Westworld
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The Riddle of the Sphinx is a perfect example of everything I both love and dislike aboutWestworld.
Three times, characters are about to discuss something important before theres suddenly some distraction.
Moreover, the show specializes in the constant tease of vague abstractions, rather than misdirection.
How many times are we going to see Bernard watch himself do a simple task and redo it?
And that cant help but feel laborious in a 71-minute episode.
Again, its not just about economy, but the way the show holds onto its cards.
But when the show finally plays those cards?
As the saying goes, Always late and worth the wait.
Hence, dramatic fireworks.
What animal walks on four legs when young, two when adult, and three when old?
The answer, of course, is man.
But when we take humanity and put it inside hosts, they have no such worries.
Theyre born as they are.
Always only needing two legs.
By introducing this quest for eternal life,Westworldexposes the horrors of eternal limbo.
Hes trapped in the cognitive plateau, as the episode calls it.
Its not just some handy-dandy metaphor, but a direct comment on life without death.
There is no God for Delos, and no way to be one himself.
Hes got nowhere to go.
And nothing to lose, except everything that makes life meaningful.
If theres one thingWestworldhas steeped in its DNA, its the notion of cost.
As Delos tells William, If you aim to cheat the devil, you owe him an offering.
Hes not in control, at all.
Even worse, he can control those white drone robots.
This is a terrible power that can bring terrible cost.
But like everyone else?
Bernard just wants to go on living.
Does he have a death wish?
In reality, hes trying to control death and use its power over others.
Its no accident that we then learn here that William feels the burden of this truth quite heavily.
He lost his wife to suicide, a loss that his callousness probably helped inflict.
In a flashback, he even outright admits to Delos that this whole venture was probably a mistake.
He can only press on with his naive, equally callous pursuit of how to fix it.
William still thinks this is all about playing it to the bone.
I thought we left all of that behind, butWestworldis doubling down.
And it just cant help but feel … small?
And Grace seems to remember a lot.
So, for William, what he said to Delos is also true for himself.
Some men are better off dead.
Welcome back, Shannon Woodward!
I still dont trust you, but I figure I might need your help.
Still, I couldnt help but think, When their bodies decompose, that will hurt the railroad integrity!
Who else noticed how they slightly aged-up young William in the second Delos meeting?
Pretty sure that isnt how nitro works, but its certainly more entertaining.
Is the third Hemsworth going to do anything this season?
If you cant tell, does it matter?
We know things they dont, but its rarely played for dramatic irony.
Instead, we just watch the characters fascination with not knowing whats going on.
Its a weird thing to behold.
