Caleb Doesn’t Fit

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Panel Shat,

Big D, I thought you would be more sympathetic to the character of Caleb given your being a combat veteran; however, I think you were spot on in that Caleb doesn’t “fit in” to the WestWorld stable of characters.

Having served in the Infantry in both Iraq and Afghanistan, I found myself sympathizing with the character of Caleb and how he feels disconnected from, and misunderstood by, the world around him. I think this dissonance is going to play a significant role in the season, as Caleb shows that artificial intelligence, algorithms, and other technologies of the day are not good enough to understand all people.

Specifically, look at how prescribing an encouraging chatbot with the augmented voice of Caleb’s dead buddy completely missed the mark with helping Caleb deal with his trauma. This was society’s fix to help a veteran deal with a trauma that very few people understand and experience. The medical professional helping Caleb prescribes the chatbot because records state the augmented voice is from someone close to Caleb in the military. This proven method must work. “A” plus “B” must equal “C”, right? No. Not this time.

Meanwhile, Dolores can predict the lunging movements of rich folks, and the big brained AI can foresee any threat before it happens. It makes me wonder if people that are playing the game and living a sheltered life are easier to predict; whereas, people with real trauma are harder to predict. Society’s reliance on everyone participating in the game makes the system weak because Society doesn’t know how to predict people, like Caleb, who refuse to play the game.

Everyone in WestWorld is made out to be summed up in a neat little book. What I think we are seeing with Caleb is that people who have experienced extreme trauma in life might be more difficult to be fixed with the generic algorithm.

These are just some thoughts. Trauma has always been an important part of this show and the development of character, so Caleb might be the key to cracking the human maze outside the park. I think the show is great, and I am glad to be back I n the ride with you all.

Nick B

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