Westworld Episode 4 Theories: “Riddle of The Sphinx”

Westworld Episode 4 Theories: "Riddle of The Sphinx"
Westworld Episode 4 Theories: "Riddle of The Sphinx"

Westworld Episode 4 Theories: “Riddle of The Sphinx”

Are you ready for a record 17 listener emails plus six voicemail Telegraphs? You sent more than 127 theories, observations, questions, and comments about Westworld Season 2, Episode 4, “Riddle of the Sphinx.” They ranged from “Is Delos already using the tech from the James Delos experiment?” to “Who’s the actual hero of the show?”

We also were deeply moved by Telegraphs explaining the value of this podcast community and the personal tale of one listener who has experienced the suicide of a significant other.

It’s a groundbreaking Telegraph, and we appreciate all your help. Have a listen, then join us Sunday for Episode 5, “Akane No Mai.”

To read all these emails and more, plus Gene Lyons’ responses to them, visit https://shatontv.com/tag/telegraph-read

Westworld Episode 4 Summary:
“Riddle of the Sphinx” Bernard finds himself in a cave in an isolated section of Westworld. He discovers Elsie Hughes chained up inside, having abandoned her there while operating under Ford’s influence. They explore a hidden bunker in the cave and find an insane host of James Delos. A series of flashbacks reveal that William and James attempted to recreate James’ consciousness in a host body to achieve immortality. However, the experiment repeatedly failed and William shut it down. Bernard recalls that Ford had him retrieve the control unit of a second host-human hybrid, but cannot recall for whom it was intended. In the park, William and Lawrence return to Lawrence’s home to find it overrun by Craddock and the surviving Confederados. Craddock torments the other hosts for sport until William and Lawrence overpower the Confederados and kill Craddock. Speaking through Lawrence’s daughter, Ford warns William that one good deed does not redeem him. William rides west with the townspeople in tow where they meet Grace, who reveals herself to be William’s daughter Emily.

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4 Responses

  1. Anne says:

    Thanks Roger,Dick, Gene and Keri for putting so much time into such detailed, informative and witty analysis of WW which definitily enhances the watching of the show. I’ve no major theories unfortunately, I’m rooting for Maeve. I think Dolores is still on a Ford loop and wish she’d read a book on philosophy instead of posing all the questions that she does. Did you get deja vu the other nite when you saw Madam Akane pull the dagger/hair pin from her up do and dispatch the Shogun?! (Something similar happened in Taboo with a hat pin) Look forward to your future updates/thoughts on WW

    • Gene Lyons says:

      I’m basically nervous around any sort of needle wielded by a woman—including the time Kerri Gross gave me an IV in the middle of the desert because I decided to mix copious volumes of cheap beer and Irish cream.

  2. Jan Haluszka says:

    Hi there,

    so while listening to tons of podcasts- including yours – One Issue with William has not been covered in depth.

    William is a big shot at delos, he is in the Park and he is not looking for PeterAbernathy, whereas ‘Delos’ is.
    So there seem to be Conflicting Intrests in the leadership of Delos.

  3. Matthew B says:

    I’m very excited about the whole Shogun world thing about to happen tonight. I’ve avoided theories about this season, but I listened to you guys a lot last season. I appreciate your devotion, and respect for the series’ intellectual integrity. With that being said, I figure I’d fill you guys in on my own little theory, exclusively with you guys. I don’t mind being judged by you guys, honestly. I think Arnold figured out how to do what Delos is trying to do now, and Ford brought back Arnold, in the same way that Delores was being awaken. Why he did it, I haven’t the slightest clue, but Ford didn’t do anything for no reason; everything is a narrative to Ford. I believe Bernard is becoming Arnold in a similar way that Jimmy Delos was being remade. I just think that the Delos company is doing it incorrectly, Dr. Ford is doing it right. The Pivotal moment in season one was when Dr. Ford made Bernard kill himself. I think that this was to initiate the reverie for memory of his own suicide. Dr. Ford told Delores that Delores didn’t really kill Arnold, Arnold killed himself through Delores. And when he did, some of the last things he was talking about was his son, Charlie. He was grieving over him, and it was a suicidal moment for Arnold, in a way. Charlie is the cornerstone of Bernard, and is arguably a large part of why Arnold died. Ford’s method of killing Bernard was the reverie for Arnold’s death. Now, Bernard’s suffering, I think, is a result of his own journey through the maze.I think he’ll find Arnold’s memories along his journey, and slow integrate into Arnold. Or not! Anyway, I hope you guys took the time to read this. I love your podcasts, and your different personality traits. I could do a podcast about your podcast with theories about you guys. Thank you for dedicating your time and discussion to such a great, and relevant show. Keep up the good work.

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