Westworld: Zahn McClarnon talks about his groundbreaking episode
By Ariba Bhuvad
Westworld gave us one of it’s best episodes in season 2 with “Kiksuya” and with it the greatest gift the series has given us–Zahn McClarnon.
Westworld season 2 had mixed reactions but one thing fans agree on across the board is the love and appreciation they have for episode 8, “Kiksuya”. There was something unique and thought-provoking about this particular episode, and it strayed away from the vibe Westworld generally has.
While most episodes focus on the stories of multiple characters, this one takes its time unraveling the multiple layers of Zahn McClarnon’s character Akecheta. The entire episode is like a gift that we want to take our time unwrapping because we know with each layer exposed, it will only get better.
When the episode first aired, McClarnon and his character Akecheta was all anyone could talk about, in fact, that is still the case. During an interview with Vanity Fair, McClarnon stated that he wasn’t aware that “Kiksuya” would only follow Akecheta and his story of heartbreak and finding the meaning of life.
Most of us are still smitten over learning about Akecheta’s relationship with his wife Kohana, and every scene the two had together was all the feels and tugged at our heartstrings time and time again. There was a level of emotion that is difficult to convey in just one episode, and somehow the Westworld writers and the cast were able to draw the audience in and had us invested in the relationship almost immediately.
Something McClarnon points out about the episode is that he enjoyed the long silences and having to act through his facial expressions. In fact, because of the voiceovers, a lot of it was dependent on his facial acting, and it’s extremely impressive when we take a moment to think about it.
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One of the standout elements of this Westworld episode was the fact that it was in Lakota, a language that the Ghost Nation speaks, and McClarnon, himself, is no stranger to. It made everything more authentic and genuine and made the episode as strong as it was.
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