‘Westworld’ Theories: Why Arnold Is Still An Important Character Despite His Death

“Westworld” character Dr. Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins) has already said that his former partner Arnold is dead and even suggested that he had taken his own life.

But in episode 6, titled “The Adversary,” Arnold’s presence is felt more than ever. When Elsie (Shannon Woodward) tried to search for clues behind the hosts’ anomalies, she found out that Arnold is still meddling with the older hosts. “He's a prolific programmer for a dead guy,” she said.

Arnold also created hosts based on actual human beings — Ford’s family members — so he can relive the only happy memory of his childhood. However, something went awry when a host — a younger version of Ford — lied to Ford and killed his pet dog because a “voice” told him to do it. Of course, this voice belongs to no one else but Arnold.

This scene raises a lot of questions given Arnold’s supposed death. With him still talking to the hosts, could he possibly be alive?

The show’s director Fred Toye explained to The Hollywood Reporter why Arnold still has a huge impact on the characters, particularly Ford, despite his absence. “The shadow and specter of that character and who he was for Ford, and the fact that we've never seen him and we don't know who he is, makes you question, in a way, the reality that's being presented, and who he really is, and who Ford really is,” Toye said. “That's what's most interesting. The component of Arnold and Ford together and what their relationship was and what they created, and what each of their priorities were, is fundamental in the undercurrent of the story.”

In “Westworld” episode 7, titled “Trompe L’Oeil,” the spotlight will return to Dolores Abernathy (Evan Rachel Wood) once again. The synopsis, shared by Den of Geek, remains quite mysterious. It simply reads: “Dolores and William journey into treacherous terrain; Maeve delivers an ultimatum; Bernard considers his next move.”

As for its promo, titled “Under My Control,” a “demonstration” was shown involving Ford’s “dangerous” hosts. In that demonstration, the workers in Westworld “found something disturbing.”

“Westworld” airs every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.