Alpha & Omega

Published November 11, 2016 · Updated July 6, 2022

Alpha & Omega
Last thoughts before episode 6 airs tomorrow. Trying to spread my theories around. So I shall give you my alpha and omega: my best and worse theories at the moment.

Best – Brain Chemistry and Native Religions
Perhaps you saw a photo I posted comparing brain physiology to the maze. Bottom line:

The hippocampus allows us to make sense of our environment, and stores and processes memories.
The thalamus regulates, consciousness, dreams, and sleep.

The Man in the Maze

But like all things WW, there are many more layers of meaning. This one’s a doozy: The Man in the Maze.

This link was mentioned by your listener Heather, credit where credit is due, but I have some additional insight to contribute on how it applies to what we’ll see on the show. Sometimes I don’t make the tinfoil, I just fold it into beautiful origami.

This story is so exactly one facet of the show plot, I’ma break it down for you substituting show characters names for the deity’s names.
Ford = Earth-Maker, Arnold = I’itoi, MiB = Coyote.
(Or you can skip to ***Bottom Line below)

Ford made the world out of the dirt and sweat he scraped from his skin.
Arnold was born in a crash were earth met sky.
Ford & Arnold shaped and peopled the new world.
MiB came to life uncreated and poked his nose into everything.
The new world had a Flood, whomever emerged first after, won the title of Creator.
Ford won, but Arnold insisted on the title, and took it.
Arnold raised the new people like children, but he became unkind, and they killed him.
Arnold, though killed, had so much power that he came to life again.
Arnold invented War, and decided to sweep the Earth of the people he’s made.
Arnold needed an army, so he brought them from underground.
Arnold retired from the world and now lives in a cave, possibly underground.

(Since Earth-Maker, Elder Brother, and I’itoi are sometimes used interchangeably, I could have this whole thing wrong and all this describes Ford instead of Arnold, or that they are one in the same. Head scratcher, but what’s above is most like the show so far.)

The legend is also hugely significant, so let me bullet-point it for you:
(Or you can skip to the ***Bottom Line below)

I’itoi (pronounced EYE-it-toy), aka Elder Brother is most commonly known as The Man in the Maze. Elder brother was a magician or medicine man who could do things like disappear, and heal people. Also, Ford said he had a brother. Younger, older?? *Tinfoil rabbit hole here:
Mischievous creator god of the O’odham people who resides in a cave. The cave hints at how I think the maze will be shown visually. Previews show Dolores stepping over bodies in an underground hallway. I think we’ll see Dolores finding Bernard at headquarters. But are these Dolores flashbacks actual memories, or just fiction invented and uploaded by Ford?
Responsible for the gift of the Himdag, a series of commandments guiding people to remain in balance with the world and interact with it as intended. The voice commands that control the Hosts: You mentioned the significance of this original part of the code. One of your listeners wrote, if Ford takes away the voice commands, he’ll lose control of the Hosts.

And what’s with the command-in-question-form pattern?

You’ll put yourself away again, won’t you Bill?”
“We must look back and smile at perils past, musn’t we?
And MiB does it, too
“Any water nearby, son? Fetch us some, would you?

Man in the Maze references this native design with his position at the entry to a labyrinth, believed to be both a floorplan of his house, and a map giving directions to it.Like Arnold, he had to live in the maze because he had many enemies. His pursuers would turn around and go back before finding him.
Every maze pattern has a “mistake,” called a dau (“door”), which is intentionally integrated into its design so that the spirit of the design can be released. This reminds me of that listener email from the Evolution expert. Such smart fans!

***Bottom Line:

Besides being a journey of self discovery and a path to consciousness/enlightenment what does it all mean, really?

Maze = One’s life experiences and choices made.
Center = One’s dreams and goals.
Journey’s End = Look back on path
taken and pass into the next world.

To create Life itself, is not enough. One’s existence must be given meaning. And one cannot be said to have lived if they can never die.

Puts a morbid spin on Ford’s Perils past line. And sheds light on his Native Religion narratives. The thing I keep coming back to it the photo from Ford’s office, below. How long has this struggle really been going on? Has this scenario played out once for every figurine pictured?

And very briefly

Dr. Fords Office

Worst – William is Bernard
Huh? Thought I’d heard every version of the someone=someone theories. Guess not!
This def falls into the so-completely-crazy-it-just-might-be-true category.
But the only way it works is if you believe Arnold=William=Bernard. #willnardold 🙂
Reminded me of Ford asking Dolores what role would she choose? The hero, or the villain?
I do believe that Arnold, like all of the other key players, thinks he’s chosen the Hero role. But Arnold doesn’t realize he’s the villain. Even MiB thinks of himself as a Hero for Freedom in disguise. Ford sees things more clearly?
My genuine takeaway from this fake theory, is that none of the characters are true villains. They all think their own cause is righteous. Nothing could be less Black and White.

William = Bernard would be a crazy Guest = Host reveal. But just, no.

You asked for crazy, I deliver.

Felix’s face

As always, zero expectation of what you will read on the show. Just like to be thought provoking.

And as far as my critical credentials, I’m a recently retired actress with degrees in English Literature and Theater. Obviously, I love to write one hell of a research paper. Wouldn’t call myself a superfan, but this intriguing show has my attention at the moment. My hobby du jour. Thanks! -Kerry M.

P.P.S. – Felix’s face!!
None of this is real.

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