Did Arnold Ever Exist? Telegraph

Published May 2, 2018 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hey Guys,

First things first, LOVE the podcast. My favorite Westworld podcast by far. You guys are always killing it and also you’re hilarious. Now on to the business, your theory at the end of this weeks deep dive about Arnold never having a corporeal body is very interesting. I definitely agree that there is some evidence out there that could support this…however, let me supply a little bit of evidence that I believe counts against it.

1) One of the things you guys mentioned this week was that Delos invested after the incident and before anyone would have met Arnold. I just wanted to supply some context to this as I just re-watched Season 1 Episode 5. Logan tells William about the history of the park in this episode (during William’s first visit). Logan says that the park was created and formed originally as a partnership but that one of the partner’s killed themselves before the park opened and says he never even met the guy.

2) In the scene we get with Arnold and Ford before they do the Angela/host/orgy demonstration for Logan we see Arnold and Ford argue about whether or not Dolores is ready for the demonstration. Arnold says she’s not ready and Ford gives in and leaves to probably send off the hosts to gather Logan and start the demonstration. At this pint, Arnold and Ford leave and they visit his home. They are walking around China together.

If Arnold didn’t exist at all at this point would Ford have let Dolores go off on her own? Even if Arnold was a host/ AI being at this point would Ford have let them both go with no supervision? That’s too much tech to let go off on their own? I guess they could not actually be going to Bernard’s house and that’s all in their head? But that feels cheap to me.

My thought is that Arnold and Dolores return to the hotel and check in with Ford. Ford tells him he’s been tracking the hosts and Logan via computers and surveillance during the demonstration. He feels confident it all worked out well. We know Arnold never liked the money men so I think it makes sense that Arnold would be happy the demonstration went well but not really want to get involved with the contract/investment stuff on the paperwork level. He goes back to his own hotel room. Ford take Dolores to the hotel room where Logan has been with Angela and the other hosts. At the hotel room, Ford and Logan meet and do the paperwork/boring investment shit.

All of this crazy long stuff is to say that I think it’s very possible for Arnold to have never met Logan and for it to actually be plausible and already sewn through the shows plot.

SORRY FOR HOW LONG THIS IS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SUMMARIZE AND SHORTEN.

Thanks for all your hard work guys! Seriously can’t say how much I love the podcast.

Clare C

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