What I’m Watching: Westworld (Season Finale)

Westworld: Season 4, Episode 8 “Que Será, Será” (B)

It’s been so long and we’ve been through so many iterations of this world-within-a-world that I had forgotten when I saw Steven Ogg from “Snowpiercer” as Rebus that he’s appeared on this show many times, most recently in early season two. It was great to see Jonathan Tucker back again as Major Craddock since he elevates any scene he’s in, but it’s likely to be very little time before someone goes and gets shot in the head whenever they show up. Rules seem to be most important to just about everyone, which is why William pulled down and killed that sniper for breaking them and Charlotte, who was immediately repaired after her own apparent death, was set on keeping her scars so that William would know who killed him. It’s still not even remotely clear to me who was on which side and how things all panned out, but we did see Bernard leaving a gun for Charlotte since they share a certain kinship, and she doesn’t have the same destructive tendencies as William, who inherited them from the human version of himself. Frankie saved her father from Clementine, who did manage to take out Stubbs, but Caleb decided he couldn’t come with her because he knew who he really was. Dolores returned to her original state after realizing that she invented people like Maya and Emmett to guide her, though I don’t know what that means for her next. This has been an interesting season but not as gripping as season three, and, though season five is only rumored thanks to a conversation with Ed Harris (here’s mine, where we did talk briefly about the show), I think one last run through the hamster wheel could be very worthwhile.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Tessa Thompson as Charlotte

What I’m Watching: God Friended Me (Season Finale)

God Friended Me: Season 1, Episode 20 “Que Sera Sera” (B-)

When our three protagonists went to gather and drown their sorrows at Ali’s at the start of the episode, it came as no surprise to me that all three of expected to be fired, mainly because none of them were particularly good at their jobs beforehand, spending altogether too much time on the God account when it related only to Miles’ primary work. It took long enough, but we finally met Henry Chase, played by Derek Luke from “Antwone Fisher,” who was a bit of a gentler personality than I had expected, even if his initial introduction presented his gruff exterior. No one said it, but there are definitely echoes of Miles, Cara, and Rakesh in Henry, Pria, and Simon, though I’m not sure the roles match up the same way in that group. Simon getting fired by his board almost seemed inconsequential since he managed to line all three of them back up with jobs before being ousted, which felt all too convenient given that they should have had to start from the bottom up again. Cara going to Paris is going to present complications for this budding couple, but at least they’re giving it a shot. Arthur proposing to Trish after losing the election gives him something new to focus on, and it was touching to see him opt to go on Miles’ podcast. A few familiar faces wasn’t going to be enough for this finale, and so we got that last-minute introduction of someone else who has apparently been chosen the same way Miles has by the God account, something that presumably won’t sit well with him in season two. I expect to continue watching even if I continue to find this show hard to seriously digest most of the time.

Season grade: B-
Season MVP: Joe Morton as Arthur