Westworld: Is the Man in Black Trying to Free the Hosts?

It’s looking increasingly likely that we’ve had Ed Harris’ Westworld character all wrong.

Note: This article contains spoilers for Westworld episode 4, “Dissonance Theory,” particularly where it regards the Man in Black. Please watch that episode first or read our recap for best results.

Pretty much every attempt to pigeonhole Ed Harris’ Man in Black has already proven incorrect. A new version of Yul Brynner’s Gunslinger? Not exactly, nor is he a simple inversion of that character other than having shot a bunch of hosts.

He’s not necessarily the villain of the HBO series. But while the story being woven doesn’t lend itself too comfortably to traditional narratives, it’s time to consider something not many would have suspected a few weeks ago: Is he setting himself up to be a hero to the hosts as their liberator?

“Dissonance Theory” provided some of the best hints yet that this might be the case. Though he’s going about it in an unusual manner, the Man in Black seems to be just as interested in setting the hosts free. He flat out said as much to Lawrence as they rode to the prison.

Later, when Lawrence threatened to kill him one day, the Man in Black replied, “Maybe someday.” That didn’t feel like a throwaway line, but an implication that he could envision, and even prefer, a day when the hosts were freed of their current restrictions.

Does that fit with his behavior toward them, considering he’s gunned down so many so far? Maybe, considering he fully understands that they’ll be fixed up and returned to duty. More than almost any other guest, he’s cognizant that he’s not actually killing them.

In a strange way, he also seems to enjoy their company, especially some of the hosts he’s known for years. He showed some sympathy for Teddy and is keeping Lawrence around almost strictly for conversation, or so it seems.

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The other very interesting thing we learned about the Man in Black in “Dissonance Theory” is that he’s a well-known figure in the real world. He’d almost have to be since he’s rich enough to keep staying in the park, but the two guests who approached him (and he angrily sent away) confirmed that he’s famous as well as wealthy.

(Still didn’t get any clues to his real name, though.)

The Man in Black wants to see behind the curtain, and not just in a narrative sense. Robert Ford will be having a chat with him soon, given the clips included in the preview for episode 5, so he might be closer to his goal than even he’d suspect. Whether he wants to turn Ford’s creations against him is just one of the questions that will keep us watching and continuing to change our assumptions.