Westworld Flashback Friday: Reflecting on The Bicameral Mind
By Ariba Bhuvad
The Westworld season one finale was a whirlwind–and left us with so many burning questions.
Westworld began in 2016, and the season one finale, “The Bicameral Mind” gave one hell of an ending to the season. By the time the episode came to an end, the robot revolution was officially underway–and Arnold had died at the hands of Dolores.
Maeve almost left the park, but in pursuit of finding her daughter, she decided to stay back. Her “decision” to stay back became a debate in the months to follow. Was she actually conscious and awake? Or was it just a part of the narrative?
The episode is titled “The Bicameral Mind” which reflects back on the idea of consciousness and how it evolves. It goes hand-in-hand with the season 1 concept and theories surrounding the hosts and if they could ever be “woke”. Hosts would hear a voice inside their head throughout the premiere season, which was Arnold giving them the push they need.
His voice guided them towards the Maze–the literal epicenter of season 1. Upon arriving there, the Man in Black was told by Dolores that the Maze wasn’t meant for him. Honestly, that entire scene was designed to give us the season’s biggest plot twist. What plot twist are we referring to?
The Man in Black is William! This was such an epic reveal, and drove fans absolutely crazy (even though many already theorized this was the case). It’s mindblowing to imagine that the Man in Black spent 30 years trying to find the center of the Maze, and even acquired the park in his efforts to find it.
“The Bicameral Mind” paved the path to all the events of season 2, and began what would be the most epic robot revolution ever. Starting with Dolores shooting Ford right in the back of the head as he was announcing the next narrative.
There’s so much more to unpack and dissect about the Westworld season 1 finale, so we’d love to hear your thoughts! Share them in the comments below or on our Twitter, @BeyondWestworld.