207- Les Écorchés
Written By: Jordan Goldberg & Ron Fitzgerald
Directed By: Nicole Kassell
only reason I’m starting this is because I saw cool semi-spoiler that I assume is for this episode and didn’t know where to post it. If you want to see a mild spoiler for this episode, check out Louise Herthum’s (Peter Abernathy) twitter banner photo.
Directed By: Nicole Kassell
only reason I’m starting this is because I saw cool semi-spoiler that I assume is for this episode and didn’t know where to post it. If you want to see a mild spoiler for this episode, check out Louise Herthum’s (Peter Abernathy) twitter banner photo.
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But, we'll see how it translates to the actual episode. Maybe it won't be quite so literal.
I really liked the MIB showdown though. That guy never gives up.
Anthony Hopkins hijacking Bernard's mind to force him to murder a bunch of people would be an extreme violation of Bernard's agency and could have been incredibly tragic. But because they have spent the whole season obfuscating whether we are seeing Bernard, or Arnold, or Bernard in a simulation, or Teddy in Bernard's body, I have absolutely zero emotional investment in Jeffrey Wright's character. Which is crazy because he is one of the most amazing working actors out there right now! Ugh... this show could be soooo good if they stopped getting up their own ass so much.
Evan Rachel Wood brought the heat in this episode, too. Her intensity and intimidation when she was talking to Hale was badass, and her ability to access such realistic tears on cue (like when she was saying goodbye to her dad) is astonishing.
On another note that I found hilariously random, Teddy's new cold-blooded killer programming somehow necessitates an overgrown Caesar haircut that's about three shades darker. It actually took me out of the scene a bit when he beat Coughlin to death with that ridiculous haircut. Instead of being in the moment, I was thinking, "Christ, they really amped up the product in Marsden's hair."
The lack of investment with Bernard (and everyone else) is a seed that the show sowed. I'm more curious about where the plot goes, and I don't necessarily care about any of the characters (not a great sign in S2). I'm sort of hoping that Lee has an arc, or maybe Elsie survives. But who else should empathize with??
I defended a lot of the shenanigans in S1 because I really thought that it was all a prologue to the real story, which officially kicked off with the killing of Ford. In that “final” Anthony Hopkins monologue he says something about how this new story will be about the birth of a new people and about the decisions they will have to make along the way, and I thought that would be the real story of Westworld. And so with the shot of a gun, the creators were saying ok from this moment, this is where our characters are going to develop because this is where the real story begins. But this season just seems to be undercutting a lot of that. It really really feels like we’ve been idling
It was so great to see Anthony Hopkins back - he is such an amazing actor!
I just really, really hope Maeve is ok, because she's pretty much my favorite character, and it would break my heart if anything happened to her.
Oh! And I'm super excited for the next episode!
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I’ve seen a lot of negative talk about the Delos security, but to me everything “fits” this far. We already know that security that was at the park was unprepared and over matched for the current situation. They’d also would hesitate trying to determine who’s a host and who’s not, hosts don’t hesitate.
Then we have the “scouting” team (which we have seen this week and last week) get beat up pretty bad. The scouting team however is on almost the same field as the “home” security. They have little intel and probably vastly underestimated just how bad things are. This scouting squad is also probably trying to not kill humans and keep as much of park “in tact”.
We see a VERY different team (in terms of numbers and skills) come with Strand. They seem to be kicking ass and have a much better handle on what to do. They are not hesitating and all hosts are being exterminated.
Bernard/Ford, MiB/Lawrence and Delores/Hale interactions were each individually some of the best scenes in the season.
One of my pet peeves is writing towards plot. The show has an idea where it's going and it's characters do anything, no matter how stupid or unreal, to get there. Delos security for starters, otherwise known as future contractor for The Empire's Storm Troopers. Many characters don't seem to have any motivation anymore other than plot.
I hope things wrap up better but this is heading towards Legion territory for me but for different reason. That show I watch but know going in that I'm only going to get 54% and still enjoy it, just knowing I'm not going to waste time trying to figure everything out. Westworld is heading towards a show I'll watch but more as a guilty pleasure than a show I really invest heart and mind into.
I think when you have such an amazing first season, it's easier to be critical of any dumb shit that comes in the next season because you are used to them operating at such a high level. If season one had been just okay, you might not notice so much of the lazy writing and eye rolling worthy lines.
Also, William is not a host! This is probably the worst show to stake a claim in the ground because they love messing with the audience but I feel 99.99999% sure that he is absolutely not a host.
It's much better as a viewer for Delos security to be smart and get beaten than for them to be incompetent. It tells you more about the hosts' skill level, and you feel something for the guards when they die. As it is they're just redshirts. Not even that, as redshirts usually got some form of character development.
Apart from that I enjoyed the episode. With Dolores and Bernard they explained enough that I think I again have a baseline that allows me to enjoy the rest of their story. I think they're getting Bernard closer to full control, and a lot of my frustration is seeing him struggle with the same issues and same memories for the past 8-10 episodes.
Other random thoughts:
I continue to think of MIB as something of a loser and a chump, and enjoyed Maeve getting to almost take him down. I don't see any reason to think he's a host yet. Seemed to me the writers were careful to land the shots in his arms, legs, shoulders. All of which is fixable. He probably should bleed out, but that's TV. I assume his daughter will find him somehow.
I didn't understand Lawrence being immune to Maeve's Jedi tricks. Haven't really gotten the impression that he's woke and therefore able to resist.
They haven't touched on it much, but Maeve is very selective about who gets to choose their own path and who she takes over and essentially sends to their death. Nor have they made her very concerned about waking those characters when they "die". I'm not sure why not. I think there's something of a rationale in that if I could save my kid by taking over another person for a few minutes, I'm doing it. I'm not looking to brainwash them, as Dolores is doing with Teddy. Still, might have been nice to see Dolores or someone challenge her on that point.
I'm surprised about the complaints about Jim and Aron criticizing the show. I feel they've been very positive about the show until maybe the last 2-3.
I don't think I've ever seen anyone try that kind of scene when there's a full assault underway.
I think that Lawrence, or any other host that are directly carrying instructions for the "game" for the MiB via Ford are to some extent, "woke." Like young RoboFord. I don't think if Maeve found him, she'd be able to infiltrate his brain either. We also don't know if Maeve's abilities were granted by Ford or it was just some freak thing she earned.
Also, the guys did seem a little bummed about Dolores encountering Maeve at the end and giving her free will while keeping it from Teddy. I think it was a respect thing. This was Maeve's whole journey and I guess Dolores just didn't want to force that on her if she didn't have to. I don't think she wants to do it to Teddy either but she does need him for her plan. I mean, maybe the fact that you have to force others to enact your plan is a good sign it's a bad plan...but that's a whole nother conversation.
https://www.reddit.com/r/westworld/comments/8odu25/updated_timeline_of_major_events_for_2x07_les/
They certainly don't make it seem like there's anymore story between where we saw Bernard get his story to in this episode and what we see in 'present day' scenes. Hale in present day was having Bernard remember what happened only a couple of hours before when he was in the Cradle and Dolores attacked.
What other backstory is there left to tell of the in-between days, and how does it fit into the timeline we just watched?
Aside from that, they will need to explain how he's taking so many shots and not dying. One thing is for sure- the writers are certainly wanting us to wonder if he's a host.