Surprisingly, Westworld Answered Most of the Season's Major Questions
We're still missing a few key answers though: The flies? The weird milk? The park's location?
When a show builds itself around mysteries and speculation the way Westworld has, it is inevitable that not every loose end will wrap up with a neat bow. For a show like Lost — which Westworld has naturally drawn comparisons to — this ultimately infuriated the audience. Westworld seems to have learned from its predecessor and generously answered more of the audience’s questions than expected.
Now that Westworld Season 1 has closed with a bang, let’s re-examine its disparate threads.
1. What’s up with the weird milk-obsession?
Way back in Westworld’s pilot episode “The Original,” the first malfunctioning host went on a killing spree. That in itself wasn’t so unusual for a show that was ostensibly about shootouts and killer robots, but the way he gleefully guzzled milk was. “The Bicameral Mind” did not revisit that plot point.
Did it need to be answered?
On the one hand, an answer would have been nice. On the other hand, it was satisfying simply as a disconcertingly weird detail to a macabre scene.
2. What’s going on with the flies? Are the flies harmed?
When the show first began, it seemed like the flies were going to be a big deal. They fell by the wayside in the middle of the season, but we saw one again in the season finale. Nevertheless, the moment was fleeting.
She wouldn't hurt a fly
Did it need to be answered?
Nah. The flies were always more symbolic.
3. Where the hell is the park, anyway?
The actual park of Westworld seems to be on a plot of land that is improbably expansive. Is it in the Grand Canyon? Does nobody live in the West anymore in future America? Some fans even theorized that the park is on a different planet. The Season 1 finale teased us with the outside world in Maeve’s storyline — but ultimately left it for another season.
Did it need to be answered?
We solved one thing — the park is in a place where public nudity laws don’t apply, thanks to Logan’s naked horseback ride. It would have been nice to know more, but it gives us something to look forward to in Season 2.
4. Who really is the Man in Black?
The Man in Black has been a mysterious figure through the season. We’ve had hints that the ruthless and seemingly soulless gunslinger is secretly a good guy in the real world, and fans have long guessed that he might be the idealistic William 30 years down the line. But it wasn’t until “Bicameral Mind” that the show officially confirmed it. The Man in Black is none other than moon-eyed William.
William is the Man in Black
Did it need to be answered?
Yes, and it was.
5. What’s up with the show’s timelines? Are there multiple?
Previously, fans had honed in on park aesthetic like the logo to argue that the show was slyly presenting two different timelines to viewers. The confirmation that William and the Man in Black are one and the same also confirmed the timeline theory.
William, aka the Man in Black, and Dolores
Did it need to be answered?
Yes, and it was.
6. Is Logan the Hand of the King?
In the show’s penultimate episode, Ben Barne’s Logan was shown in a mysterious pin that looked like it belonged on Game of Thrones. The internet naturally pounced on the detail.
Did this need an answer?
Absolutely not. Especially when Logan got a nonsensical naked horseback ride instead.
7. Exactly how did Arnold die?
In Episode 9, Dolores says she killed Arnold but does not elaborate further. The season finale revealed that Arnold orchestrated his own death, calmly having Dolores shoot him in the head executioner-style. He even said, “These violent delights have violent ends” as a callback to the pilot.
Arnold
Did it need to be answered?
Yes, and it was.
8. Why is Wyatt so important?
Ever since Ford introduced the Wyatt narrative, he’s hovered over the show like a bogeyman. Teddy’s poetic ramblings about his violence have only helped build his legend. But just like we thought, Wyatt turned out to be none other than Dolores. The narrative was used as a way for Arnold to kill all the hosts and cancel the park’s opening.
Did it need to be answered?
Yes, and it was.
9. What exactly does the maze do and mean?
The maze has been touted all season as a mysterious place of enlightenment and a video game-style quest. But as the finale revealed, it’s nothing more than a figurative thought process for the the host to attain consciousness through.
Did it need to be answered?
Yes, and it was.
Westworld left many unanswered questions, but it wrapped up all the most important points. As for the rest, we’ll have to see what Season 2 brings.
