I Figured Out the Timelines and Dolores Interviews

Published November 4, 2016 · Updated July 6, 2022

TL:DR – Delores has not been having interviews with Bernard but with Arnold. They have been occurring 30 years before the MiB timeline and the Violent Delights code virus.The Maze was the self-discovery quest Arnold put her own. 30 years later MiB is on the same quest to figure out what went wrong.

This theory doesn’t deal with any underlying metaphysical moral of the story. I am merely concerned with the mechanics of the storytelling. Trying to discern the structure of the story. I believe I have definitely figured out the linear/flashback device being used.
We are indeed dealing with two different timelines. The first timeline we will call timeline A in which in exists William, Logan, Arnold and Dolores on her maze quest while with William. Timeline B exists with everyone else we were introduced to in episode 1: Ford, Bernard, Maeve reaching consciousness and most importantly the Man in Black.

Now most of what I’m saying here is not controversial. But I believe if we use these two timelines as signposts then we can solve the issue of Dolores’ interviews. Mainly how and when is she pulled out for these interviews especially as it seems she’s with William most of the time, and how do the interviews fit into each of the timelines.
I posit the interviews we see with Bernard are in timeline A and they are actually with Arnold. The only interviews we see in timeline B is in the first episode with the security dude and then in episode 5 with Ford. Both times she’s naked and in the large fishbowl lab. Her interviews with Arnold she is clothed and they are in some sort of basement. Which would make sense if this was in the early facilities of production. Also I would argue the very first line of questions in the opening of episode 1 is Dolores speaking with Arnold because she was just unlocked by the Violent Delights code given to her by Abernathy. In fact I would go so far as to say Bernard is never alone with Dolores, perhaps as a failsafe for either fabricant to recognize the other.

So with A and B marked, what is it that we’re seeing?

30 years ago Arnold and Ford have taken WW out of beta and it’s now opened to the public but not doing well. We can see it’s a bit rougher, rawer and more aggressive (re: the prospector). Enter William and Logan from the shareholders checking the place out. Meanwhile Arnold is still trying to grapple with the natures of the Hosts while dealing with the death of his son. Dolores is his first creation. His “baby” as it were. When she shows capacity to be more than an automaton, he puts her on her own quest which is the Maze. She then brings people with her who can help her. El Lazo because he is currently the key to the next step. William because he’s a guest which means she can’t be pulled out.

In Timeline B, we’re 30 years in. Things are getting a bit sloppier. Dolores is on a rape loop. (I don’t believe we see the ranch in Time!A so i’m thinking because it was with Arnold it was a more G-rated loop). The MiB arrives. The Violent Delights virus spreads which triggers coding from 30 years prior. Abernathy breaks, Maeve breaks their fourth wall. Arnold in Dolores comes back online and now she has a gun.

So this is what I see. What’s going to happen, I don’t know. Thought I believe a bit of a mini-rebellion happened in the outlands in Time!A due to the original Maze quest. But that was somehow controllable. The events in Time!B however will lead to the war.

I’ve been doing a rewatch in order to map out what I theorize here. I’m up to episode 3 and so far so good. I noticed they’ve been clever in the mixing of timelines but then they do something pretty overt like in the beginning of Ep2 Dolores is sleepwalking in the dark, you hear Arnold say “Do you remember?” then fade reveal to William on the train. A lot of the characters in Time!B you don’t see in Time!A: Maeve, Hector, etc.

This was just a quick brain dump I wrote out while on the way to work. I welcome discussing this further with you at any time. I just wanted to get this out to you before the Thursday show. You can reach me on Google+ or wherever.

Also I noticed a lot of your listeners are female and perhaps you would benefit from a female perspective? No worries. Until later. – Joanna

My notes of Bernard vs Arnold

Bernard is passive to Arnold. Is never proactive. Takes suggestion and follows through until Ford gives any semblance of an answer and accepts it. Doesn’t mention son, only acknowledges. Not burdened with it like Arnold was.

Arnold is thoughtful and pushes for learning. I posit that the convo with the wife is Arnold, not Bernard. Which gives the conversation between Dolores and Arnold that much poignancy which then leads to his allowing his child to evolve more.

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