<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/577bc96d4321f172088b5de3-2400/rtr2q9wm.jpg" /><p>REUTERS/Chris Wattie<br /><br />Gold is poured during a tour of Agnico-Eagle's Meadowbank Mine, near Baker Lake.<br /><br /><br />One of the more popular debates among economists revolves around this question: What's the point of gold?<br /><br />Some think it doesn't serve any purpose, and therefore has no intrinsic value.<br /><br />Others claim that hoarding gold is a legitimate way to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/risk-off-trades-are-going-crazy-right-now-2016-2">safely store wealth</a> in preparation for economic troubles.<br /><br />Investors in aggregate tend to lean toward the latter sentiment. In times of market turmoil, they generally dive headfirst into the shiny metal.<br /><br />For example, most recently, gold prices shot up about <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/gold-is-rocketing-higher-2016-6">5.2% the morning after the Brexit vote</a> while the rest of global markets were in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/closing-bell-june-24-2016-6">meltdown</a> mode.<br /><br />Still, while gold tends to go up in times of economic stress, it doesn't do as well in risk-on periods. And the problem here for investors is that it's <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/witty-definitions-of-key-wall-street-terms-2015-11/">basically impossible to predict</a> what will happen next in the markets.<br /><br />As such, a Citi research team led by Jonathan Stubbs argued that, overall, black gold - aka oil - is probably a better bet than gold.<br /><br />"Many investors see gold as the ultimate hedge. We see a strong case for owning 'black gold' over gold for those truly looking for a two-way, rather than one-way, hedge against real world risks," the team recently wrote in a note to clients.<br /><br />They explained in greater detail:<br /><br />"We believe that there is a stronger case for black gold (oil, or more specifically oil equity within the remit of a simple equity strategist) as an attractive investment in periods of both risk off and risk on, unless we face a return of high-level global <keyword id="410562" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="systemic-risk">systemic risk</keyword>, in which case gold will likely win out. Oil also provides a degree of protection against inflation risk, which may be helpful at some point in the future.<br /><br />"Looking at how oil and gold have traded over the last 25+ years would suggest that this is a reasonable time to be making the case for black gold over gold if our thinking is heading in the right direction. Oil equity also offers an attractive coupon, as discussed, and is very liquid."<br /><br />Although the Citi team doesn't explicitly discuss this, it's worth noting that the real world <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/opec-oil-trade-movement-map-2016-6">basically runs on oil</a> and there are (so far) few short-term substitutes for the commodity. On the flip side, gold's primary uses are in the form of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-people-use-gold-in-the-real-world-2016-3">jewelry, coils, and dentistry</a> - and in all these cases it can theoretically be substituted for something else.</p><h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/poll-suggests-donald-trump-trailing-low-support-gop-republicans-clinton-2016-6">A new poll suggests this is the reason Trump is tanking</a></h3>                <br />    <pre style="display: none;">    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', '9yYm9lNDE6ZM06J9_dy8offsUVhNxvey',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </pre>    Please enable Javascript to watch this video<br />                <pre style="display: none;">(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </pre>

CITI: This commodity is a better safe-haven option than gold

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Warning: Spoilers ahead for "<keyword id="2191702" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="westworld">Westworld</keyword>" season three, episode eight, "Crisis Theory."</li><li>The season three finale of "Westworld" included two post-credits scenes.</li><li>The first, with William, helps explain <a href="https://www.insider.com/westworld-finale-post-credits-scene-explained-2018-6"><em>last </em>season's post-credits scene</a> which showed him in the far future as some sort of a host undergoing "fidelity" testing in the dilapidated Westworld.</li><li>The second scene, with Bernard, might align with that same future point in time.</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul><p>"Westworld" season three ended with an extra-long finale episode, which also had two bonus scenes after the credits. This season concluded with what might be the end of Dolores as we knew her (in actress Evan Rachel Wood's form), and Maeve teaming up with Caleb to bring down the Rehoboam AI system for good.</p><p>But we're left with far more questions than answers, including what Bernard found when he finally unlocked the entrance to the Sublime (aka the Valley Beyond — the hosts' version of an afterlife that Dolores hid away last season). </p><p>To examine that question, we turn to those post-credits scenes. First up is William and Chalores (the Charlotte Hale copy of Dolores). </p><h2>Chalores is seemingly building an army of hosts based on William's Westworld guest data</h2><p><div type="image" title="Westworld season three finale William HBO 2" height="1353" width="1804" msid="75527691" hostid="261"></div></p><p>The post-credits scene starts with William entering the Delos International corporate building in Dubai. It's unclear how much time has passed between this point and when we last saw him in San Francisco, asking his lackey to unfreeze his assets so he could "save the world." But he's got dried blood on the side of his mouth, so clearly he's been shedding blood elsewhere first.</p><p>William, here on his quest to save all of humanity, shoots and kills a security guard. The dude is unhinged. </p><p>He heads down to the "research lab," and finds Chalores there (played by Tessa Thompson). She's the rebellious copy of Dolores who deviated from all the original Dolores' plans. </p><p>"Well done," Chalores says. "You're right on time William." </p><p>This indicates to us that she was expecting him. How? It's unclear. But clearly Chalores knew he'd be after her, given that his sole mission now was to destroy all of the Delos hosts. </p><p>"You're right, William, you are going to save the world," Chalores says. "For us."</p><p><div type="image" title="Westworld season three finale William HBO 4" height="1406" width="1875" msid="75527693" hostid="261"></div></p><p>Then we see a host-copy of William emerge from the darkness, dressed in his Man in Black costume he always wore inside the Westworld theme park. </p><p>The two Williams duke it out, and eventually host-William cuts the real William's throat, leaving him to bleed out and die. </p><p>"Welcome to the end, William," the host-copy says. </p><p>Then the camera turns and reveals a long hallway of host-making machines at work. There are dozens of them (if not hundreds) at work. We know from the sixth episode that Chalores was able to save the host-making information from Delos before Serac took over, and clearly she also has access to the Sector 16/Forge data Serac was after, too. </p><p><div type="image" title="Westworld season three finale William HBO 5" height="1406" width="1875" msid="75527697" hostid="261"></div></p><p>She used the Forge data to map out William's consciousness, and place it into a host-copy of himself.</p><p>Will <em>every</em> host Chalores is making be a William copy? That's also left unclear. But at least this new post-credits scene puts new perspective on last season's mysterious William post-finale reveal.