I am glad HBO is taking on interesting shows like Westwood, GoT, Silicon Valley, Veep, etc. It's amazing to me how good television is right now in general.
Well, this episode solved the mystery of what erotic reverie made Clementine brush her lips in the first episode. It was the lasting memory of the cowpoke's package...presumably a guest package.
I enjoy the show and have fun reading up on theories online. However, one thing just gnaws at me: Maeve's repeated vague memories of the park's staff cleaning up scenes after violent interactions should be seen by the staff/admins. The staff clearly knows everything that is happening in the park (as evidenced by the Man in Black breaking out of the jail cell), so why can't they see a host cutting into her own stomach to retrieve a slug, or hiding drawings of the cleaners in floorboards, and take her out of commission?
They don't know everything, they have alerts like host deviating abnormally far from path, or host malfunction, but they don't seem to monitor every action. I am sure it is recorded in an action log, like any ERP, which can be recalled, but not actively monitored. They likely actively monitor guests, but hosts?, why would you monitor their small talk if it is within the confines of a narrative.
I'm really loving this show, so these small things don't bother me. Recall that they have already tagged her for odd behavior (not pleasing enough guests, not hitting her quota), and they are supposed to be doing extra tracking of her to decide if she needs to come off line. So, yeah, I kinda wondered if she came off her "probation period" and is again no longer actively monitored for odd behavior.
Initial reactions: The Maze: Interesting that management, as evidenced by the programmer Bernard, know about the maze. And they are pushing Delores to seek it out. So what is at the center? Is it management itself? Possibly. Is it Arnold? This would seem less likely now that management is in on it. Is it some kind of Minotaur like a half robot half human? That would be interesting but would make no sense since management is in on it. However, Delores and MIB headed to the center of Maze, perhaps to merge into one. Maze could be a distraction for hosts rebelling, much like in matrix for humans rebelling, to keep them in control. Or is Ford at the Center... Management: One thing I cannot seem to pin down is why the hosts are often perceived to be set against management as a horror movie, when in reality they are fixing them. Nobody likes getting probed, but hey, they are helping them. It's the guests that are killing them. The Indians seem to have figured this out. Ford: Dude went god complex there which was great. He's going to destroy woman's restaurant locale and memories. She showed fear which means I don't think she's a bot. Plus she has memories. Ford however does know her sex life secrets and did know exactly where she sat, which she didn't even know right away. Slaves. She is not in the loop or in control and she knows it. Awesome. Since Ford still thinks of hosts as hosts there could be a huge conflict coming between Arnold and Ford. If Wyatt is a lot like Arnold, it may be Ford's way of trying to understand how to win this battle or send a spy into it. VR: Think we can absolutely rule out VR given all of the machinery at work in the park. Construction. Man in Black's Foundation: So the Foundation helped that guy's sister. Not sure what that means as the guy is young, so don't think it's tied to the parks history, however, it does mean that the man in black has some kind on conscious and is trying to help people for something that went wrong. Although he couldn't give a rat's ass abut it that day you idiot. Thought it interesting that this is a vacation thing for MIB, and that he can take breaks from it, cause when I play a game, I go hard to the end. I may play for 30 years, but I play to finish in 3 weeks or less. Maeve: She had a big role, but I don't have much to say about her. Drawings are giving her memento moments. She can't remember, but then again...Hector pulls out a bullet, from between the legs no less, which probably should not be lost in irony. Teddy: lol. Strapped to a tree with buzzards. Prometheus... Overall: Reliving the same scenes from a slightly different perspective remains fresh for me, especially when they add additional context like the MIB freeing Hector from prison and formation of the gang. Nothing groundbreaking in this episode for me. But liked.
Enjoyed this episode. Like Phi said it was nothing earth shattering but was just a good general info episode. Personally I think the center of the maze may hod some secret to releasing the consciousness of the Hosts. Something that Arnold created before he died that has been locked away. I think the MiB wants to get to it because it would allow the change the rules the hosts live by and allow for a much more dangerous "game". I think he is looking for a better challenge, hence him alluding to not leaving the park this time because he intends on fighting to the death or some sort of thing like that. I really liked the scenes with Ford. I'm not certain what his motivation will turn out to be, but he really did the power trip stuff well. Another solid effort , I just feel like there will be a Memento type moment where they reveal that things are not playing out in a chronological fashion. In the back of my mind, I also think there is the possibility that Bernard is not human. I don't really have anything as evidence just a feeling of some of his mannerisms.
Spoiler I got that feeling with Ford brings up Bernard's child, it seemed like a programmed trigger of some sort.
If Bernard is a bot, then I think u do need to ask if the operations woman is a bot too, because she ought to know if she's sleeping with a robot or not at her level. And if she knows she is sleeping with a robot why Bernard just for sex when she has so many other options. I don't feel like Ford has control over the operations director like his minion hosts otherwise why even meet with her. So I got her as human, but then why would she sleep with a bot knowingly.
I think if Arnold is looking to see if consciousness can happen in the robots that makes me thing he can put consciousness in them. Maybe Arnold's accident was putting his consciousness into a bot Rocket River
I think the scene with Ford and the operations woman laid out the fact that she doesn't know everything or at least as much as Ford. She didn't know what he was up to or that he'd already been speaking to the board and already had a representative at the park...... So she might not be aware a certain someone is a bot if he is.....
Well I just got around to watching the latest episode last night because Sunday was all about TWD. All I have to add really is I thought it was awesome that the latest song they ran through the player's piano was A Forest by The Cure. My wife is a major Cure nurd too so she thought it was cool. So far we've had Paint it Black-The Rolling Stones, No Surprises - Radiohead, Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden, and now this. It's a fun thing I've kinda been keeping track of.
Speaking of music, imagine if they'd have named this show West End World instead. Don't even have to change the words, just use an instrumental like the rest. Because the the theme song is one I haven't been able to appreciate.
Are there themes in the music, the titles, or how they relate to the episodes? I'm not a music guy so all of that would bypass me completely if they were adding music to add to the plot.
Is there a host that closely resembles all of the people that have died in the lives of the humans? For example, we know that Arnold died, and Wyatt is closely aligned to Arnold. There is the boy who might be Bernard's son. Are there more? This might be tacking on the "prisoner of your sins" comment and the Lazarus comment early on by Ford.
Another excellent episode. -Mass orgy with NIN's "Something I can never have" covered. -We learn robots can punch the **** out of you or maybe the rules change the farther out you go. -Anthony Hopkins is definitely the smartest guy in the room. -The MIB "saved" the park 35 years ago??? -The multiple timelines angle still not disproven Can't wait till next week.
