Westworld: Was Maeve in control at the end of season one?

In the season one finale of Westworld, Maeve made a last-minute decision and got off the train. But was she in control?

The Westworld season one finale left us with many burning questions that we had to agonize over for two years. In “The Bicameral Mind”, fans were seriously pondering whether or not Maeve was in control when she decided to get off the train.

In earlier episodes of season 1, it was revealed that Ford had designed Maeve to play a big role in the robot rebellion so the mystery of who was in control was a huge question at the end of the first season.

As she boards the train and is about to head off, she jumps up, walks out with the location of her daughter clutched in her hand. This split-second move had fans wondering if this move was all part of Ford’s narrative for Maeve or if Maeve actually made this choice consciously.

Back in 2016, co-creators Jonathan and Lisa Joy Nolan did reveal to Vulture that Maeve was indeed starting to think on her own. And if you watched season 2, you learn exactly to what extent Maeve has developed and progressed in her consciousness.

Nolan broke down exactly how one could tell whether or not it was Maeve making the decision, and we have to say it’s pretty darn cool. During filming, Steadicam shots would indicate that the hosts are acting on orders versus the hand-held shots that indicate they are doing things on their own.

An excerpt taken from an article on Vulture states and explains Nolan’s description of the Maeve train scene:

"“In the finale, when Maeve gets onto that train … the Steadicam is leading her over. Now, it’s just keeping pace with her as she makes the decision. What we understand in the moment is it’s the first real decision she’s made all season. Which is, she’s not going to fulfill the script she’s been given, which is to take this train wherever it’s going, and do whatever else she’s programmed to do. She can get off the train. At which point, we shift to handheld camera, which we’d held back on throughout the entire season until one moment with her, and one moment with Dolores, when Teddy comes to rescue her. We get Maeve off the train with a handheld camera. And I remember watching the dailies and almost being shocked at how effective a cinematic technique can be if you hold off on it for long enough. If you dial it in at just the right moment, that suggests she’s literally like a train coming off the tracks. We’re no longer in programmatic or prescribed behaviors. She’s improvising, and we’re right there with her.”"

While some of you may find this to be old news, it is interesting to look back and see the moments where Maeve really started breaking free from the Delos hold and control. This very moment changed things forever, and Maeve’s abilities enhanced ten-fold by the time we got deep into season 2. Pretty cool, huh?

What are your thoughts on Westworld season 1 Maeve? Share your comments below!