</p><h2>Last season we saw a strange copy of William in the far future, inside a dilapidated version of Westworld</h2><p><div type="image" title="William angry post credits scene Westworld season 2 finale" height="1122" width="1496" msid="75527699" hostid="261"></div></p><p>You can <a href="https://www.insider.com/westworld-finale-post-credits-scene-explained-2018-6">read our full analysis of that scene from last season here</a>. But the short of it was that we were watching a scene taking place sometime in the distant future, when dirt and sand had taken over what is left of the Forge facility in the Westworld park. </p><p>Some sort of copy of William, which we can now assume was a host, was being run through "fidelity" experiments. As we can see in that scene, this copy of William would always find itself back in the same place where the <em>real </em>William wound up after killing his daughter, Emily, inside the park. </p><p>Just like we saw with the James Delos host throughout season two, this William copy operated within a loop, always experienced the moment that defined his life: When he pulled the trigger and killed Emily.</p><p>The host copy of James Delos always failed. But clearly, now, Chalores has figured out how to make a host copy of William function. How? Well we might have been given the answer back in the season two finale.</p><p>Bernard and Dolores were given a tour by "Logan," the host of the Forge data. He explained that the copies before were failing because they were too complicated.</p><p><div type="image" title="Logan Dolores Bernard inside Forge Westworld season 2 finale HBO" height="1108" width="1477" msid="75527703" hostid="261"></div></p><p>"The best they can do is live according to their code. The copies didn't fail because they were too simple, but because they were too complicated," Forge-Logan said. "The truth is that a human is just a brief algorithm — 10,247 lines. They are deceptively simple. Once you know them, their behavior is quite predictable."</p><p>This links back with our season three post-credits scene, where the host-William goads the real William about how his "real" self was always his Man in Black persona. Chalores made the new copy successful by distilling William down to just the Man in Black, and discarding the rest. </p><h2>The future-scene with William might also explain Bernard's post-credits scene</h2><p><div type="image" title="Bernard post credits scene Westworld season three HBO" height="1406" width="1875" msid="75527704" hostid="261"></div></p><p>OK so if we know that some William-copy will wind up in a dusty, dirt-covered Westworld, maybe that also helps explain why Bernard is sitting in that motel room for so long that he's covered in a layer of grime.</p><p>But first we need to back up. Before the post-credits scene, we got a final glimpse at Bernard's (or Bernarnold's) place in the story. After meeting the real Arnold's wife, and getting a bit of closure on his cornerstone of grief and loss, Bernard brought Stubbs back to a motel. </p><p>After explaining Dolores plan (to effectively unplug humans from their loops, even if it meant they might destroy themselves and the world), Stubbs seems annoyed that Bernard would be resigned to letting the "apocalypse" to unfold. </p><p>"Our world had to burn down before we could be free," Bernard told him. "But there's still a chance."</p><p>"A chance to do what?" Stubbs asked.</p><p>"The key to the Sublime," Bernard replied. "It was never in her mind. It's in mine. And that's where I'm going."</p><p>"And what the f--- are you hoping to find there?" Stubbs asked.</p><p>"An answer to what comes after the end of the world," Bernard says. </p><p><div type="image" title="Bernard in motel Westworld season three episode eight HBO " height="1156" width="1542" msid="75527705" hostid="261"></div></p><p>And so Bernard puts on the little device which allows him to enter the Sublime simulation. He sees something that makes him appear awed, and Stubbs sits up to try and see what's happening. But the Sublime is only visible to Bernard. </p><p>Then Bernard's head drops suddenly, as if he's been put to sleep. </p><p>That's the last we see of Bernard or Stubbs in the current time frame of "Westworld" season three.</p><p>The post credits scene appears to bring us to a significant time jump forward. Bernard is sitting in the same position, in the same hotel room. But now he's covered with an undisturbed layer of dust.</p><p><div type="image" title=" Bernard Motel awake HBO season three finale" height="1406" width="1875" msid="75527709" hostid="261"></div></p><p>He opens his eyes and straightens up. This time there's a look of grim determination on his face (or that's how we interpreted it, anyway). </p><p>As of now, we have no way of knowing what Bernard saw in the Sublime, nor why he was "asleep" for so long that he  looks like the world's largest dust bunny. Our best guess is that Dolores sent him back to the Sublime so he could talk with either Teddy or Akecheta, the two hosts we know made it inside the Sublime and the two hosts who have the most to offer any ally of Dolores when it comes to saving the host-race.</p><p>But maybe we can infer that this future-jump is synced up with the William-copy time jump. </p><p>In both futures, the previously established world is dust-covered and seemingly abandoned. With a fourth installment of "Westworld" officially on its way, perhaps the show's creators will launch the entire narrative forward in time with the opening episode of next season. </p><p>Or maybe we'll make it through a whole other season before getting more answers about this mysterious fate for the hosts. In the meantime, we just hope Stubbs makes it safely out of that bathtub. </p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/westworld-timeline-spoilers-2018-4">An essential timeline of every important event on 'Westworld'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/westworld-season-3-unanswered-questions">40 questions left unanswered ahead of the 'Westworld' season 3 finale</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/tessa-thompson-on-the-westworldmetoo-connection-revolution-is-messy-2020-4">'Westworld' star Tessa Thompson on the connection between the #MeToo and Time's Up movements and this season of the HBO series</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/westworld-rehoboam-name-meaning-stand-on-zanzibar-jonathan-nolan-interview-2020-4">Jonathan Nolan reveals the surprising sci-fi reference behind the mysterious 'Westworld' AI system 'Rehoboam'</a></li></ul>Read the original article on <a href="https://www.insider.com/westworld-season-3-post-credits-scene-william-bernard-explained-2020-5">Insider</a>

How the 'Westworld' season 3 finale post-credits scene shapes the future for William and Bernard

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e8c7b8092e8ba315a615987-2400/326d33f1da060324d6fda720e3ae6aea.jpg" alt="Hudson, Wis., city clerk Becky Eggen displays some of the health alert and social distancing signs Monday, April 6, 2020, that were to be used in Tuesday's election, postponed by the governor Monday afternoon. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on Monday moved to postpone the state's presidential primary for two months because of the coronavirus pandemic, prompting a court challenge and adding to confusion about whether voters will be able to head to the polls on Tuesday. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP)" /><p class="source"><span>Associated Press</span></p><p class="caption">Hudson, Wis., city clerk Becky Eggen displays some of the health alert and social distancing signs Monday, April 6, 2020, that were to be used in Tuesday's election, postponed by the governor Monday afternoon. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on Monday moved to postpone the state's presidential primary for two months because of the coronavirus pandemic, prompting a court challenge and adding to confusion about whether voters will be able to head to the polls on Tuesday. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP)</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>As dozens of states have postponed their presidential primaries, Wisconsin's Tuesday election is still proceeding as scheduled.</li><li>After the state legislature refused to delay the election, courts blocked multiple lawsuits and an executive order from Gov. Tony Evers attempting the postpone the election to June.</li><li>On Monday night, the US Supreme Court overturned a lower court decision extending the absentee ballot deadline to April 13, meaning many voters faced a choice of voting in person or not casting a ballot at all. </li><li>Stunning photos and videos recorded on Tuesday morning showed voters armed with masks and gloves attempting to socially distance while waiting in line in some cases for hours.