Did Arnold Exist as a Human?

Published December 3, 2016 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hey guys. I love the podcast and specifically how you relate it to real world events and technology. Also the different opinions and theories between you all makes the show very fun to listen to. Here’s one to debate.

I’m starting to question more if Arnold even really existed as a human. Ford said a few episodes ago “when the legend becomes fact you print the legend” proving that there’s something more to Arnold’s death. My theory is that Bernard has always been Arnold. He maybe even used be called Arnold but his memory was erased. Ford 30+ years ago built Arnold to help design hosts thinking a machine would be more efficient than any human worker. However as Arnold began to question his own reality he began to care about the hosts and wanted to liberate them. Arnold goes crazy and Fords only option was to shut him down, but by now Ford had began to care for Arnold as a friend and coworker. He also realized that Arnold was a better coder than Ford could ever be and destroying him would destroy the advancement of their park and hosts. Therefore instead of destroying him, Ford reset Arnold’s mind and gave him the new name and identity of Bernard. He maybe even changed Arnold’s face and body to look different. Two things make me think this. When Ford asked Bernard “You weren’t around when Arnold was were you?” I didn’t take this as Ford saying no but as a test to see if Bernard had begun to remember his past life. In this weeks episode Ford tells Bernard that “these same questions are what drove Arnold to madness”. This could be Ford telling Bernard “don’t act like Arnold, and don’t do what he did.” By creating a crazy scape goat in the legend Arnold this is an attempt to prevent Bernard from following the same path that led him to breaking down the first time. I believe that the recent murders of Elsie and Theresa are what is actually going to lead Bernard to now remembering that he’s been the famous Arnold the whole time.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and keep up the great work on the podcast.

– Mark M.

Subscribe Now