Dr. Ford’s Endgame

Published January 14, 2017 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hi Guys,

I wonder if Ford uncovered the town in the sand for the sake of nostalgia. He has this IDGAF attitude towards colleagues and bots even colleague-bots. Maybe this is Ford’s last go at feeling joy. The only time we see him truly content throughout the show is with his robot family, outside of that he is business, business, business.

Perhaps he is completely fed up with the turn westworld has taken and yearns for his younger years when he was inventing and shaping the personalities and interactive features of the original hosts. When we saw young Ford in the most recent episode, he stormed through the hall, seeking out Arnold, obviously distressed. It seems clear now that Arnold’s actions or decisions led to his own death. Ford, being captain nostalgia, built a physical clone of his best bud, but chose to program him only with what he felt were Arnold’s strengths and mannerisms. So he may have lost the man who helped him develop then ultimately botch the project, but he didn’t lose the physical, intellectual, and emotional comfort of that friendship in building Bernard.

So here’s where we dive down the rabbit hole. The host that was being built in the lab at the end of episode 7, was either a Host Ford or Bernard v2.

If it is Bernard v2, this could explain why. Ford know Bernard v1 was about to crack. The reveries play an obvious role in developing their personalities, and it has also become clear that they cannot be completely wiped. But he can start fresh with a new host and re-build Bernard to be the best possible Arnold replica without having the memories of designing the new hosts, killing other colleagues, or whatever other atrocities trapped in his mind waiting to resurface. Ford could then Retire to the city in the sand with a clean version of his friend and spend the rest of his life re-living the past with Arnold creating bots in their original testing grounds while being guarded by Wyatt’s army of Gen 1 Hosts.

Or, if it is Ford who we saw being built, then the ending will likely be very poetic. Ford is setting himself up for failure in offing his associates and is choosing to live out the last day of Arnold’s life and die in the same way Arnold did, with Teddy and Dolores shooting up the town. Maybe man in black will see the whole thing go down and run over to a bleeding out Ford after the dust settles, cradle Ford’s head, and get some epic monologue about being able to truly live one last time, then twisting it by saying but in this death, I have also achieved new life. (concluding all the religious narratives with the self-sacrifice for the greater good and resurrection of the savior story) Then a Host Ford steps out from the church, the man in black breaks character, realizes his obligations has a board member, says something to the effect of no, I’m not playing this game, aims his gun fires cuts to black somber piano theme.

Then we patiently wait for season 2.

Would love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks!
-Joe

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