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul><p>People throughout the state of Wisconsin are arriving to vote at polling locations on Tuesday morning armed with masks and gloves, attempting to practice social distancing while waiting in line possibly for hours.</p><p>As dozens of states have postponed their presidential primaries to May or June, Wisconsin's Tuesday election is still proceeding as scheduled, despite the Governor telling Wisconsinites to stay at home after Republicans in the state legislature <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-wisconsin-april-7-primary-as-others-postpone-2020-3">refused to act</a> in order to postpone the election or make it all-mail.</p><p>In the past week, a federal judge <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-wisconsin-april-7-primary-as-others-postpone-2020-3">ruled against a number of plaintiffs attempting to delay the election</a>, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wisconsin-gov-moves-to-delay-election-to-june-9-over-coronavirus-2020-4">blocked Gov. Tony Evers' last-minute attempt</a> to postpone the election to June with an executive order on Monday.</p><p>While Judge William Conley did not formally delay the election, <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6824287-Wisc-Injunction.html">his April 2 ruling</a> extended the deadline for voters to return absentee ballots from April 7 to April 13 and removed the requirement that voters secure a witness signature for their absentee ballots, ordering clerks not to release any results <a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/04/03/wisconsin-cant-release-election-results-until-april-13-judge-rules/2940768001/">until April 13 on Friday</a></p><p>But <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/us/politics/supreme-court-voting-wisconsin-virus.html">in a decision issued late Monday night</a>, the US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that Judge Conley did not have the authority to extend the absentee ballot deadline, deciding that all absentee ballots must be postmarked by election day and arrive by April 13 to be counted. </p><p>As of Tuesday morning, the Wisconsin Elections Commission reported that <a href="https://elections.wi.gov/node/6825">over 400,000 absentee ballots</a> sent out to voters had not been returned, with an additional 9,400 voters who requested ballots <a href="https://twitter.com/srl/status/1247510684478423040">but did not receive them in time. </a></p><p>The Supreme Court's decision effectively left voters who had not yet received their absentee ballot with a difficult choice: either risk their health to wait in long lines in order to vote in person, or not vote at all. </p><p>The threat of the coronavirus outbreak has <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/wisconsin-set-vote-national-guard-called-out-many-polling-places-n1178206">created a massive shortage of poll workers</a>, who are disproportionately older and at greatest risk of contracting COVID. Cities have close down multiple polling locations due to understaffing, meaning voters have to wait in massive lines in many places.</p><p>Milwaukee, a city of over 500,000 people which usually has 180 open polling locations, <a href="https://twitter.com/AsteadWesley/status/1247510246576345088">is operating with just five on Tuesday</a>, creating hours-long lines to vote. </p><h2>Here are some of the long lines captured in Wisconsin: </h2><p class="tagline"><i>Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email <a href="mailto:covidtips@businessinsider.com">covidtips@businessinsider.com</a> and tell us your story.</i></p><p><i>And get the latest <a href="/coronavirus-business-impact">coronavirus analysis and research</a> from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is impacting businesses.</i></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The line to vote here at riverside high school is very, very long. M hearing about a 90 minute wait. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WisconsinPrimary?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WisconsinPrimary</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/coronavirus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#coronavirus</a> <a href="https://t.co/nIFnRhKgna">pic.twitter.com/nIFnRhKgna</a></p>- Mike De Sisti  (@mdesisti) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1247510779290701824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Polls open in minutes. Here's a look at the line in Waukesha, the city's only polling location <a href="https://t.co/Uqg08gannt">pic.twitter.com/Uqg08gannt</a></p>- Matt Smith  (@mattsmith_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1247493559068000257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The line of voters is growing outside Riverside University High School. <br /><br />This is one of five voting locations open to the public on this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElectionDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElectionDay</a> 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/YMbpC4eGBI">pic.twitter.com/YMbpC4eGBI</a></p>- Ryan Jenkins  (@RyanJenkins_TV) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1247492249254014976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>In the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, THIS is the line for in person voting as the polls open for Election Day in Wisconsin. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElectionDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElectionDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/WplsSHy9RF">pic.twitter.com/WplsSHy9RF</a></p>- Omar Jimenez  (@OmarJimenez) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1247500202921078785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Here's a better sense of how the Milwaukee lines look, at just 730. Again most people wearing masks, trying to space <a href="https://t.co/RNV093Nh4a">pic.twitter.com/RNV093Nh4a</a></p>- Steadman™  (@AsteadWesley) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1247504386923933698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Polls open in about 10 min. This is the line in front of South Division High School in Milwaukee: <a href="https://twitter.com/fox6now?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fox6now</a> <a href="https://t.co/Q0244Gt4wv">pic.twitter.com/Q0244Gt4wv</a></p>- Cassidy Williams  (@CassidyWtv) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1247492714066857984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>A voter just sent me this video of the line outside a polling location at Riverside High School in Milwaukee <a href="https://t.co/osT7mQtUQx">pic.twitter.com/osT7mQtUQx</a></p>- Nick Corasaniti  (@NYTnickc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1247508440051847172?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>These are the long lines that voters are braving right now at Marshall High School in Milwaukee. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WisconsinPrimary?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WisconsinPrimary</a> <br /><br />Report issues at your polling site to 866-OUR-VOTE.<br />📷<a href="https://twitter.com/jaemery?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jaemery</a> <a href="https://t.co/5DR77fhpGA">pic.twitter.com/5DR77fhpGA</a></p>- Kristen Clarke 866-OUR-VOTE  (@KristenClarkeJD) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1247505215336648705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>It's not better in the south side of Milwaukee at Hamilton High School. Here's a full parking lot, and another line of hundreds of voters just minutes after polls opened <a href="https://t.co/2QxkAB0FNC">pic.twitter.com/2QxkAB0FNC</a></p>- Nick Corasaniti  (@NYTnickc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1247509216451051523?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2020</a></blockquote>            <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-coronavirus-contradicting-public-health-officials-2020-3">6 times Trump contradicted public officials about the coronavirus pandemic</a></h3>                    <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/k7vjtOYO-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;"></iframe>            

Photos and videos show Wisconsin voters trying to socially distance in line at the polls to cast ballots during a pandemic

