Three Timelines Theory Westworld

Published November 19, 2016 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hi guys,

I love your podcast and the fact that you include an episode each week to read and discuss the theories of your listeners.

I am completely sold on theory that there are at least two timelines, but after the most recent episode I actually think there may be three, all of which center around Dolores. I am also convinced that Bernard is the robot version of Arnold, which is where the third (technically first timeline) comes from.

The way they set up the end of the third episode/beginning of the fourth, we see a sequence of events indicating Dolores goes against her promise to Bernard to stay in her loop by shooting Rebus and running into Williams arms. She is then interviewed by Bernard in the middle of the night before waking back up with William to start her journey toward the maze. However, I think these events occurred at separate times and are being shown to us as Delores remembers her past.

My theory is the three timelines are:

34 years ago: Dolores become conscious for the first time, indicated by her conversations with Bernard/Arnold.
30 years ago: Dolores runs from her loop and develops consciousness while with William
Present day: Dolores shoots Rebus and begins developing consciousness again while on the run

To focus on the first timeline, the conversations between Bernard/Arnold and Dolores show him becoming more fascinated and conflicted by what’s happening with Dolores. In episode three, he debates whether he should change her back, before ultimately deciding not to and asking her if she will stay on her loop. The very next time we see them together, she is upset, having just witnessed her parents being murdered. This conversation takes place in a room that looks a lot like the room Theresa was just murdered in, which Bernard isn’t supposed to be able to see/find on his own, but human Arnold could have used in the early days (more on the room later). During these conversations there are small hints that Bernard/Arnold see’s Dolores as more human than robot, for example he asks, “Limit your emotional affect please.”, “That’s very pretty Dolores. Did we write that for you?” Why be polite to a machine, why question where the dialog is coming from unless you have doubt? In the conversation Delores asks “Is there something wrong with these thoughts I’m having?” and he responds, “No. But I’m not the only one making these decisions.” He goes on to tell her about the maze, but even then he says if she finds it then maybe she can be free. Perhaps Arnold hoped that Dolores finding the maze on her own would be enough to convince Dr. Ford the hosts were capable of consciousness.

Removing these conversations, the Bernard we see in the present day facility shows no indication that he is interested in or concerned with the hosts gaining consciousness. At one point he flat out refutes Elsie’s concerns that there’s indication the hosts are developing their own thoughts by sternly replying, “The host don’t imagine things. You do.” He even references how “he” used to be confused by how real the hosts seemed, but there’s no indication that he believes that now.

To add the final layer of tinfoil to my three timeline theory, I think Delores completed the maze and Arnold brought Dr. Ford there to prove that the hosts could develop consciousness. When she arrived, Dr. Ford commanded Delores to kill Arnold as his proof that she was still just a host under his command. Based on Theresa’s murder, it seems to me, this would be Dr. Ford’s sadistic way of teaching his partner a lesson before he gets rid of the free-thinking human version of his partner permanently.

Going back to the room where these conversations are taking place, I’ve attached three pictures to show the similarities and differences between the rooms. The first two pictures look like the same room based on the glass enclosure and staircase, while the third shows that the room Theresa dies in does not have windows. My guess is that it’s the same room, but Ford later removed the windows to keep anyone who stumbles into that area from peaking into the windows and learning about the secret hosts he builds there.

Thanks again for the great podcast! – Heather

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