The second episode of the second season of Westworld has hit the screens. Has it blown your mind as well? SPOILER ALERT! READ ONLY IF YOU FOLLOW THE SHOW!

^WW2

QUICK RECAP

We left last week just with two timelines: the Bernard one who is trying to get his bearings and his memories back, three weeks after the park has been taken over by the replicants, and the one of all the other people (Dolores, William, Maeve…) who are suddenly dealing with the consequences of the unexpected rebellion. As if it was not enough, the screenwriters have decided to throw a new timeline, bringing us all the way back to the time when the Westworld park was just a figment of Ford's imagination and trying to sell the ideas to investors, among which was no one else than… Mr Delos Senior.

^{Ask Roy Batty!}

The funny thing about that timeline is that it is mainly presented as memories from Dolores. She was actually paraded in the “real world” to various investors, in order to secure the funds to develop and enrich the technology. Of course, this new timeline involved Young William and his brother-in-law the salacious Delos Jr. There is a hint of what the “real world” looks like, or at least, how 1% of this real world looks like. In spite of his detestable attitude, Delos Jr. clearly says that him and his fellow rich friends are drinking up while the world is burning and the species is running to hell.

^{Call Zapata!.}

I really like the fact that we are clearly told that the park is not totally play and fun. The Young William obviously smelled the business opportunity there and decided to snatch it from under the nose of other investors because of the potential of the place to dissect the “guests”, the real people attending the adventures, and finding out what they wanted, what they liked, unliked, etc… Remind you of something? Yep, with all this Facebook stuff lately, difficult not to see the screenwriters capitalizing on those news to pass a damning statement on our species, greed and the new technologies which are supposed to make us more… “free”.

^{Smells like money.}

The fact that Dolores can remember all of this is quite baffling, but why not… Maybe she was used as a kind of witness by Robert Ford in a sort of a long-game play. What is certain is that these memories are fuelling her anger and her determination to ruin the party for those despicable rich men. And to accomplish that, she needs an army with which to be able to counter the retalations which is coming. So, she finds some new allies in the guise of the “Confederados”.

^{NOT pollos hermanos those two!}

Speaking of army, Old William himself needs one. He first find back Lawrence, his old nemesis of old, and together they try to enlist the help of a Mexican-type revolutionary army but guess what? Robert Ford is still around and has burrowed himself deep in the unconscious of all his hosts, if not… how could he still influence the game, being basically dead? Poor Old William has to play all alone. Or at least only with Lawrence, who does not seem to understand exactly what’s going on but seems fairly loyal anyway.

^{Go girl!}

CONCLUSION

All in all, this episode feels a bit like a placeholder. We can’t say we advance a lot, the characters are making baby steps towards their goals, which look like the be the same one. Well, except for Maeve, who remains stubbornly individual and refuses to be drawn into the fight of Dolores! If there is one person who knows what free means in the park, it’s definitely her!

^{Everyone's favourite rich brat suddenly sees the light!}

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Really cool to see Peter Mullan as the old Delos rich guy, and a pleasure to hear his Scottish accent.

Not bad either to see El Lazo, reincarnated into Giancarlo Esposito, even if it’s to lose him almost instantly.

The Akecheta guy is quite a mystery. Can’t really say if he is with Ford, Delos or another one. What’s sure if that he was the Indian in the second season of Fargo and has still a great charisma!

What is the “weapon” Dolores is talking about at the end and promising to use against… them… meaning, us!?

PREVIOUS EPISODES:

Episode 2.01 - FREEZE ALL MOTOR FUNCTIONS: WestWorld is Back!

What do you think of this episode?