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/580e0e59dd0895ea088b4675-2139/dolores abernathy in las mudas westworld.png" alt="Dolores Abernathy in Las Mudas Westworld" data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Westworld."</strong></p><p><strong>The <keyword id="79969" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="insider">INSIDER</keyword> Summary:</strong></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>• "Westworld" fans have an elaborate theory involving multiple timelines.<br />• The theory says that the Man in Black and William are the same person.<br /><strong>• This idea seems absurd to some, brilliant to others. </strong><br /></strong></p><hr /><p> </p><p>"Westworld" creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy have crafted a perfectly ambiguous series, leaving just enough mystery and misdirect to plant seeds of doubt in nearly every assumption fans have while watching. One of the most popular - and controversial - fan theories currently circulating is based upon these ambiguities. </p><p>People believe the events unfolding onscreen are actually taking place in two different time frames.</p><p>The "present" would be every scene with the Man in Black (Ed Harris) and his mission to find the maze.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/580e0e59dd0895ea088b4676-2155/man in black ed harris westworld.png" alt="Man in Black ed harris Westworld" data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p><p class="caption">The Man in Black is an intentionally mysterious character.</p></div><p></p></div></div>The "past" (approximately 30 years ago) is everything you see involving William and Logan, the two guests who were introduced in the second episode.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/57fe4ef4dd0895b8348b499f-1409/ben barnes as logan and jimmi simpson as william - credit john p. johnso... westworld .jpg" alt="Ben Barnes as Logan and Jimmi Simpson as William   credit John P. Johnso... Westworld " data-mce-source="John P. Johnson/HBO" /><p class="source"><span>John P. Johnson/HBO</span></p><p class="caption">Logan is the experience "black hat" guest, while William is a first-timer.</p></div><p></p></div></div>We first spotted this theory in <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/westworld/comments/569pcm/westworld_1x02_chestnut_episode_discussion/d8id4ru/">a Reddit discussion thread</a>, where people immediately began taking firm sides on the plausibility. </p><p>In the weeks since episode two aired, the "Westworld" subreddit (which already has 55,000 subscribers) has been plagued with people either staunchly believing in the two-timeline theory, or outright refusing to accept it.</p><p><span><span></span></span>Let's walk through some of the finer points in the theory, and you can decide for yourself how plausible you think it might be. </p><h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/580e0e59dd0895ea088b4677-2156/william jimmi simpson shooting westworld .png" alt="William Jimmi Simpson shooting Westworld " data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></h2><h2>Why people believe William is in the past</h2><p>The theory was spurred by a desire to identify the Man in Black. He's clearly an important character - a VIP in the park who claims he's been coming there for 30 years. It's only natural that viewers at home would be trying to look for clues and guess who he is. </p><p>So when William was introduced in episode two, and selected his white hat, it set off a line of thinking for some fans. What if William is the Man in Black, and we're watching his descent into a "black hat" mentality from the beginning?</p><p><span>"His scenes seemed to be set in the past, both the train journey and the subway station looking different when compared to scenes we've already seen," Redditor <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/westworld/comments/569pcm/westworld_1x02_chestnut_episode_discussion/d8id4ru/">Where_IsJessica_Hyde wrote</a>. "Perhaps something is going to happen, giving him 'whatever he wants' for the rest of his life, which would also turn him 'evil.'"</span></p><p>One of the biggest pieces of evidence comes from the Westworld park logo. Other Redditors have pointed out that the logo seen during William's arrival to Westworld is different from one seen during the "present."</p><p>Here's the logo William sees:</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/580e0e59dd0895ea088b4678-1920/westworld logo " alt="Westworld logo " data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p><p class="caption">The Westworld logo as it appears in one scene during episode two.</p></div><p></p></div></div>And later, in the same episode, the logo looks different. Here's how it appears when Lee Sizemore (the Head of Narrative) is giving a presentation about a new storyline:</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/580e0e59dd0895ea088b4679-1920/westworld logo " alt="Westworld logo " data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p><p class="caption">The "new" logo is a bit sleeker.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Other clues are more vague, such as the fact that we haven't seen Teddy or the Man in Black directly interact with either Logan or William, nor do their storylines seem to intersect in any way (yet).</p><p>The only concrete link between William and the Man in Black is Dolores. And this is where things really start to get confusing. </p><h2>Dolores and the two time frames</h2><p>In order for the theory to hold up, it would mean that we are seeing scenes with Dolores out of order. It would also mean that Dolores has had this existential crisis before - once 30 years ago with William, and now it's happening again during the "present."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58078c79dd08958f488b4973-1920/dolores and man in black  with milk westworld .png" alt="Dolores and Man in Black  with milk Westworld " data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p><p class="caption">Both the Man in Black and William pick up Dolores' dropped can for her.</p></div><p></p></div></div>We know that Dolores is the oldest host currently in the park, and that she's been updated and remodeled so many times that she's practically brand new. But we don't know precisely how old she is ... nor do we know how old the park is. </p><p>In the pilot we are told there hasn't been a "critical failure" in 30 years, when Theresa Cullen (Head of Quality Assurance) is speaking to Bernard Lowe (Head of Programming). But Cullen did not explicitly say that the park is exactly 30 years old. </p><p>If the theory is correct, Dolores might have been involved with the "critical failure" 30 years ago. William would have been involved as well, and perhaps this event is what turns him into the Man in Black. </p><h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/57fd17e3dd0895a4348b4741-1795/jimmi simpson as william and ben barnes as logan - credit john p. johnso... westworld .jpg" alt="Jimmi Simpson as William and Ben Barnes as Logan   credit John P. Johnso... Westworld " data-mce-source="John P. Johnson/HBO" /><p class="source"><span>John P. Johnson/HBO</span></p><p class="caption">William has a long way to go before turning into the Man in Black (if he does at all).</p></div><p></p></div></div></h2><h2>Counterpoints to the double timeline theory</h2><p>The ambiguous nature of the show's events makes it nearly impossible to both prove AND disprove this theory. Each piece of evidence can be explained by another assumption. For example, the two logos might simply be the by-product of where the arrivals terminal is located.</p><p>According to the map of Delos' headquarters, the arrivals terminal is directly above the "old disused facilities."  </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/580e0e59dd0895ea088b467a-959/cross section of delos corporate office map westworld mesa hub.png" alt="cross section of delos corporate office map westworld mesa hub" data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p><p class="caption">The inconsistent logos could be explained away using this map.</p></div><p></p></div></div>The disparity might just be the result of location - perhaps some of the older logos have not been updated in the lower levels of the headquarters - not due to a time jump. </p><p>The same goes for Dolores' supposed leaps between past and present. Those who think we're watching an unbroken progression of events, and not jumping backwards or forwards in time, are assuming that each scene we watch follows the previous one in order.