Its about humanizing the hosts, its about control.
This is the one episode where we were going for it to show the pure pleasure of this place.
I think everyone had a good time and it was done as respectfully and carefully as possible.
Credit: John P. Johnson; HBO
And that scene in Pariah was hugely ambitious and beautifully shot.
So in an episode like that, nudity is a part of it.
Its more like where you go to live out your fetishistic dreams.
And part of that is seeing it through Dolores eyes.
But for a lot of the hosts there, they were designed to act as pleasure hosts.
You have a scene with the orgy pile.
Whats the mood like, and, anecdotally, did anything interesting happen while shooting this?
Joy: I was on set the whole time for that.
For me, I get a little shy around this stuff sometimes.
Which apparently can include a fair amount of abuse but not so much that theyd get permanently hurt?
Joy: Thats right.
As you get further out the violence becomes more real but doesnt leave a lasting mark.
Its all part of the dance.
Youre meant to get a more visceral experience so the violence gets edgier and edgier.
I remember going to Pamplona for the Running of the Bulls.
Its like the novice version.
So these people are thrill seekers who want to push the limit.
So even though the environment is still safe they want to feel like its not.
One of the body shop guys mentioned spending time in a virtual reality tank, which was intriguing.
It made me wonder: How much is VR a part of this world?
Nolan: Its more about establishing that these two know each other.
The idea [in Westworld is that] this is cosplay.
He has has some longstanding business relationship with Ford and hes clearly involved on some level with the park.
Its too delicious an opportunity to pass up.
But the nature of their relationship seem more like equal footing.
The Man in Black seems much more impressed by whoever Fords partner is from long ago.
We also see some evolution for Dolores, further finding her inner gunslinger in that scene to protect William.
At the same time, shes hearing this mysterious voice in her head guiding her.
Joy: That is indeed part of the intention were exploring here.
She seems to be growing into her own personhood and making her own choices.
Westworld is a bit of a Russian nesting doll of reality.
You are meant to struggle with that and wonder.
Nolan: Lisa and I think about this all the time in our lives.
Are you rebelling against how you were brought up?
Or do you have to consider all of those things to be a part of yourself?
MoreWestworldanalysis:Read our deep-dive recap of Contrapasso.
