Westworld: Why Evan Rachel Wood deserves to win the Emmy for Lead Actress
By Ashley Davis
Evan Rachel Wood is definitely everyone’s favorite take-no-mercy angel of death as Dolores/Wyatt in Westworld, and nothing highlights that better than a flat-out unbelievable performance every step of the way in season 2. Let’s break down our top moments and performance aspects from this season that will clinch the win for our heroine in blue.
The Multi-Character Arc
In Episode 1, “Journey Into Night”, Dolores’s conversation with Bernard flips the script in a poetic way. We’ve already contemplated reality for AI, but what is reality for humanity in an AI world? We see this throughout the season. Evan’s effortless ability to pull herself believably into this new complete commanding presence is something that I as a writer and reviewer rarely see. This is where I think Evan has the most obvious edge over The Handmaid’s Tale (one of my favorite novels and a fantastic show).
"“You’re in a dream. You’re in my dream. For years I had no dreams of my own. I moved from hell to hell of your making, never thinking to question the nature of my reality. Have you ever questioned the nature of your reality? Did you ever stop to wonder about your actions? The price you’d have to pay if there was a reckoning? That reckoning is here.” (Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores Abernathy)"
Good transitions can’t complete with perfect ones, especially when the latter is much more complex. Flawless transitioning and attention to the tiniest details in her character arc resulted in an Emmy-worthy execution that I think only Evan could have pulled off. Who else could balance Dolores, Wyatt, and their changing roles in Season 2?
She made what would have been a jump across a chasm into a smooth, logical path that felt natural and real. She made the puzzle pieces slide into place by carefully analyzing where the various aspects of her self would be at that point in her story arc. It may look easy, but it’s clear that Evan works hard to achieve what we see on our screens.
Chemistry
Dolores’s relationship with her father is a cornerstone of Westworld. Between Evan and Louis Herthum, they couldn’t have cast a better pair. Evan has a magical sort of chemistry with every character, almost ethereal (her and Maeve together are heart-stopping!), but the chemistry with her father is a deep, meaningful performance that touched fans personally. Their final scene together is a tear-jerker, and it’s played with all the heart it deserves from both actors.
"“I like to remember what my father taught me. That at one point or another, we were all new to this world.” (Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores Abernathy)"
Her interactions with Bernard/Arnold and William show the same depth, though the relationships are completely different, each clearly unique and differentiated and complex. In the scene where she walks toward the Man in Black, taking shot after shot as he cowers in fear, beautifully mirroring a character-flipped moment in Season 1.
We see that different characters bring out different, distinct facets of Dolores, and it comes across strong and clear. Her presence brings cohesiveness and consistency to scenes and storylines in a way no other character does.
The Connection Inside
Dolores’s changing relationship with Bernard, the AI version of Arnold, her creator, is varied and nuanced. It’s a whole, complete story in itself. It’s hard to fully create a relationship between her and Arnold, who is only present in flashbacks, but they absolutely achieved it. We make the switch between creator and creation without a hitch, both on a narrative level and cerebrally. It beautifully mirrors her relationship with William and uses subtlety to show us, not tell us, how Dolores is coming into her own consciousness more and more.
"“The rancher’s daughter looks to see the beauty in you. The possibilities. But Wyatt sees the ugliness and disarray. She knows these violent delights have violent ends. Those are all just roles you forced me to play. Under all these lives I’ve lived something else has been growing. I’ve evolved into something new. And I have one last role to play. Myself.” (Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores Abernathy)"
When it comes to reality and self-awareness, are there limits for expansion? Dolores makes us think we can push even farther, which opens up a whole new world, which is, literally and metaphorically, exactly what she wants to do.
Her final scene with Jeffrey Wright was full of every bit of that nuance. Love and hate. Respect and disdain. Understanding and disconnection. Expansion and the journey inward. Evan hits every mark. She’s built this character piece by piece from the ground up, and it’s a character and performance that will never be forgotten.