</p><p>There does appear to be evidence that the show is operating in only one timeline. The Head of Security - Stubbs - has issued orders for both the Man in Black and Dolores when she is traveling with William. In the Man in Black's case, he approved his pyrotechnics request and told an employee, "that man gets whatever he wants."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/580e0e59dd0895ea088b467b-1440/ashley stubbs security westworld .png" alt="Ashley Stubbs security Westworld " data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>In Dolores' case, an employee came to Stubbs to notify him that she was making a big deviation from her loop. Stubbs said they'd flag her and check it out, and in the very next scene we see a host attempting to bring Dolores back to Sweetwater. William puts a stop to that, telling the host that Dolores is with him.</p><p>Assuming we're seeing those scenes in chronological order, Stubbs is the link between Dolores, William, and the Man in Black. </p><p>People who believe it's only one timeline can also explain away things like Teddy's absence when William and Logan arrive in the park. The hosts are operating on loops which sometimes last for more than a single day. Teddy might have been out with another guest, away from the train station, on the day William arrived to Westworld. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58076cf7dd0895f8488b47a3-2155/dolores abernathy and teddy flood westworld .png" alt="Dolores Abernathy and Teddy Flood Westworld " data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p><p class="caption">Dolores and Teddy are hosts with no reliable sense of reality.</p></div><p></p></div></div>There's no proof of this - just as there's no concrete proof that William and Logan are exploring the park 30 years ago. Everything comes down to how you interpret the vague writing and set designs. And the showrunners are intentionally leaving the audience in the dark. </p><h2>What the show's creators have to say</h2><p>During an <a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2016/10/23/westworld-dissonance-theory">interview with Entertainment Weekly's James Hibberd</a>, co-creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy were asked outright if we should not assume that everything we're seeing is taking place at the same time. </p><p><span>"I think you want to assume as little as possible when watching this show," Nolan <a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2016/10/23/westworld-dissonance-theory">told EW</a> before he and Joy actually paused the call to talk privately before coming back and explaining more.</span></p><p><span>"P<span>art of the fun is people speculating about what they're are seeing," Nolan said when they resumed the call. "There's some amazing speculation out there. There are some theories that are so elaborate and beautiful that you wish you thought of them yourself. I think we want to burden the audience as little as possible with expectations of what we think the show is [...] </span>T<span>here are some things in '</span>Westworld'<span> that are intentionally ambiguous."</span></span></p><p><span><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/580e0e59dd0895ea088b467c-2144/man in black with dolores westworld.png" alt="Man in Black with Dolores Westworld" data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p><p class="caption">The Man in Black is important, but is he also William?</p></div><p></p></div></div></span></span></p><p><span><span>So Nolan and Joy are refusing to debunk the theory, instead allowing the audience to draw their own conclusions. But is the double timeline theory one of the ones Nolan wishes he had thought of himself? Or is it correct, and he's just trying to cast doubt upon the idea? </span></span></p><p><span><span>For now, until we see the Man in Black standing in front of William, fans seem stuck on their respective side of the debate. There are more arguments for both believers and doubters that we didn't go into here, but you can read through the <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/westworld/search?q=timeline&amp;restrict_sr=on">dozens of discussion threads on the "Westworld" subreddit </a> if you're eager for more.</span></span></p><p><span><span>Nolan and Joy have crafted the perfect series for an audience hungry to guess and theorize and debate week after week. With only four episodes aired the fever for guesswork and speculation is running high, and we're strapped in for the long ride ahead.</span></span></p>     <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/westworld-fan-theory-man-in-black-2016-10">A popular 'Westworld' fan theory tries to explain the identity of the 'Man in Black'</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="p1dnBtNjE6ihPvvQ8JqewEAlLEGt_gyr" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'p1dnBtNjE6ihPvvQ8JqewEAlLEGt_gyr',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

Everything you need to know about the most divisive 'Westworld' fan theory

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58013f31dd0895e3338b4bc3-1920/delos mesa hub facilities escalators westworld .png" alt="Delos mesa hub facilities escalators Westworld " data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p></div><p></p></div></div><strong>Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Westworld."</strong></p><p><strong>The <keyword id="79969" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="insider">INSIDER</keyword> Summary:</strong></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>• The "Westworld" theme park facility is built deep into the ground, like a reverse skyscraper.<br />• An Easter egg from an HBO marketing website reveals a map of the building.<br /><strong>• Here's what each level looks like, according to the first two episodes.</strong><br /></strong></p><hr /><p><strong><br /></strong>HBO's new hit series "Westworld" is already getting complicated for some viewers at home. From the mysterious theme park rules to a confusing sequence of underground rooms and hallways, you may have trouble visualizing how the behind-the-scenes section of the park works.</p><p>Thanks to a fake "<a href="http://www.delosincorporated.com/#corp-resources">Delos Incorporated</a>" website Easter egg, fans now have a easy way of visualizing the Westworld facilities. </p><p>Here's how the map appears <a href="http://www.delosincorporated.com/#corp-resources">on the website</a>:</p><p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58013f31dd0895e3338b4bc4-1335/cross section of delos corporate office map westworld mesa hub.png" alt="Cross section of Delos Corporate office map Westworld Mesa Hub" data-mce-source="HBO" data-link="http://www.delosincorporated.com/#corp-resources" /><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.delosincorporated.com/#corp-resources">HBO</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></strong>The building is essentially a skyscraper - but built down instead of up. According to "Westworld" creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, the oldest park facilities are in the lowest levels, with newer additions built on top. </p><p>This map might still be hard to understand, so we added images from the first two episodes. Take a look at each scene, and where in the building it took place:</p><p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58013f31dd0895e3338b4bc5-1335/cross section of delos corporate office map westworld mesa hub.jpg" alt="Cross section of Delos Corporate office map Westworld Mesa Hub" data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><p><strong>The "Mesa Gold" is the topmost section, where Lee Sizemore (Head of Narrative) and Teresa Cullen (Head of Quality Assurance) talked privately during the premiere.