Every Need Taken Care Of, Except One: Purpose, Meaning

Published November 4, 2016 · Updated July 6, 2022

Just wanted to give a shout out again for the great work on the multiple podcasts. I know it takes a lot of time and effort on your part to put this together for us, so I wanted to say thanks.

After listening to the Telegraph last week, it was clear there is a lot of great listener feedback, so it really calls upon me to make sure and step up my game if I want to add something to the conversation. As I write this, I have only listened to the Instacast so far for ‘The Contrapasso’, and have tried not to read too much about it online, so that I wasn’t just spilling back out the milk I was taking in. I wanted to lay out, hopefully, a fresh take.

I’m sure someone will beat me to the point I’m trying to make here, BUT I’m hoping to at least get points for the sub reference:

I think WestWorld just pulled a Peter Faulk.

We had the first meeting in the show between Ford and the Man in Black, which was pretty fantastic. But I as I re-watched the scene, it started playing out like a scene from the old TV show Columbo, where the detective, played by Faulk, would meet with a suspect that he had an instinct was responsible for a crime, but had no proof. Typically the suspect would know he was fishing, but had nothing on him. The fun was this cat and mouse game they would have until Columbo got enough to make the bust.

So what IS the Man in Black looking for? I think he is trying to solve Arnold’s murder, and I felt a distinct Columbo vibe in the interaction between Hopkins and Harris.

To quote the Man in Black: I think there is a deeper meaning hiding under all that. Something the person who created it wanted to express, something true Maybe he left something behind

Arnold maybe has left the Maze as a way to unlock a final game, his murder. He has sprinkled some code in Dolores and in other clues all over the park and perhaps even Ford knows, but is tantalized by the effort himself. Since he feels (and in many cases has demonstrated) that he is in complete control, and that no one, not the Corporation, not the ghost of Arnold, or the Man in Black, is a threat to him, he seems content to let everyone chase their tails.

Thanks for letting me go off on that tangent. Lastly a couple of quick takes:

It seemed like such a LONG episode. I guess just because there was so much additional content be added to the narrative. I agree, to quote Lawrence, Let’s settle in, it’s a long ride to the front.
I found it funny that we see the awe and general surprise in Felix’s face when the bird is reanimated and flies off. As if he wasn’t sure he could pull it off. I also like he did not appear to have a plan for what happens once the bird takes off.
Lastly, it must be said this is the first show we haven’t seen Teddy buy the farm, although the makeup department didn’t seem to be shy with that eye makeup. #TheWalkingTed
As always, keep up the good work – you guys are awesome! – Greg

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