I'm going to be doing a slightly different style of blog, than I usually do. I wanted to start doing some article/review style blogs where I talk about my favourite films, TV and books, and create my own illustrations to go alongside.

I'm starting with the mind blowing TV show Westworld, which is due to return in April. For those of you know don't know Westworld is based on the 1973 film, set in a fully submersive interactive theme park with a western setting.

Spoilers ahead!

If you haven't seen Season 1 yet and just want to see my illustrations you can do so here, and then go and watch the show!

Freewill

One of the obvious themes in Westworld is freewill. The guests (or newcomers) are free in the park to explore their curiosities and act out their fantasies, safe in the knowledge that it's all just a game. Whereas the hosts are bound by their loops and narrative. The hosts are programed to not hurt a living thing and to step in if there is any guest on guest violence. During the first season we follow Dolores and Maeve's journey to enlightment, however we are left questioning whether they actually achieve freewill or whether this is an illusion. This comes with the revelation that Maeve's narrative had been changed to one called "escape". We see in the last episode that Maeve gets off the train to go back for her daughter, but is this her own choice?

Timelines

It has been confirmed that Ben Barnes is back playing Logan, so we know that there will be more flashbacks. I'm wondering if the show will be able to trick us by making us think the past is the present or vis versa. Obviously this would only work for scenes that only showed the hosts and no humans (other than Arnold.)

Playing God

There are numerous references to creating life and playing God. Even Felix is secretly practicing on an AI bird. Doroloes' father Peter Abernathy tells Ford in episode 1 that his itinerary is "To meet my maker". He wants to warn Doroles to make her aware of her repeating torture so she can escape.

When asked about her world Doroles replies "Some people choose to see the ugliness in this world... I choose to see the beauty." Her view of her world at the beginning is of a paradise, which we can compare to Christian teachings of Adam and Eve. Like Eve Doroles is tempted to go searching for the truth. Instead of an apple from the tree of knowledge Doroles goes in search for the maze. The maze is a symbol of enlightenment and knowledge. We even see the maze inked onto one of the hosts scalps showing the maze is in your mind.

In the last episode of season 1 Ford points out the shape of a brain in the Michelangelo painting of God and Adam.

"The message being that the divine gift does not come from a higher power but from our owns minds." he then asks Dorloes "Do you understand what you will need to become if you ever want to leave this place?"

In the story of Adam and Eve with knowledge and freewill comes sin; and they can no longer stay in paradise.

Emma Carpenter Dolores Westworld 2018.jpg

Narrative

Part of playing God and creating life, is creating the immersive narratives. Storytelling is a huge theme in Westworld, the hosts have backstories, and scripts. Ford also gives us tips on storytelling throughout the season. “Since I was a child I've always loved a good story. I believed that stories helped us to ennoble ourselves, to fix what was broken in us, and to help us become the people we dreamed of being. Lies that told a deeper truth.”

ScreenPrism talk about how "Westworld is an extended metaphor for storytelling" and compares the maze to deeper meaning in the story. However we are repeatedly told that "the maze is not meant for you" therefore the characters that get to have a deeper meaning in their stories are the hosts. This is also backed up when Doroles says in episode 5 "I imagined a story where I didn't have to be the damsel."

Part of the promotions for Season 2 is a secret website that was discovered by fans. The Delos Destinations website advertises all 6 Delos theme parks, promising "the chance to change your story". While that may be originally intended for the customers of the park if you take into account the latest Superbowl Season 2 trailer it takes on another meaning. The new trailer starts off as an idealised commercial to encourage visitors to the park. However it quickly changes to scenes of robot uprising. Along with Dolores voice over "we can burn it to the ground and from the ashes build a new world, our world." Dolores can also be seen dressed as a modern day business woman. I'm intrigued to find out how her story will change.

Predictions/Crazy theories

I've been trying to work out what the dark secret is that Theresa hints of in season 1 "You're right this place is one thing to the guests, another thing to the shareholders and something completely different to management." It seems to have a connection with the hosts being updated and becoming more lifelike. This might be a bit far fetched, but I'm predicting that the alternative motive is to infiltrate hosts into society undetected in positions of power throughout the world so they can have influence.
Another prediction, or rather wish is that Ford's not really dead. I know I'm not the only one thinking that he could have made himself a host doppelganger in his secret lab. Futurism Media have an in depth debate on whether Ford is really gone. One of their theories is "That after being shot, Ford's subconscious would be uploaded to a host version" This idea is really interesting, and would allow Ford to become immortal.
Along the same lines of uploading human consciousness to a host, could this be an alternative business that Delos want to trial. An elite few could be given the option of becoming a host in order to live young and healthy forever. These services might be tempting to those who are sick or dying. It could even become the new plastic surgery, the new and "improved" you.

Let me know what your excited for in Season 2, what are your crazy theories, and what burning questions do you hope get answered?