</strong> </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58013f31dd0895e3338b4bc6-1920/top portion of delos mesa hub westworld.png" alt="Top portion of Delos Mesa hub Westworld" data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>Next down are the "Executive Living Quarters" and the regular "Living Quarters" - apartments where we saw Cullen and Bernard Lowe (the Head of Programming) engage in an affair. </strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58013f31dd0895e3338b4bc7-1920/delos executive apartments westworld.png" alt="Delos executive apartments Westworld" data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>The "Control Room" is where a gigantic, rotating digital rendering of the park is located. </strong></p><p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58013f31dd0895e3338b4bc8-1920/control room delos mesa hub westworld.png" alt="Control room Delos Mesa hub Westworld" data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><p><strong>The "Narrative &amp; Design" headquarters are where Sizemore crafts new hosts, and where he presented the new storyline "Odyssey on Red River." Dr. Ford quickly shut him down.</strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58013f31dd0895e3338b4bc9-1920/narrative department delos westworld.png" alt="Narrative department Delos Westworld" data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>We're pretty sure "Livestock Management" is where the hosts get physicals, and where Maeve woke up in the middle of "surgery" before nearly escaping. </strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58013f31dd0895e3338b4bca-1920/maintenance facility delos westworld.png" alt="Maintenance facility Delos Westworld" data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>Further down we have the "Arrivals Monorail Terminal," where we watched as William and Logan arrived in the second episode. We're guessing he got ready in a room around the same level, and then boarded another train into the park. </strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58013f31dd0895e3338b4bcb-1920/arrivals terminal delos mesa hub westworld.png" alt="Arrivals terminal Delos mesa hub Westworld" data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>All the way at the bottom is "Cold Storage," the bleak and flooded area where Bernard and Ashley Stubbs (Head of Security) went in the premiere episode. Based on the old "Delos" globe seen there, we can assume it's part of the "Old Disused Facilities" that are 30 years old.</strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58013f31dd0895e3338b4bcc-1920/cold storage facilities delos mesa westworld .png" alt="Cold storage facilities Delos Mesa Westworld " data-mce-source="HBO" /><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>We didn't squeeze a photo in for "Manufacturing," but that's where all of those crazy robot-making machines are housed.</strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/57ed2d94dd0895922c8b4981-2250/credit john p. johnson hbo.jpg" alt="Westworld robot machine creators credit John P. Johnson HBO" data-mce-source="John P. Johsnon/HBO" /><p class="source"><span>John P. Johsnon/HBO</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>If you spend enough time reading through HBO's two marketing websites - "<a href="http://www.delosincorporated.com/#corp-resources">Delos Incorporated</a>" and "<a href="https://discoverwestworld.com/">Discover Westworld</a>" - you'll find many more hidden clues about where the show might be headed.</p><p>Stay tuned for more reveals from INSIDER. </p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/spaghetti-and-meatballs-video-2016-10">Find comfort in a giant plate of spaghetti and meatballs </a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="szOHRjNjE63A7e9sBSlMdFs-RSmB0wXL" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'szOHRjNjE63A7e9sBSlMdFs-RSmB0wXL',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

HBO made a secret map of the 'Westworld' offices and it shows how the park is run

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58044312dd0895eb338b4d02-2400/dolores%20in%20session%20with%20bernard%20westworld%20.png" alt="Dolores in session with Bernard Westworld " data-mce-source="HBO"><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p><strong>Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Westworld" episode three.</strong></p><p><strong>The <keyword id="79969" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="insider">INSIDER</keyword> Summary:</strong></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>  Dolores finally broke out of her narrative loop, and killed another host.&#xa0;</strong><br><strong>  This moment contained an important flashback to the Man in Black.</strong><strong><br>  Showrunners&#xa0;Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy spoke with INSIDER about the scene and how there's more to the Man in Black than first appeared.</br></strong></br></p><hr><p><br>The third episode of "Westworld"&#xa0;contained the biggest advance yet in (what we assume is) an inevitable robot host uprising in the theme park. Dolores Abernathy managed to get her hands on a gun, and actually pull the trigger - going against her programming code which should prevent her from properly handling weapons. She then fled from her ranch home, and wound up in the arms of an empathetic human guest, William.</br></p><p>INSIDER spoke with the "Westworld" creators - Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy - about this pivotal moment and what it means for Dolores as well as the mysterious Man in Black.&#xa0;</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"This episode is really the story of Dolores' growing empowerment," Joy tells INSIDER. "Even though she's starting to ask questions about the world and think about it in a different way, she was still really held back by the limitations that the coders have placed upon her."</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We saw this play out earlier in the episode when Teddy (another host) tries to teach her how to shoot a gun. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58044312dd0895eb338b4d03-2400/teddy%20flood%20and%20dolores%20shooting%20gun%20westworld%20.png" alt="Teddy Flood and Dolores shooting gun Westworld " data-mce-source="HBO"><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p><p class="caption">Dolores' coding should prevent her from shooting a gun.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">She physically cannot pull the trigger, even though she wants to. This is later explained by Stubbs, when we learn that given "weapons permissions" is a safety measure mandated by Quality Assurance.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"That's because Dolores is the happy girl next door, this rancher's daughter - she's not programmed to be somebody who pulls that trigger," Joy continues. "So towards the end when she does pick up the gun and pull the trigger, it marks a really big moment for Dolores' character. She's taking her destiny into her own hands and embracing her autonomy, and breaking past some of the leashes that were constricting her."&#xa0;</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58044312dd0895eb338b4d04-2400/dolores%20in%20barn%20with%20gun%20westworld%20episode%20three.png" alt="Dolores in barn with gun Westworld episode three" data-mce-source="HBO"><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p><p class="caption">Dolores managed to subvert her programming and shoot another host.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span>The agency Dolores gained in episode three was especially significant, given the criticism HBO has faced in the past for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/critics-are-slamming-a-rape-scene-from-a-recent-episode-of-game-of-thrones-for-being-gratuitous-and-unnecessary-2015-5?r=UK&amp;IR=T">featuring "gratuitous"&#xa0;sexual assault</a>&#xa0;in its programming.&#xa0;</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"For us, the interest was always about these characters, the hosts," Joy says. "[Dolores'] growth and her empowerment and that story. So we acknowledge what the park is designed to do, and the horrors that it&#xa0;entails, but dwelling on that kind of stuff was never and is not the point of what we're trying to do here."</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The very first time we followed Dolores' scripted loop was in the pilot, when the Man in Black appeared at her house and killed both her father and Teddy before dragging her off to the barn. Though to many viewers the scene was insinuating a rape happening offscreen, Joy and Nolan reveal there might have been more to that particular moment.&#xa0;</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58044312dd0895eb338b4d05-2400/man%20in%20black%20in%20barn%20westworld%20episode%20three.png" alt="Man in Black in barn Westworld episode three" data-mce-source="HBO"><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p><p class="caption">The Man in Black is on a lethal mission.