Maeve is Serac’s Winter Line

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Thanks again for everything you do, especially during this public health crisis when many people – me included – need some friendly voices in their ears. Big D – you’re always my favorite, especially all the talk about bears. Dear me!

I’m a bit of a WWII nerd and very much a history junkie. I’m not in love with the death tolls and atrocities committed, obviously, but the enormous efforts undertaken at home and abroad to defeat the Axis powers. When the title of the latest episode (“The Winter Line”) was announced, I was curious to see what the show writers were up to and how that would play out on screen.

I’m sure that one of you (maybe Big D) will do some research about the Winter Line that was a series of defensive lines built by the Germans (and Italians) to defend Rome. The Winter Line was actually a series of defensive lines; the main line was the Gustav line that ran across the peninsula. As anyone can read on Wikipedia, while the line was ultimately broken, it did delay the Allied ground forces (like the U.S. Fifth Army) advancing from the south for many months. The Battle of Anzio was a major conflict that took place during this time. (I guess this would make Maeve’s stint in the Italian “WarWorld” simulation somewhat fitting. It was gorgeously filmed and there was some great acting in these sequences.)

I think the title is a direct reference to Maeve. She is the defensive line against an advancing force: AI and Dolores. Serac sees the coming war and is apparently aware that it’s already started and maybe even lost. He needs help. Maybe he doesn’t need a weapon to kill Delores so much as hold her back, delay her advance. I think the simulation he set up for Maeve wasn’t just an attempt to extract information about the Forge data coordinates; it was also a test of her readiness and ability to combat Delores and AI. Her ability to deeply infiltrate AI systems is her superpower and he plans to exploit it. That said, I am going to somewhat contradict myself by speculating that Serac/Incite is interested in the Forge data for some unknown reason. Perhaps the simulation was a poor attempt to see how much Maeve knew about it. He mentions to Maeve (if my memory is correct) that they have a “shared interest” or something to that effect. Her sole interest was and remains her daughter who is now a part of the Forge data. She’s not shown any other core drive stronger than the one to protect her daughter. This could be his leverage over her to do what he wants. Other quick points…

• Serac, by definition, is a formation on a glacier. Not sure if there’s anything to read into it. Do you?

• Serac is wearing all white and the dress he provides Maeve for their meeting is also white (and she is stunning in it btw). Does he see himself as a human god, a benevolent being bent on protecting his kind? In the past, the costuming and colors (while binary) are important in this series. Delores seems to be wearing a lot of black as of late.

• In his conversation with Maeve, Serac says something interesting: “Our history is like the ravings of lunatics.” This immediately reminded me of something Bernard said at the end of Season 2 when he and Delores were inside the Forge and watching Daddy Delos go insane on the townies. Delores says, “He’s insane.” Bernard says, “What humans describe as sane is a narrow range of behaviors. Most states of consciousness are insane.” I doubt there’s supposed to be a connection but it’s a subtle call back and perhaps reinforces this idea about the vagaries of human behavior. Thanks again everyone. Looking forward to your thoughts and episode 3!

– Shawn V. in Chicago

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