Timelines
Westworld has been quite the disruptive force in modern television. It critically examines the dark side of human nature and technology, all while giving women characters the spotlight in a male-dominated genre. One of the most intriguing aspects of the show, however, is the vehicle through which it delivers these storylines.
Westworld employs an intricate multiple timeline narrative structure that (at least in Season 1) is an absolute treat to experience. Plotlines occurring place in the past are juxtaposed with narratives happening in the present. However, the imperishable bodies and faces of the android hosts and the recurring artificial theme-park setting deceive viewers into thinking that everything is happening concurrently. Eagle-eye fans might have noticed slight differences between the interior of the Mesa Hub between scenes or the depiction of the Westworld logo, though the presence of multiple timelines isn’t fully revealed until the end of Season 1.
Westworld is by no means the first show to wield the multiple timeline technique. Several sci-fi movies (such as Donnie Darko, Looper, and Arrival) use time as a focal point of their stories. Yet Westworld deftly uses multiple timelines not only as a means of advancing the plot, but as a device to highlight character growth and emphasize core themes of the show.
The journey of William (aka “The Man in Black”) is one of the most intriguing and creative uses of multiple timelines by the show. It’s amazing to watch the character arc of young William as he discovers his true self in the park and transforms into “The Man in Black.” Viewers will never forget the moment when young William in the past timeline (who started out with a white hat) picks up and dons the black hat as the screen transitions into the present timeline when it is revealed who the “The Man in Black” was all along.
Similarly, the use of multiple timelines is a thematic exposition that allows us to empathize with the hosts and understand how they process memory. Dolores is constantly reliving narratives and memories, retracing her steps in a way that revives past evens instead of recalling them in a traditional sense. She does not “remember” things the same way that humans do; she relives it. We can almost feel her anguish and confusion as she stumbles through the park in Episode 10 of Season 1, jumping through time to relive every iteration of her actions. For viewers, it makes her quest to find the center of the maze and consequent consciousness all the more tangible and real.