Bernard, Our Ford Is Getting Weary?

Published November 20, 2016 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hi guys,

I LOVE your show, and I look forward to hearing your podcasts as much as I look forward to seeing this amazing show. I’ve had many theories and thoughts on this show since it began, but haven’t found the time to write them to you. However, I have had one new theory this morning that I’m dying to share, and want to get it in now before the airing of episode 8 tonight, in case it is proven in this episode. Sorry for the rushed nature of this email as I only have a few minutes spare.

Theory 1:
We see the “violent delights” code phrase can be used by a human to switch off a host. I believe we saw Maeve say it to Delores in an early episode with no effect. This proves that a host saying a code phrase to another host does not trigger the action.

We already know that hosts can not physically harm humans, with one exception. At the end of episode 7, we see Ford give Bernard the code phrase “our guest has worn weary” so that Bernard could kill the human, even against the rules in his coding.

We also saw in episode 7 that some hosts can be programmed to be picked up as humans by other hosts when Clem was being tested.

This immediately gave me an idea. Bernard has witnessed Ford using the “our guest has worn weary” code phrase. But Bernard is considered by other hosts to be a human (he must be to continue to avoid detection as a host). So even though Bernard can not harm a human unless the “weary” code phrase is used, he could choose to say the “weary” code phrase to another host and they would kill the human for him! The host doesn’t know he is not human so would obey.

So that made me think, is this a loophole that Ford has missed that could threaten his own life? Has Ford given Bernard the very tool that could allow him to kill Ford? Could he even plan, perhaps with the help of Maeve, to kill Ford and replace him with a host Ford that will be able to reign powerfully without danger of natural death?

Theory 2:
Developing this theory more into tinfoil places, what if Bernard has already killed Ford with this method? Perhaps this will be revealed in the final episode of the series. In this episode, we could meet Arnold (who looks like Bernard). Ford is threatened by Arnold and plans to kill him. He creates Bernard (Arnold’s replacement) and brings him to Arnold. Arnold is shocked Ford has made a replica of him.

Ford uses the “weary” code phrase and Bernard kills Arnold. Bernard asks Ford why he made him kill Arnold (like for Teresa in episode 7) and Ford gives an unsatisfactory answer. Ford starts losing his cool at work the next day and is racked with guilt.

This is where the scene from an early episode would fit in where he cuts the face of the host in front of the tech guy saying something like “they’re not real”. Those thinking Bernard is human kills Ford. Some other stuff happens in the episode. The final scene of the episode is Ford back alive? No, it’s Ford as a host! End of Season 1.

If this theory was true, then Ford would have treated hosts as mere robots only before this point and would have been much more sympathetic to hosts after that. That is why we have seen some scenes where he is cold to hosts – before his death – and protective to hosts – after his death and host resurrection.

Examples of after his resurrection are:

caring about restoring the host dog for host Robert,
caring about his host family of his youth
caring enough about protecting hosts to fight Teresa, Charlotte, and the board.

The scene in an earlier episode at the cafe by the vineyard, where he is threatening Teresa and controlling the hosts with his thought or tiny movement of his finger makes more sense if he is a host and controlling them through his neuro-net. It also makes sense for his war against the board. The board would count Ford’s age as his greatest weakness – ie he’ll probably die soon. If he is a host, he’s not going to die in the next while, and this explains why he’s so confident of beating the board. Not only does he have the power of the hosts and spying through them, but will not die of old age.

If he is a host, he’s not going to die in the next while, and this explains why he’s so confident of beating the board. Not only does he have the power of the hosts and spying through them, but will not die of old age.

Theory 3:
I have one more theory to mention. I think after the uprising, which William is instrumental in stopping, Ford tells William that he will reward him. William wants to stay in Westworld indefinitely. Ford agrees. The tragic part is that he resets Delores, so Williams sweetheart is forever lost. In the real world, Ford sends back a William host to take Williams place and using him manages to politically maneuver himself to take over the company from Logan ensuring funding indefinitely for Westworld. With occasional physical updates for William hosts to show aging, it explains how William could be in the park that last 30 years, but still be recognized as famous – because of host William being CEO of the company on the outside.

With occasional physical updates for William hosts to show aging, it explains how William could be in the park that last 30 years, but still be recognized as famous – because of host William being CEO of the company on the outside.

Theory 4:
Bernard’s wife could be a planted memory, a recording or another host programmed to talk back to Bernard. But now Bernard is proven to be a host, this theory is outdated.

Final thought:
Right from episode 1 I’ve been thinking, what if they put the full programmed brain and personality into an animal. Then there would be an accurate test to see what would happen if a human’s consciousness was to wake up inside an animal. I would be fascinated to see what they would do or how they would try to get the attention and cry out to help to the humans they find. I imagine a cow mooing a lot, and trying to write messages in the dirt. Hilarious and kind of fascinating too!

I would be fascinated to see what they would do or how they would try to get the attention and cry out to help to the humans they find. I imagine a cow mooing a lot, and trying to write messages in the dirt. Hilarious and kind of fascinating too!

Thanks so much for all the work you put into the podcast guys! You’ve added so much to my enjoyment of this awesome show!

Jamie Bell

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