What I’m Watching: Westworld

Westworld: Season 3, Episode 2 “The Winter Line” (B+)

I was so impressed with the premiere and how it presented a sleek version of the future in the real world, where Dolores is now executing her revenge on those who wronged her. A return to a simulation felt entirely worthwhile, especially because it revealed new depths and new possibilities. I had read that this season might feature a Nazi world, which is apparently called Warworld, and it was indeed disturbing in a different way to watch as Nazi commandos rounded up suspected traitors for execution as part of the normal narrative for any depraved individual to experience as entertainment. Maeve realizing that her command powers didn’t work led her to nearly end her own existence, but fortunately Lee showed up at just that moment to repay his debt to her. As usual, she was able to deduce much more about what was going on than anyone around her, revealing that Lee was a host and also that the world they were in wasn’t actually the real one. It was a fascinating unveiling, and she did an incredible job of programming things so that all the techs would get stuck in a logic loop and all the hosts would shoot each other since every one of them was holding a copy of the plans. Having the robot smuggle her outside didn’t work all that well, but now she’s been introduced to Vincent Cassel’s Engerraund Serac, who made sure to control some of her motor functions and charge her with the expected mission of this season: find and stop Dolores. I’m so in.