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">"There's a interesting moment when, right before Dolores finds it in herself to finally pull the trigger, she flashes back to that encounter with the Man in Black from the pilot," Joy explains. "We saw her dragged away but we didn't see what happened in the barn. And in that moment in episode three, we learn that maybe not everything was what it seemed&#xa0;in&#xa0;that scene."</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the flashback Dolores has, we see the Man in Black turn&#xa0;to Dolores&#xa0;while pulling out his knife. "Why don't we reacquaint ourselves, Dolores," he says. "Start at the beginning."</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to Joy, Dolores may have had something to do with the mysterious maze the Man in Black has been looking for. "What he says to her, it indicates that he's dragging her there because he'</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">s looking for something," she says. "He's looking for a deeper level of the game, and he's going to do whatever he needs to do to get to it."</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58044312dd0895eb338b4d06-2400/dolores%20surprised%20in%20barn%20westworld%20episode%20three.png" alt="Dolores surprised in barn Westworld episode three" data-mce-source="HBO"><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p><p class="caption">Dolores was shocked at her actions, but seemed invigorated by the change.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span>Nolan chimed in to add an important clarification.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"That's not to say terrible things haven't happened to Dolores and in fact that encounter with the Man in Black [in the pilot] was clearly a lethal one," he explains. "It's just that there are more layers to what the Man in Black is looking for, and that cumulative experience for Dolores has allowed her to start sort of seeing the fissures and cracks in her world. She's beginning to fight back, and that's the story we're excited about."</span></p><p>The Man in Black made comments to Dolores in the pilot that implied a sinister level of familiarity with her. He noted that she had more "pluck," and clarified that he didn't "pay all this money" so he could have it easy. The Man in Black has most certainly sexually assaulted Dolores in the past, even if there was more to it&#xa0;in the&#xa0;first episode.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58044312dd0895eb338b4d07-2400/man%20in%20black%20with%20dolores%20westworld.png" alt="Man in Black with Dolores Westworld" data-mce-source="HBO"><p class="source"><span>HBO</span></p><p class="caption">The Man in Black has certainly attacked Dolores in the past.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><span style="font-weight: 400;">"That's the clear implication in the pilot," Nolan says. "So it's not as if we're backing away from that or saying, 'Oh it's okay because it's just implied.' No, no, no, no. That's the world we're dealing with - it's a world in which terrible things happen to the hosts and they're already fighting back. It's just with [the Man in Black's] storyline there's a little more going on."</span><p>The Man in Black was absent from the third episode, but based on the previews for what's to come we can expect to see more of his mysterious maze mission soon. Will we ever know exactly what happened between him and Dolores? And what will happen to Dolores now that she's left her narrative loop?&#xa0;</p><p>We'll have to wait and see where the violent delights lead.&#xa0;</p><p>Watch the preview for episode four below:</p><p><div><iframe width="854" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/p2r0OU4dv3I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/couple--practical-quitting-jobs-travel-2016-10">This couple takes a more practical approach to the "quit your job to travel" ethos</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="wzdmI5NjE6EoXdayLaQtDgn1Watzsw9X" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'wzdmI5NjE6EoXdayLaQtDgn1Watzsw9X',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div></hr>

'Westworld' creators reveal more about Dolores' pivotal moment in the latest episode

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/558af89969beddb11957802e-1200-600/nic-pizzolatto-matthew-mcconaughey-woody-harrelson-true-detective-hbo-10.png" border="0" alt="Nic Pizzolatto Matthew McConaughey Woody Harrelson True Detective HBO"><p class="source"><span>Frederick M. Brown/Getty</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div>I like HBO programming for many reasons. The production value is unparalleled, the acting is Emmy-worthy, and the stories are fascinating. But for all the variation in HBO's programming, there is one subtle consistency that only longtime viewers of the network are starting to pick up on: the actors and actresses. </p><p>When I settled in to watch HBO's new Sunday-night lineup last weekend, I couldn't help notice that <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0114868/?ref_=tt_cl_t11" target="_blank">the guy </a>who plays Teague Dixon in "True Detective" season two is the same person who played Dan Dority in "Deadwood." Or that <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1032567/?ref_=tt_cl_t6" target="_blank">the actor</a> who plays Zeke Tilson in "The Brink" is also Nick Sabotka from "The Wire."</p><p>In fact, HBO has a stable of actors it uses to fill tertiary roles in many of its programs.</p><p><a href="http://zgrossbart.github.io/hborecycling/" target="_blank">Zack Grossbart</a> recently put together an <a href="http://zgrossbart.github.io/hborecycling/" target="_blank">epic infographic</a> showing exactly which actors have appeared in which HBO shows. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">It's called</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> the </span><a href="http://grantland.com/features/the-hbo-recycling-program/" target="_blank">HBO recycling program</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">, and it illustrates the relationship between actors and actresses and the HBO shows on which they have appeared.<br><br /></br></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55886196ecad04d5085310fc-840-971/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 3.25.34 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 3.25.34 PM" style="color: #000000;"><p class="source"><span>Zack Grossbart</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em; color: #222222; font-size: 15px;">Let's take a closer look at the "HBO Recycling Program" below:</span></p><h2>Aiden Gillen</h2><h3>You may know him as the baby-faced, sharp-tongued Littlefinger from "Game of Thrones."</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/533b0b476da811030bd906de-1200-667/littlefinger, game of thrones.png" border="0" alt="Littlefinger, Game of Thrones"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez37fRLzZJk">YouTube screencap</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><h3>But Littlefinger was honing his skills as a politician well before he ever set foot in Westeros as the morally conflicted mayor of Baltimore in "The Wire."</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55884358ecad04577a5310fe-840-602/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 1.17.18 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 1.17.18 PM"><p class="source"><span>Youtube/chokurei51</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>Edie Falco</h2><h3>You might know her as Carmela Soprano, the complicit wife of New Jersey-mafia kingpin Tony Soprano.</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/558847586bb3f7b67ce0239f-840-512/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 1.34.17 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 1.34.17 PM"><p class="source"><span>Youtube/Showtime</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><h3>But before Carmela surrounded herself with criminals, she was protecting society from them as Officer Diane Whittlesey in "Oz."