Episode eight of “Westworld” is not the greatest hour of the show. “Trace Decay” suffers from many of the same pacing issues as the season’s earlier episodes. Additionally, the Dolores and William thread in episode eight is confusing and anticlimactic, with Dolores finally finding what she is looking for and William dragging her away. Frustratingly, the episode ends on yet another a cliffhanger as Wyatt’s men reveal themselves to the Man in Black and Teddy.
The next episode, “The Well-Tempered Clavier,” picks up the pace and delivers perhaps the best episode of the season. Everything begins to click as the show finally begins to bring all of the mysteries together. The story of Dolores finally reaches the point the show has been hinting at for weeks.
The big reveal at the end of the episode shows Bernard to be a host copy of Arnold, the former partner of Dr. Ford. This theory, discussed in multiple reviews here, doesn’t present too much of a surprise. What is shocking is that Dolores was the one who killed Arnold many years ago. Though the exact details are still unclear, it is apparent Dolores had something to do with the demise of Arnold despite her outward admiration for him in the episode.
The multiple timeline theories is almost validated this week with many little clues. Specifically, the main giveaway is the picture Logan holds of his sister. This is the same picture from episode one, which Dolores’ father finds after the Man in Black visits their farm, except the photo is much more aged. In addition, Dolores in the present seems to be retracing her steps from when she was with William some time ago. The show gives us definitive proof of Dolores taking place in two timelines, as she is stabbed in the time period with William, but in the present day she has no stab wound or blood on her stomach.
Later in the episode Maeve begins to recruit her army, though her exact plan is still very unclear. She seems to need Hector for something important, yet we don’t know what this is. Presumably, Maeve is going to use all of the lobotomized hosts to escape. Thandie Newton is the MVP of the first season — she’s able to emote on all levels and even sells a corny sex scene with Hector in this episode. Maeve’s scene in the beginning of the episode with Bernard is incredible, and her complete control over Bernard is haunting.
Theories and questions
One theory is Maeve’s entire story this season actually being part of the new narrative from Dr. Ford. All of Maeve’s presumed consciousness are calculations designed by Ford to get back at the Delos Board. This could explain how Maeve has never been caught in an area which seems to be so heavily surveilled.
In episodes eight and nine, we see flashbacks of Elsie being choked by Bernard. However, we still haven't seen her die. Stubbs goes out looking for Elsie and the Ghost Nation hosts attack him without listening to his voice commands. This seems to have something to do with Ford — perhaps they are taking Stubbs to the same place Elsie is being held.
Another strong theory is that Dolores is actually Wyatt. The show has built up Wyatt for weeks now, and it would be strange at this point for Wyatt to just be a random character introduced in the final episode. Teddy claims he was seduced by Wyatt to follow him, but perhaps he was seduced by Dolores, a development which would consistent with his modern narrative.
Is Bernard really dead? Could he be coming back as a newly printed model?
The showrunners recently said in an interview that all but one question will be answered in next week’s finale. “Westworld” has a few more looming questions to answer, including the identity of Wyatt and what the reunion between the Man in Black and Dolores entails. HBO has renewed the show for a second season, but it is unclear what season two would look like, as this story feels relatively well-contained in a single season. Regardless, episode nine of “Westworld” is a fast-paced episode that answers many of the series’ most burning questions.
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