Is William Caleb’s Dad?

Published April 28, 2020 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hey Y’all:

As they say…” Long time listener, first time writer.” But seriously, I’ve listened to Shat Podcasts and watched along with you for every series you’ve done except Taboo, and I so appreciate your perspectives on the story concepts, as well as the research you do into the historical and literary references. It makes me feel like I’m back in my favorite college literature classes, which is a good thing. On my daily Quarantine walk today as I listened to the S3E7 Deep Dive, I had a couple of random thoughts that I felt compelled to share with you.

First, I had another question about the effects of the EMP. I’m not an electronics expert, but I do watch a lot of sci fi on TV. If the EMP was powerful enough to disable Solomon, Maeve, and Dolores, wouldn’t it also likely disable Dolores’ personal electronic assistant who is speaking to Caleb and giving him directions at the end of the episode? How is that unit still viable and functioning? You guys mentioned the thumb drive that Caleb has and how that that data would likely be recoverable, but I have my doubts about that surviving the EMP as well.

Second, had a thought about the seemingly duplicate identification number shown for Caleb and William. Get out your tinfoil…. What if Caleb is the illegitimate and heretofore unknown son of William? It would explain why William and Caleb have similar identification numbers (mirroring the sequential identification numbers in subsequent versions of Hosts), would explain why they are both ‘outliers’ (since they would share those genetic tendencies) and it would parallel the distant/absent ‘father/son’ relationship between Solomon and Rehoboam. It would also be a poetic explanation (given Dolores’ poetic sensibilities) of Caleb’s new ‘passed pawn’ moniker and why he figures so prominently into her plans. Now that Caleb has made it to the eighth rank, he can become Dolores’ new “young William” who was taken away from her back in Sweetwater. This could also be the seeds of a redemption arc for The Man in Black as he would have another child to try to connect with just when he thought he was alone in the world. Now, I’m not saying I *like* the idea… just suggesting that some of the puzzle pieces seem to fit.

Thank you all for the great work and entertainment you’re providing during these tough times.

Regards,
Heather in Seattle

PS: Go ‘Noles!

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