“Contrapasso,” the fifth episode of “Westworld,” is an hour of television that seems both lost and on-the-nose. “Westworld” loves a good metaphor, and this episode opens with a scene of Dr. Ford (Anthony Hopkins) delivering a monologue to an old Host. Ford tells a story from his childhood about a greyhound dog his family rescued, which didn’t know what to do with itself after finally getting adopted. This metaphor applies to Dr. Ford, who accomplished his goal by building “Westworld” but seems to struggle with what to do next.
The most epic moment from the episode was the showdown between Dr. Ford and the Man in Black (Ed Harris). The Man in Black knows exactly who Dr. Ford is, but their exact relationship remains more of a mystery. Harris and Hopkins’ on-screen rapport is incredible, and the two elevate the dialogue of the scene to produce an extremely tense and very nuanced conversation, which seems to hold a lot of secrets.
In the meantime, William (Jimmi Simpson), Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) and Logan (Ben Barnes) travel further into the park to the town of Pariah. This town gives a new flavor to Westworld, as the rules seem looser and the narratives more dangerous. The attention to detail in the design of these scenes is stunning, further establishing the setting of the park. But the journey to Pariah seems to be a bit of a distraction.
Dolores continues on a path of discovery, and maybe even empowerment. In her transition from frightened farm girl to deadly terminator, Dolores is a character who finds herself at a crossroads. She finally sheds the “Alice in Wonderland” blue dress for a new wardrobe, signaling a new beginning for the Host.
Just when “Westworld” seemed to be above the gratuitous nature of HBO television, “Contrapasso” includes a long and massive orgy scene. At the very least, “Westworld” can be credited for more equal amounts of nudity between men and women. As a story point, the orgy scene — which seems to be ripped out of “Eyes Wide Shut” — acts as a reminder of just how radical the outer parts of the park really are. Still, the entire sequence feels rather forced and unnecessary.
Theories and questions
Recently, an HBO executive stated fan theories are “getting close.” The most vocal theory involves multiple timelines, which at this point seems more plausible than ever. The theory of William being a younger Man in Black is beginning to have legs. Besides the fact that the two characters have yet to interact, story elements are being laid down to eventually make the connection. William is becoming infatuated with the park and beginning to buy into the story. His journey through the park is tied to Dolores because he wants to protect her, and he ultimately wishes Dolores has actual sentience.
The Man in Black is driven by his desire to find the Maze, which is believed to give all of the Hosts an awakening. He may want to make Dolores a conscious person and free her. Other evidence of the alternate time was Lawrence’s (Clifton Collins Jr.) two different narratives — as Lawrence with the Man in Black and later as El Lazo with William and Dolores. In addition, the Dolores scene with Dr. Ford seems to be strategically placed to throw off the audience. These interactions do not seem to be in chronological order.
Felix’s (Leonardo Nam) motives in attempting to reprogram the Host bird are rather flimsy. Does he really believe that by fixing a stolen bird he can be promoted? Regardless, Felix finally bringing the bird back to life coincides with Maeve coming out of deep sleep. Is this a coincidence? This final scene did have quite a bit of tension, but how is Maeve gaining consciousness?
Elsie (Shannon Woodward) stumbles upon a transmitter which seems to be sending out data to a rival. Does Westworld have competition similar to the rivalry between Disney Parks and Universal Studios? The show seems to suggest that Westworld is one-of-a-kind because of Dr. Ford and his brilliance.
Overall, “Contrapasso” makes “Westworld” feel more disconnected. This could be because of the potential balancing act of multiple timelines, or it could just be a rather lazy attempt at an ensemble cast.
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