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The man in black and what the story might be about - possible spoilers?

posted 8 years ago by marctale-149-764904
27 replies | jump to latest

Here's my take on the man in black:
As some people already mentioned he does not rape Dolores in the shed but more likely reprogrammed her.
I think he used to work at the park 30 years ago (or less) as a programmer or even the original creator of the park (that's why he's able to hide - he has access to the main computer so they can't detect him). Dolores looks like (and maybe is even based on) his former girlfriend/wife'love interest (that's why she is the oldest in the park) and he tries to reprogram her to make her more like the real Dolores - basically trying to make her human.
He despises what the park became but can't let go of Dolores.

The reason I believe that? I wrote a screenplay with technically the same background story but a different setting.

What do you guys think?

[–] larosat 8 years ago

Certainly a possibility

[–] mmw_rocket 8 years ago

Nice twist!

[–] marctale-149-764904 8 years ago

To deepen my theory:
I believe he reprogrammed Dolores because in the end she swats the fly which is a human thing (and was clearly set up to not be an Android thing). I also believe he programs her to answer the questions by Anthony Hopkins correctly so she wouldn't be taken out of the park for a different model (like her dad or the milk guy).
Anthony Hopkin's character btw knows the man in black - maybe even knows he wanders around Westworld. Both are fairly old which might suggest they could have worked together when the park was opened. Maybe the man in black was deemed unfit for the job because he established a hatred (or other feelings) for the Androids.

[–] cameronjstewart 8 years ago

I like where you're going with this, but it leaves the begging question of 'why doesn't anyone working for Westworld do anything about the man in black?'

[–] marctale-149-764904 8 years ago

The can only see Westworld through the Hologram they use or by actually going there. Since the man in black is a programmer (maybe even one of the original ones) he mostly likely reprogrammed to not be visible. They could see him if they went there and he was in the same spot.
The milk man was a decoy so the people working for Westworld think there are other problems with the Androids.

[–] Ite 8 years ago

Nope he just raped her.

[–] ajmal-m 8 years ago

would he really want to rape a toaster?

best so far this year:
The Revenant (2015)
A Gorgeous Girl Like Me (1972)

[–] saiga6360 8 years ago

You know what they say, when you go toaster...

[–] prvteye-1 8 years ago

I suspect that rather a large number of guests at West World are the sorts who would happily rape a toaster BECAUSE it's a toaster and not a real person. Just like all of the otherwise safe drivers in real life who will happily mow down every pedestrian they see in Liberty City.

Knowing it's a fantasy does not, in and of itself, destroy the fantasy.

The Man in Black says everything you need to know about him when he tells Teddy, "I used to wonder why they paired some of you off. Now I know. To feel like a winner, there has to be a loser."

It's a power trip for him. He knows that Teddy and Dolores are both "toasters". He doesn't care, any more than a serial rapist cares whether his victim actually thinks that he, the rapist, is the greatest sex that the victim has ever had. The power trip is the real turn-on.

The androids are just "things" to him, but that's just fine for him because it frees him from any moral compunction about what he does to them. Pretty much like the guys who were talking about using Teddy for firing practice if it got boring chasing outlaws around the mountains.

[–] sara-34 8 years ago

Well said!

[–] saiga6360 8 years ago

It's an interesting theory but I have some reservations because of what he said to the dealer as he was torturing him. He appear to identify with the guests who like to 'shoot their rocks off and kill indians' only he says he's different because he's after a 'deeper level' to the game. It doesn't sound like someone who has knowledge of the system would say.

[–] marctale-149-764904 8 years ago

Maybe the humanity in those robots are the deeper level. As I said: He reprograms Dolores. I believe Dolores' age is the key here since she is the oldest Android in the park. Maybe she has a design flaw (or possibility) that makes her an Android that could become a "human" (like Asimov's "I, robot") or at least human-like.
The man in black - and Anthony Hopkin's character - knows that. That's why Hopkins focuses on older models (like the old cowboy Android he talks to at first).
Newer models don't have that "flaw" so they're useless to the man in black and destroyed.

[–] ksperrye 8 years ago

I think you hooked on to a few truths but since you haven't seen the original West World, you're missing context and therefore have the threads crossed.