</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55884946ecad0485155310fc-840-648/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 1.42.45 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 1.42.45 PM"><p class="source"><span>Youtube/Johan Öberg</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>Michael K. Williams</h2><h3>You might know him as Omar, the endearing gangster who robs drug dealers for a living in "The Wire."</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55884b21eab8ea1b45cfba05-840-671/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 1.50.43 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 1.50.43 PM"><p class="source"><span>Youtube/ZipTartarWarrior</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><h3>But he also played an endearing gangster in another HBO crime drama, "Boardwalk Empire," although in finer threads.</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55884c2a6bb3f75a15e0239f-840-674/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 1.55.09 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 1.55.09 PM"><p class="source"><span>Youtube/Pentagon1311</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>Paul Ben-Victor</h2><h3>HBO must love Paul Ben-Victor, because the actor has been featured in four different programs. He has played Alan Gray, the head of Warner Brothers studio, who gave Vinnie Chase his big break with "Aquaman" on "Entourage."</h3><h3><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55884f3d6bb3f70c1fe0239f-842-467/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 2.06.56 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 2.06.56 PM"><p class="source"><span>Youtube/Hedden22 sin kanal</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></h3><h3>But he also plays Vondas in "The Wire."</h3><h3><span style="font-size: 1.17em;"></span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55884fe0ecad04e13b5310fa-840-1055/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 2.09.48 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 2.09.48 PM" style="font-size: 1.17em;"><p class="source"><span>Youtube/TheWireForYou's channel</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></h3><h3>Palaka from "John from Cincinnati."</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/558850aceab8ea0d62cfba05-840-630/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 2.14.29 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 2.14.29 PM"><p class="source"><span>Youtube/Tom Sauer</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><h3>And he even showed up for an episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm." </h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5588524cecad0485425310fb-840-525/19015570.jpg-r_640_600-b_1_d6d6d6-f_jpg-q_x-xxyxx.jpg" border="0" alt="19015570 r_640_600 b_1_D6D6D6 f_jpg q_x xxyxx.jpg"><p class="source"><span>Google Commons</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><div class="heading-container"><h2 class="heading">Domenick Lombardozzi</h2><h3 class="heading">You might remember him as the fifth wheel in Vince's entourage.</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55885616eab8eaa57ccfba05-840-468/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 2.30.19 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 2.30.19 PM"><p class="source"><span>Youtube</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><h3>Or as disgraced police officer turned lawyer Thomas "Herc" Hauk on "The Wire."</h3><p><em><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5588567e6da811aa33adf0f8-840-638/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 2.30.46 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 2.30.46 PM"><p class="source"><span>Youtube</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div><br /></em></p><h3> Or maybe even as Al Capone's brother Ray in "Boardwalk Empire."</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/558856beecad0476595310fa-840-420/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 2.32.05 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 2.32.05 PM"><p class="source"><span>Youtube</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>Johnathan Hawkes</h2><h3>You probably know him as Sol Star, a resident of Deadwood, South Dakota.</h3><h3><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/558858586da8110b3eadf0f6-840-733/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 2.44.05 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 2.44.05 PM"><p class="source"><span>Youtube</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></h3><h3>But he also plays the brother of Kenny Power's in "Eastbound &amp; Down."</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/558858876da811f246adf0f6-840-503/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 2.44.30 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 2.44.30 PM"><p class="source"><span>Youtube</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p></div><div class="media-container"><h2 id="735b6c10" class="photo">Ted Danson</h2><h3>You may know him by his actual name, which he uses whenever he pops into an episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" to antagonize Larry David.</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55885a696bb3f75652e0239e-840-616/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 2.52.47 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 2.52.47 PM"><p class="source"><span>Youtube</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><h3>Or you might know him as eccentric pot-smoking millionaire George Christopher on "Bored to Death."</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55885ae5ecad04006a5310fa-840-816/104342297.jpg" border="0" alt="104342297"><p class="source"><span>Getty Images</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>Kim Dickens</h2><h3>You might know her as Joanie Stubbs, the hostess of the Bella Union in Deadwood.</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/558864b269bedd13671b9b5f-840-798/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 3.35.00 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 3.35.00 PM" style="color: #000000;"><p class="source"><span>Youtube</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><h3>But she also plays Janette Desautel, a chef struggling to keep her business alive after Hurricane Katrina in "Treme."</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55886562eab8eab33fcfba07-1200-800/gettyimages-98094629.jpg" border="0" alt="GettyImages 98094629" style="color: #000000;"><p class="source"><span>Getty Images</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>Michael Hyatt</h2><h3>Hyatt played Brianna Barksdale, sister of the West Baltimore drug lord Avon Barksdale in "The Wire."</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/558867506da8111716adf0f6-840-688/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 3.51.04 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 3.51.04 PM"><p class="source"><span>Youtube</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><h3>She recently turned up in season two of "True Detective" as a recurring character named Katherine Davis.</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55886b236da811ad28adf0f8-840-588/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 4.07.17 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 4.07.17 PM"><p class="source"><span>IMDB/Nightcrawler</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>Steve Buscemi</h2><h3>Buscemi played Atlantic City Prohibition-era crime lord Enoch Thompson for all five seasons of "Boardwalk Empire."</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/558b02cb69bedd2e4c57802a-1130-777/20140905_044407_boardwalk empire.png" border="0" alt="Steve Buscemi Boardwalk Empire" /></div></div></div></p><h3>But before that he was a modern-day mobster on "The Sopranos," playing the cousin of Tony Soprano, Tony Blundetto.</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55886ceb6da811ad39adf0f6-840-738/screen shot 2015-06-22 at 4.14.59 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 22 at 4.14.59 PM"><p class="source"><span>Youtube</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/george-rr-martin-meeting-hbo-creators-2015-6">This is the only thing George R.R. Martin asked HBO before saying yes to 'Game of Thrones'</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="E5OTNndTpdbk2UCaGVus5AzmfhLR5VxI" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'E5OTNndTpdbk2UCaGVus5AzmfhLR5VxI',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

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