Fans of HBO's “Westworld” should by now be familiar for the multiple timelines theory, but just in case, I’ll explain it for you. It is widely believed that the show is not all taking place at the same time (which further confuses an already very confusing story), and that William (Jimmi Simpson) is actually a younger version of Ed Harris’ unnamed Man in Black character.
There seems to be plenty of evidence that supports this theory, the most obvious being that the details of Harris’ character, particularly his name, are a mystery, because that would give it away.
Also, in the earlier “Westworld” timeline, William wears a white hat, suggesting that at some point over the course of time something terrible will happen to him that causes him to go dark, start seeking out The Maze, and switch to Harris’ signature black hat.
In addition to this, and one that keeps cropping up, is that the Westworld park logo changes from timeline to timeline. In the main labs and offices, the logo looks newer and fresher than the older, staler version shown when William arrives at the park in the episode “Chestnut,” and the older-looking logo has returned only in Dr. Ford’s (Anthony Hopkins) flashback and when Bernard (Jeffrey Wright) used the old computer in the basement.
However, new evidence has come to light
The developing storyline with Maeve (Thandie Newton) as she is becoming sentient might debunk the theory. In the sixth "Westworld" episode “The Adversary,” as she is chatting with Felix (Leonardo Nam) and discovering that she is a robot being controlled by humans “upstairs,” he tells her that, while she thinks she’s been madam of the brothel for ten years, she’s only really been madam for one year, and has her character “tweaked” regularly, meaning that in the later timeline (which is, like, thirty years later), she couldn’t possibly still be madam.
So, surely Dolores, whose romance with William is pivotal to the earlier timeline, could not have told Maeve the madam about there being a separation between hosts and guests and setting her off on this journey thirty years ago? Except she did, and this seems to debunk this major “Westworld” fan theory.
It is possible this theory is still true
One strain of this "Westworld" theory has it that there are two versions of Dolores, one in the earlier storyline with William and one in the later storyline with Maeve, and the two timelines hinge on Dolores deviating from her narrative loop in the same way in both, in one leading her to join William on his adventures and in the other leading her to guide Maeve on her journey (and also have freaky visions of herself). This is the reason we are being shown both. So, the multiple timelines theory still has some merit. We'll just have to wait and see.
In any case, to see this story develop, “Westworld” is on Tuesdays at 9pm on Sky Atlantic.