The incident 30 years ago is referenced so many times it's like yelling in the audience's face: "REMEMBER THE ORIGINAL FILM SET IN 1983?!! WELL THIS IS A SEQUEL SO GO WIKI IT!" LoL

The scene with the original ancient bartender host and The Creator was there JUST to bring the point home and "catch up" all of us who are too young to have seen the original film when it came out in 1973.

The Man In Black is from "the incident 30 years ago" that everyone kept referring to throughout the pilot. The original Corporation was telegraphed (Delos) and much more.

If the West World (film) Wikipedia article doesn't help, then go online & pull up a streaming link to the film and watch it. Then you'll know what the Man In Black is all about and have 2-3 choices for who he is.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ExCivilian 8 years ago

30 years. Filmed in 1973, took place in 1983.

[–] ksperrye 8 years ago

It was filmed in 73 but was set in the *Future*, so it was 83 in the film.

And saying "30 years" is the most appropriate term for a series that took years to get off the ground and was set to release 2 seasons ago, as well as expecting a multi-year run going forward.

So yes, "30 years" is the Exact phrase that's appropriate and correct to reference the original film.

[–] BrooklynBrimstone 8 years ago

The incident 30 years ago is referenced so many times it's like yelling in the audience's face: "REMEMBER THE ORIGINAL FILM SET IN 1983?!! WELL THIS IS A SEQUEL SO GO WIKI IT!" LoL

When we first heard about the 'incident' from 30 years ago, I thought it was a nod to the original film too.
But the film came out 43 years ago.
Sure, maybe they changed the number on purpose, just cuz they thought a nice even '30' years sounded better.
But...I have a sneaking suspicion that this aforementioned 'incident' has something to do with The Man in Black, (he's been coming to the park for 30 years...hmm curiouser and curiouser...) the Creator and Dolores (she was created 30 years ago...there's that number again! Coincidence? I think not!) like the OP theorized.
Much more compelling from a viewer's perspective too - instead of the number just being an easter egg for fans of the original film.
But that's just imho!
Guess we'll have to wait and see - but I believe that the OP in this thread is very close to the truth of how this 30 years ago 'incident' is connected to key characters!
Fun times!
Theorizing is awesome...especially when someone hits the nail of the head! 😉

Light a fire, a fire, a spark
Light a fire, a flame in my heart

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] BrooklynBrimstone 8 years ago

Yeah, I'm maybe a bit too optimistic about The Man in Black.
I want there to be more to him than what he *seems* to be, at face value.
At this point, to the average viewer, The Man in Black = Dark, twisted psychopath who's sole purpose is to rape and murder and apparently *beat* the game that is Westworld, at any cost! (cue maniacal laugh)
I would love it, if it turned out that his history with the park is actually much much more complicated and full of shades of 'gray' instead of complete evilly 'black'.
Him being pure evil is too easy and cliche (again, just imho)
The bad guy doesn't always wear black, am I right? (or at least, I don't think he should - cuz it's too obvious and yet another overused cliche)

Light a fire, a fire, a spark
Light a fire, a flame in my heart

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] BrooklynBrimstone 8 years ago

Yeah, you're probably right...
But a girl can dream, can't I?
Everything went the way I wanted it to in Game of Thrones this Season though - sometimes writers/creators actually lead narratives and characters in the direction viewers are hoping they will.
Not often...but sometimes! 😉

Light a fire, a fire, a spark
Light a fire, a flame in my heart

[–] ksperrye 8 years ago

The film was *Set In The FUTURE* 1983.

30 YEARS

[–] harlequinade17 8 years ago

I agree he didn't rape her it's HBO if he raped her we would have seen it 

But I think he is just a guest who has been coming to WW so long he has convinced himself there is the deeper level of the game and perhaps there is

http://underthehearttree.freeforums.net/
http://cinematiccorner.blogspot.com/

[–] BrooklynBrimstone 8 years ago

He just wants to find that hidden level where you can warp to other worlds.
Like in Super Mario! 😄⭐🍄

Light a fire, a fire, a spark
Light a fire, a flame in my heart

[–] danloki 8 years ago

Cool theory👍