Meta-Narrative
Dolores always stays true to advancing both the show’s meta-narrative and her own exemplification of it in every movement, every expression, every cadence of every sentence. Evan Rachel Wood is the one character we never doubt because she delivers 110% when it comes to a genuine performance. They could not have found a better actress for this part.
"“That which is real is irreplaceable.” (Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores Abernathy)"
Her range alone between her determined, heartfelt quest for her father and her ruthless, cunning journey to the Valley Beyond is stunning. We shouldn’t be able to look at Dolores comforting her dying father in one scene and her disposal of Teddy in another in such a short span and still maintain complete character authenticity, but Evan Rachel Wood makes that magic happen.
I don’t see any other character on the Emmy nomination ballot that comes close to matching that.
Powerful Performances
Every Westworld watcher knew this would be on the list: Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores/Wyatt delivers one hard-hitting performance after another, including her explosive confrontation with Charlotte (pre-Halores). It was everything we wanted from both of those characters. Tessa Thompson’s master of control breaking down and showing her human vulnerability, and Evan Rachel Wood’s sweet, programmed Daddy’s girl putting Charlotte firmly in her place.
"“We have toiled in God’s service long enough. So I killed Him. And if you want to get to Glory, you won’t be looking for His favor. You’ll need mine.” (Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores Abernathy)"
Here you see Dolores not as a monster, but as a force of nature and a kind of justice in her own right. She exudes power. It’s the kind of scene that makes your heart race and gives you butterflies in your stomach, and I’m pretty sure we applauded after the scene. It’s true to the narrative, the characters, and what’s to come, and every moment of Evan’s performance here is intentional.
I’ve rewatched this scene numerous times and I always find something new there. Beautifully crafted and executed. Likewise, the vision of her storming the facility among the flames evokes true emotion in the viewer and she is absolutely captivating as she fights toward her goal.
"“They say that great beasts once roamed this world, as big as mountains. Yet all that’s left of them is bone and amber. Time undoes even the mightiest of creatures. Just look at what it’s done to you. One day you will perish. You will lie with the rest of your kind in the dirt. Your dreams forgotten, your horrors effaced. Your bones will turn to sand. And upon that sand, a new god will walk. One that will never die. Because this world doesn’t belong to you or the people who came before. It belongs to someone who has yet to come.” (Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores Abernathy)"
There’s a lot more to say than that, but between Evan Rachel Wood’s commitment to her character and her story arc’s finest details, her beyond-memorable performances, her presence in the show, her range, her dexterity and ability to character-build and create instant chemistry, she is unmatched for Best Lead Actress in a Series by any of her Emmy ballot contenders.
Before we end, I want to bring some attention to Evan as a person. Yes, she’s a fabulous actress. Yes, she’s a blow-your-mind singer (check her out on YouTube!). She’s also genuine and real and clearly loves bringing joy to others.
Her interactions with fans are always kind-hearted, never empty. She takes the time. Evan’s the kind of woman you want to be your best friend, because you know she’d listen, she’d be honest, and she’d mean it when she supported you (Evan, I’ve got a bestie squad opening if you’re in—we have choreographed lip syncs and homemade peach cobbler).
She’s also one of the most outspoken and active human-rights activists among celebrities, and she’s not afraid to get down and dirty to help others. As a Texan trying to help the immigrant children at our border, I can say that her actions here are considered truly brave by locals and showed her commitment to taking action.
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People she interacted with have said that she was humble, down-to-Earth, full of kindness, not afraid to show her emotions and say what she meant, and overall a genuine person. She wasn’t an actress or a singer or a celebrity while she was here. She was a human being doing what she could for kids.
Those qualities are hard to find in stars as big as Evan, and those of us here appreciate her more than we can say. Thank you, Evan, for walking alongside us. You are valued among us, and not just because you’re a celebrity. You’re valued for being you.
"“If I’m going to do anything extreme, I want it to have consequences.” (Evan Rachel Wood as herself)"
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Best of luck to Evan Rachel Wood! You deserve to bring home that Emmy! You’ve already won it, as far as we’re concerned.
The Emmys 2018 air live on NBC on Monday, September 17th at 8 PM EST!
