‘Westworld’ Season 2, Episode 6: Four Crazy Theories After “Phase Space”

Last night’s episode of Westworld, “Phase Space”, kicked off the second half of Season 2 with another spectacular hour of television. The incredible cliffhanger ending with the return of Dr. Robert Ford sets up what should be a mind-blowing final four episodes of the season. No viewers know for certain what is going on, and the majority are probably more confused after “Phase Space”, but we’ve got four crazy theories with four episodes to go in Westworld Season 2.

 

Ford created limbo

While the series is filled with amazing actors and Westworld Season 2 has been awesome without him, the great Anthony Hopkins returning in his role of Dr. Ford is certainly a welcome addition. Ford’s simple “hello, old friend” to Bernard was one of the best endings in any of the series’ episodes. But what exactly is going on with Ford? He’s been communicating with the Man in Black since his death in the Season 1 finale, but it was figured to have been programmed code. However, Ford is somehow still around, in one form or another, as we saw at the end of “Phase Space”.

 

Ford might have somehow created a “limbo” state, which is where Bernard ended up. It’s an Inception-like concept, which matches up in some ways because Christopher Nolan created the classic mind-bending movie, and his brother Jonathan Nolan is a co-creator of Westworld. The Nolans know how to get in-depth, layered stories done.

 

In the preview for next week’s episode, some Delos compound appears to have multiple Bernard hosts waiting to be commissioned, so this isn’t too far-fetched. With Bernard/Arnold seemingly being in all the timelines, perhaps it’s a different version of himself each time. The multiple Bernards being active with the same code could explain the confusion Bernard has gone through all season, and maybe the real Bernard is in limbo.

 

There are host babies

The hosts are built like real humans to the point where it’s difficult to humans to tell who is real and who isn’t—as we’ve seen multiple times throughout the series. Could the hosts have been made so real that they could have children that can grow up like real humans? If not, it certainly seems possible that Delos itself could have created baby hosts that can grow up given the stunning technology they have. This theory matches the opening credits for Season 2, as there is the host baby being cradled by a mother (pictured below). Dolores being pregnant would be a shocking game-changer.

 

 

The Man in Black is a host

Throughout the first 15 episodes of Westworld, the Man in Black being considered a host seemed improbable. But at this point, nothing is unlikely in Westworld. The emotion William showed while speaking to his daughter Emily during “Phase Space” seemed very real, but hosts have a knack for appearing to be real. The moment when the MIB got a bit confused when Emily said it was her mother that was afraid of the elephants in The Raj, and not her, was a bit host-like. It could’ve just been a lapse from a father that maybe wasn’t there for his family, but the Man in Black’s reaction was either pure surprise that he forgot…or a mix-up from a host.

 

Dolores was a human

The Man in Black being a host might be the craziest thing that can happen, but Dolores being a human would be right up there with it. Throughout Season 1, there was a lot of talk about how Dolores is “special.” Perhaps it had to do with her leading this host uprising, but her specialness could be something more. The opening scene from “Phase Space” put Dolores in control of her sit-down with Bernard, and it was jaw-dropping when she told Bernard to freeze all motor functions. Maybe that scene took place many years in the past, and we’ve been in the dark about Dolores’ origins.