What I’m Watching: Westworld

Westworld: Season 1, Episode 9 “The Well-Tempered Clavier” (B+)

At the time that I’m writing this, the season finale has already aired, and I’m pleased to report that I haven’t yet read anything about it that would spoil what I’ve heard is quite the ending to the first chapter of a show that’s sure to go on for a while. This episode had another major revelation, one that wasn’t as much of a bombshell but was still a doozy. Arnold has been such a central part of this show but we’ve never seen him, and learning that Bernard was a recreation of him makes a lot of sense. Dolores remembering a conversation with him was a fitting complement to Bernard diving deep into his memory banks thanks to his clever reprogramming of Clementine. It’s hard to believe that Bernard is dead, though you never really know with these hosts. Dr. Ford does have some formidable failsafes in place to maintain control of everything around him, and I’m not sure how he can be stopped, even if Charlotte is taking steps to get rid of him. Seeing her show up to meet the Man in Black in the middle of the park was intriguing, and everything we learn about him just makes him all the more complex. There’s so much going on at the moment, from Dolores’ soul-searching to William’s power play and Teddy’s understanding of his past. Maeve controlling Bernard was a cool moment, and I’m so interested to see what she does now that she’s found a potential partner in Hector.