Westworld Weekend: A look back at season 2, episode 8: ‘Kiksuya’

What better way to spend the weekend than to revisit one of the best episodes of Westworld season 2?

Westworld gave us a beautiful episode in season 2, and two months later the memory of its beauty and emotion resonates with us. For those who may not know which episode we’re referring to, it’s episode 8, “Kiksuya”. Not only did we learn more about season 2’s breakout character, but we got a glimpse into Akecheta’s past and how it played a role in some of the looming mysteries of the series.

Episode 8 focused primarily on the Ghost Nation and Akecheta and was almost entirely in the Lakota language. Such a beautifully scripted episode–seriously, not enough praise can be given. In the episode preceding this one, Maeve’s daughter was taken by the Ghost Nation but is not in harm’s way in the least bit amongst them.

The episode plays out as a story that Akecheta is telling Maeve’s daughter about his past. In a past narrative, Akecheta was a married man in love with Kohona. His life changed forever when he came across a massacre in Sweetwater and happened upon the Maze which would become a detrimental obsession of his. Of course, as time went on the Delos Lab techs made the members of Ghost Nation more aggressive and warrior-like.

His wife’s memories were erased, and the Ghost Nation was born. Another pivotal moment occurs in the episode when Akecheta bumps into Logan in the desert whose words rattle Akecheta up, specifically the mention of a door.

Akecheta does indeed find “the Door” that we all come to know about. Determined to remind Kohona who he is, he takes her away until she does remember and Akecheta says one of the most memorable lines from the season, “Take my heart when you go”. Siiiigh. The love story becomes more tragic when sometime later Kohona is taken away and replaced by another host.

It is also revealed in the episode that Akecheta was never trying to hurt Maeve and her daughter, but actually protecting them from the Man in Black. Not only that but as Akecheta continues to tell his story, he realizes that Maeve can hear him (through her daughter) and is using her powers to understand a man that once scared her to no end.

All in all, this was a beautiful episode with some poignant, heartbreaking storytelling that really helped us connect with a group of characters we all misunderstood. In a confusing, complicated season, it stood out as the best and introduced us to the limitless talent of Zahn McClarnon.

What did you think about episode 8, “Kiksuya“? Share your thoughts below!