Single Westworld Timeline Theory

Published November 4, 2016 · Updated July 6, 2022

Howdy, pardners!

First let me say I admire and respect your work, effort and interest in Westworld. Digging in deep was one of the reasons we did the “Cine Minutiae” (Cinema-NEW-shuh) Podcast a while back, and continue with the “Read My Shorts” podcast – we, too, love to peel back the layers and expose the hidden story.

That being said, after listening to episode 13 I almost thought you had realized that there was only one timeline. I thought maybe you realized, upon re-watch, that this was very clearly debunked back in episode 4. If you watch closely, there is a scene in the control room where a tech informs Stubbs that Dolores has gone off script (off her loop) and Stubbs OKS sending a Marshall to bring her back – We see this happen when the Marshall confronts her, then William – a guest – overrides the Marshall and keeps Delores With him.

Later we see the SAME control room, tech and Stubbs AGAIN take action when the Man In Black ‘requests’ pyro to get out of the jail cell.

I’m not sure how much more concrete that could be to indicate that what William, Logan & Delores are doing is concurrent with what the Man in Black is doing.

As for other theories;

Ford as host (MPC, if you will – think “TRON”) – I’ll admit that his GODMODE powers seem to indicate he is network connected to all hosts (a raise of the finger stops hosts in the fields? This would only work if EITHER Ford was AI and networked, or if his commands to ONE host propagates to all via their network).

Evidence against him being a host – The flashback, where in he was younger and working with/on mechanical, early hosts. At 78 Anthony Hopkins looked to be in his 40’s in the flashback – Explaining the 34 (or more) years since Arnold was alive. This timeline also debunks your theory that we are more than one generation forward from the first gen. Host don’t have flashbacks of their younger selves.

And to contradict myself… Perhaps it’s this; Arnold was the original creator. Arnold infused his consciousness into all the hosts in some sub-routine code and the goal of the ‘game’ is for the hosts to become sentient, tapping into that which they hear as Arnold (in essence their inner voice, what early man mistook for God). Perhaps Ford built himself and was able to transfer his own self into his creation. Perhaps everyone knows that Ford is a host, but also that he is omnipotent – Or he lives, but this host acts as his avatar, maybe he’s infirmed elsewhere.

In the real world, Hopkins IS 78, and likely won’t be on this show for 10 years, so making him an unaging, undying robot is a really bad move. But if he chooses a new vessel (ala Doctor Who), another actor can become Ford when Hopkins is ready to leave the show.

That’s enough for know – But I will be watching – and listening, and I will write in again! – Henry

P.S. Did you notice that when Elsie scans the headless rogue, she holds the tablet/scanner in her palm, yet it X-rays only the host’s body and doesn’t show her own hand… WTF?

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