The Westworld finale vindicates many fan theories and in turn legitimizes internet puzzle-solving narratives on television.
The first season ofWestworldis over.
It ranged from superb to merely good, to bad in one particular instance.
This isnt humanitys world anymore… its hers its the hosts.
This is a wonderful ending, thematically and narratively.
Even beyond the confines of the show itself, its the perfect ending for our times right now.
No, not because of Donald Trump or global warming, or any of those other actually important things.
Rather, because its time for a new culture to fully take over: nerd and internet culture.
You would think that Marvels dominance at the movies would be enough.
Television, however, is the final frontier.
And Ill explain how.
But first we have to talk aboutLost.
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Yes, you have to hear aboutLostagain.
No, Im not sorry.
Yes, you have to keep reading.
This, of course, was not the case.
The artistic sophistication had evolved, but the model remained the same.
There was no point of conceiving an ending toLostbecause an ending on television had never been a guaranteed thing.
And it was Tom, and he said, The show is a monster.
And I just remember feeling really terrified.
And numb and in shock.
Agents and executives, everybody was calling.
I remember all these baskets of muffins arriving.
Just baskets of muffins.
I was surrounded in my office by all of this pastry.
Thats someone realizing that hes actually going to have to come up with some answers now.
And to be fair, he mostly did.
They understand audience expectations in 2016.
The expectation for sci-fi is to have a plan.
Because in 2016, you could.
Networks understand its what the audience wants.
So far there isnt a smoking gun thatWestworldhas a specific ending in mind.
All signs, however, point to it.
And indeed, that series has an ending in mind if novel writer George R.R.
The model of making it up as you go along that was the default for television for years.
But afterWestworlds finale, Im calling its time of death as: 23:35 ET, Dec. 4, 2016.
Season 1 ofWestworldwasnt so much a narrative as it was a puzzle.
Thats… a lot.
In fact, its a sign that theyre great at what they do.
Television has always been a collaborative medium.
We want the puzzles now, because theyre cool, and we can participate.
Now,Westworldis our ultimate puzzle show, and by all indications its going to stay that way.
Actress Evan Rachel Wood has said that the showsreal plotline may begin in season 2.
I think season 2 is really going to be warp speed.
The show might really start in season 2.
That certainly seems to confirm the amount of planning and puzzle-making that have gone into the show.
So the puzzles are here to stay.
Nerd culture has won.
That leads to the inevitable question inherent to all paradigm shifts in media: is this a good thing?
I feel even more emboldened.
This can be a great thing… if done right.
TheWestworldseason 1 finale does it right.
There was no literal maze that Dolores was looking for.
The maze was just a concept a concept of self.
A truly conscious being is able to achieve sentience and consciousness on their own by looking within.
Buried deep within that game, however, was the raw material to create new a new species.
