What’s going on with Bernard and his button in Westworld’s season 3 premiere

Few characters in Westworld have been via extra twists and turns than Bernard. From the revelation that he was a bunch and a re-creation of Arnold, Dr. Ford’s inventor associate, to his laundry checklist of scrambled reminiscences in season 2, nothing’s ever actually because it appears in the case of Bernard. So it’s no shock that in season 3, there’s a complete new thriller to resolve in the case of everybody’s favourite semi-reincarnated genius.

As one of many murkiest plotlines, let’s check out the place Bernard’s at within the first episode of Westworld season 3. As a result of … that button.

[Ed. word: this submit incorporates spoilers for Westworld season Three episode 1.]

Once we first see Bernard in season 3, it appears he’s gone into hiding, a number of months after Dolores introduced him again exterior the confines of the Delos parks. We see him studying a information story that claims that there’s a world manhunt happening for him, and that Chinese language authorities blame him for the bloodbath at Delos Parks. Bernard’s chosen hiding spot seems to be an animal farm/butchery and he appears very reticent to kill the animals that must be killed. We’ll allow you to unpack these metaphors by yourself.

The actual thriller of Bernard on this episode got here from the little button he saved by his aspect, which seemingly modified him between two totally different folks with every press. So what precisely does it do?

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Picture: HBO

Bernard has two distinct sides to his character and mind at this level, that a lot is evident. We additionally know for certain that he switches between these sides by urgent a button. However that also leaves lots of data we don’t know. We get a couple of clues into what these two sides truly are.

For starters, let’s contemplate Bernard’s personalities as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The aspect of Bernard that’s in management more often than not, the one which simply needs to look at animals and reside in peace, is Dr. Jekyll. The one which beats massive intimidating males to a pulp and would do something to not be found, is Mr. Hyde.

To some extent this break makes lots of sense coming off of final season. In season 2, Bernard additionally form of had two personalities rattling round in his host head: his and Ford’s. After all, we discover out close to the top of the season that Ford’s consciousness had solely been a projection that Bernard himself created — a minimum of on the finish. This implies Bernard dedicated extra murders on the finish of the season when he appeared to kill off the minds of the people within the Forge, and changing them with the hosts as a substitute. Extra importantly, he revived Dolores who he undoubtedly knew was going to attempt to kill all of the people in the actual world, so he’s obtained that future-blood on his arms as effectively. And it wasn’t Ford’s code that led him to the choice, it was Bernard the entire time.

With that in thoughts, it could definitely stand to purpose that after he escaped into isolation, Bernard would need to cordon off the aspect of his mind that thought mass killings have been neat. And it seems that’s precisely what he did. However earlier than we go any additional about what this implies, let’s speak about how he appears to have accomplished it.

Picture: HBO

Hosts have already got two modes: Character Mode and Evaluation Mode. Within the park, Evaluation Mode was used to make sure that their reminiscences have been erased and that issues have been typically working easily. After all, the primary two seasons confirmed us that issues weren’t, actually, working easily. Evidently Bernard has tapped into this concept as a way to give himself two separate — or considerably separate — personalities.

Co-showrunner and co-creator of Westworld, Lisa Pleasure has mentioned up to now that Evaluation Mode is just like an individual’s unconscious thoughts, and it looks as if that’s considerably true for Bernard as effectively when he slips into his Mr. Hyde state.

Early on within the episode, we see him utilizing the button and programming the varied normal host responses to questions of reminiscence and consciousness. This would appear to counsel that Bernard isn’t absolutely aware when Mr. Hyde takes over, as a result of his responses nonetheless should be programmed in, he can’t simply pretend it as a result of he’ll lose a minimum of some quantity of management. He’s additionally getting ready to be discovered as a bunch. Whereas his aim appears to be to not get captured, this a part of his second character appears designed to let him slip via the Evaluation Mode traps designed to catch hosts growing reminiscences and consciousness.

So if Bernard has sectioned off his mind into two separate, however linked, personalities what precisely does it imply? Evidently the Mr. Hyde model of Bernard is generally dedicated to survival, to holding himself secure and holding his personal aware thoughts safe. Meaning he probably programmed Mr. Hyde to incorporate the aspect of him together with his most violent impulses. In different phrases his second character, with out the checks of the Dr. Jekyll aspect, may have an unbelievable and terrifying capability for violence. And it’s all managed by the push of a button — not precisely essentially the most spectacular safety system.

We additionally know that Bernard must be able to slipping via the Evaluation Mode checks that govern most Delos hosts, which is certain to be a useful talent now that he’s making his method again to Westworld. Though, that also leaves open the query of how he gained’t be acknowledged. He definitely isn’t doing an important job of disguising himself on the butchery/farm, so he’s most likely going to face out as Bernard, regardless of what number of personalities he has.

One factor that we’ll have to attend till later within the season to find is how Bernard plans to cease Dolores, or what objective his extra violent aspect might serve within the better battle between people and hosts that’s coming.