Below showrunners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy take our burning questions about Chestnut.
Jonathan Nolan: We wanted to get that perspective in the show.
We wanted to start with the hosts, make it clear where our allegiance lies.
Credit: John P. Johnson/HBO
Theyre very different characters than the original film.
She seems perfectly content in her role despite knowing that shes not real.
Nolan: This is a distinction between sentience and a contextual awareness.
Her dialogue could be rigorously scripted.
Shes been programmed with a few choice lines that make you assume sentience and self-awareness.
But there isnt necessarily awareness whatsoever.
Its the equivalent of a very good chatbot it doesnt take much to make you think its alive.
A slightly more sophisticated version of Go On.
So it doesnt take much to make a robot feel alive.
which really summarizes a lot of the ethical conflict in the story.
Weve been looking at VR and its a whole new level of immersion.
Watching it in a virtual reality environment it made me feel more morally complicit in my actions.
Its becoming a more relevant question.
Nolan: Its also a way of articulating the Turing Test.
Committed gamers will play twice.
Thats a space thats set aside for the guests.
The guests get to be the stars.
Joy: You cant take yourself that seriously.
Its meant to underscore the ironic stakes and also pinpoint that the creative process draws all sorts of temperaments.
Some of them are more flamboyant than others and I promise you, Ive seen worse.
Should we be wondering if anybody on the backstage showrunner level is also a robot?
Nolan: I dont even know where to begin with that question!
I think its great youre asking questions about the nature of the narrative.
So theres sometimes a hidden narrative underneath.
Now whether hes right or wrong is a question well continue to explore.
William is told he cant get hurt in Westworld.
But what about being hurt by another guests?
Whats to keep a guest from stabbing him thinking hes a robot?
Is there a safe word?
Joy: We talked a lot about the rules of the park.
Now accidents can happen falling off a cliff and things like that.
The way the episode opens and closes suggests that Bernard told Dolores to go get that gun.
Is that what were supposed to think?
Nolan: Thats an interesting theory.
Joy: Its an interesting theory.
Were definitely supposed to think Dolores hears a voice and has a compulsion toward a gun.
Were not sure where exactly the voice comes from.
Its unclear why Maeve wakes up during surgery.
We had a lot of fun putting that sequence together.
Thandie Newton is fing fearless and an amazing actor.
Its one of my favorite sequences Ive ever been a part of.
Nolan: Theres no saying we wont get there!
More Chestnut coverage: Read ourdeep-dive recapof episode 2 andour Q&A with Thandie Newton.
