale body), Bernard, and the Man in Black. The central conflict we’re left with is between Dolores and Bernard. Dolores has concluded that humans are an inferior life form to hosts, so she wants to kill all the people in the world and take over. Bernard still believes humankind deserves some kind of redemption.”"
The Wrap
The post-credits scene left us wondering what, where, when is the Man in Black. The Wrap interviewed co-showrunner Lisa Joy about what the scene meant and where it will place season three’s story as we anxiously wait for it.
For those who can’t recall, the post-credit scene has the Man in Black in the same apartment that the host/human version of James Delos was once in. The Forge seems to be destroyed and he is greeted by Emily, or at least another version of her as she tests the MiB for fidelity. Check out The Wrap’s interview to get Lisa Joy’s thoughts on what it all meant and where the story may be heading.
"“According to the show’s co-creator Lisa Joy, the sequence is “just a tease of what’s to come.” Joy adds that the vignette takes place in “a very different timeline.” She continues: “The whole place looks destroyed, and then [Emily] explains that all of that stuff happened long ago. That was real. But now something has happened and the Man is now the subject — or some iteration of the Man is now the subject — of testing. The roles have become completely reversed.”"
There are so many articles out there explaining the ins and outs of the season two finale of Westworld, so be sure to check out the above along with the others New York Times has found for you!
Next: Westworld: The biggest theories before the season two finale!
What were some of your favorite moments from the finale? And what are you the most confused about? Share your comments below as we begin the grieving process of bidding farewell to another season of Westworld.
Check back here for more updates on the next season of Westworld and more in-depth analysis of the season two finale!