What I’m Watching: Westworld

Westworld: Season 1, Episode 6 “The Adversary” (B+)

This show is full of fascinating characters, both real and not, and I think I’ve chosen my favorite, who is not who I initially expected it to be. At the start of the episode, Maeve knew just what to do to return to the operating table so that she could learn more about her fake world, and she went much further than that when she was conscious and realized that she had plenty of leverage against the two techs who know that she doesn’t stay in hibernation mode like she’s supposed to. The tablet predicting her every word as she verbalized her stupefied reaction to the notion of being totally programmed should have her made her doubt everything, but instead it compelled her to demand increased levels of programming that would help her more fully realize the world, not feeling pain and being hyper-aware of everything around her. I’m eager to see what happens next as she tries to take control of her situation. Teddy managed to channel his past programmed life in a formidable way, unleashing his fury on the soldiers who had tried to kill him, shocking even the Man in Black. Dr. Ford is up to some disconcerting things, and he’s not the only one. As Bernard found out that someone he trusted was manipulating things, Elsie is much closer to the breach and appears to be in a lot of trouble. Though her character hasn’t been featured too much, I like actress Shannon Woodward and hope she continues to be a major part of the show.