Westworld (TV Series) The Well-Tempered Clavier (2016) User Reviews

Simply stunning.

[TouchTheGarlicProduction · 10/10 · 27 November 2016]

This is the episode where everything finally clicks. Many of the season's outstanding questions are answered, and the underlying narrative is exposed. The final ten minutes of the episode is a cascade of reveals, twists, and turns. In my opinion, this episode manages to outdo episode 7, which is quite an accomplishment. One truly remarkable thing about the episode (particularly the final sequence) is that there is a real sense that anyone can die, and someone will.

Of course, while it is easy to focus on the fantastic closing to the episode, it is important not to forget the rest of the episode. Even without the ending, it's one of the better instalments so far. It checks in with most every major story-line, smoothly weaving them together and bringing them all to a crisis point.

If Westworld runs as long and as successfully as HBO's current flagship show (Game of Thrones) has, this episode will be looked back on as one of the series' best, and the moment that cinched it as the new big show.

My mind was just blown

[fejsbuk_cancar · 10/10 · 28 November 2016]

This is definitely the best episode of any TV show that I've watched. Acting performance, scenario, dialogues, picture, and yes of course, the story is just brilliant, genius. It made me write this review, my very first review, just because I am stunned. I really hope show will continue to surprise like this, it can become the greatest show ever in my opinion. Also, I liked the way it was directed. It was fast, with context (memories) changes to keep attention all the time. 60 minutes of pure joy. A masterpiece. Dialogues are deeply developed making every conversation very real and meaningful. Finally, Anthony Hopkins did an awesome job as always, perfect actor for this role.

Westworld: The Well-Tempered Clavier

[WubsTheFadger · 10/10 · 5 January 2018]

Short and Simple Review by WubsTheFadger

This is the best episode in the series so far. This episode drops another twist in front of us that has been hidden throughout the series.

Anthony Hopkins delivers the best performance by far. His character is cynical , evil, and devilishly smart.

The amount of realizations in this episode is astounding. The ease at which this series tells its story is wonderful.

Pros: Great performance by Anthony Hopkins, stunning plot twist, clever realizations, and masterful storytelling

Cons: None

Overall Rating: 9.8/10

Unlocking the Maze

[ThomasDrufke · 9/10 · 28 November 2016]

This season of Westworld has gone by fast, as did this episode. Much like the last few episodes, I'm not sure I entirely gathered all that happened and was revealed. As expected, this week focused on Ford and Bernard's relationship and history. Or should I say, Robert and Arnold.

So, yes, the Bernard is Arnold theory has finally been confirmed. It's fun theorizing about this show, but I almost wish that I didn't constantly hear about the dozens of theories about this show so that when big reveals like this happen, I'm not totally expecting them. Although, it wasn't the blink and you miss it reveal from a few weeks ago, the Arnold-Bernard twist was well thought out, and something obviously planted since the beginning. Nonetheless, this revelation helped cement plenty of other things as well. Dolores killed the original Arnold? Was this what triggered the time loop that Ford keeps referring to?

Again, sometimes it's hard to truly see the intentions of this cerebral show without watching it more than once or just looking harder than we are likely supposed to. But one storyline that is a little easier to follow along with, is Maeve's. What an arc she has been on since the premiere. I honestly didn't think the show would choose to focus this much on her, with everything else that's going on, but how can someone not be excited to see what her "army" has in store for next week. Especially now that she has Hector fully on board.

The popular timelines theory became a little less obvious this week, but only because it's becoming more evident that the presence of William and Logan are simply just Dolores exploring her past. Yes, I do believe William is in fact the Man in Black, but the timelines are shown more as memories and not as different stories the audience is forced to put together. More or less, I think the phrasing of the "timelines theory" should be changed.

Either way, this season is building towards an epic finale. What exactly does MiB have planned for Dolores in the present? How close will Charlotte and MiB get? Was this the last we will ever see of Jeffrey Wright? Will Ford die? Will Maeve be the one to do it? Is Elsie really dead? How much will be set up for season 2? It was quite the episode by Michelle MacLaren, I can only hope next week will be the same.

+Theories confirmed

+Slow and methodical, yet incredibly effective

+Maeve & Hector

+Dolores unlocks the maze

9.1/10

Mind-blowing

[RhaenysStark · 10/10 · 28 November 2016]

Amazing episode. The best of the season, along with episode 7.

Westworld has established itself as one of the best shows on television and "The Well-Tempered Clavier" is an impeccably well- written and acted TV hour.

+ Ramin Djawadi's score + Multiple time frames confirmed + HUGE Bernard = Arnold revelation + Jeffrey Wright and Evan Rachel Wood in specific were amazing tonight

• Don't know how I feel about Maeve's story thus far. She being able to control the hosts seems a bit lazy and too easy.

I would rate it a 9,5/10 but since I can't, it's a 10/10 from me.

Twists and Revelations

[claudio_carvalho · 9/10 · 21 January 2018]

Bernard is analyzing Maeve; however she dominates him instead, showing her power. William is tied to a chair asking Logan to let Dolores and him go. Logan stabs Dolores´ belly and exposes her mechanical components to show that she is a robot. However Doleres shoots the soldiers and flees and William promises that will find her. Bernard asks Dr. Ford to recover his full memory and uses Clementine to help him to get information from Dr. Ford. Bernard learns that he killed also Elsie. Meaves make a deal with Hector showing that she knows his past and his future. Dolores has entwined visions of her present and past.

"The Well-Tempered Clavier" is another intriguing episode with many twists and revelations of "Westworld". The confrontation of Bernard and Dr. Ford is maybe the most important part of the show. Arnold´s identity is finally disclosed. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "The Well-Tempered Clavier"

Fantastic penultimate episode

[amesmonde · 30 November 2016]

Another packed episode - Maeve reveals to Bernard that he is a host. Bernard confronts Ford. Teddy has a revealing flashback. Charlotte meets the Man in Black. Ashley investigates and meets the Ghost Nation warriors and much more.

If you're reading this, you've bought into it, you're already nine episodes in and know the broad strokes of the story. Directed Michelle MacLaren, 'The Well-Tempered Clavier' is another sterling episode, what's excellent about Westworld is its consistency, with the acting, writing and production values remain high. The acting is at times wonderfully subtle, once again worthy of note is Anthony Hopkins' Robert Ford and Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores Abernathy. Also Jeffrey Wright's Bernard wonderfully comes full circle here.

Amazingly as straightforward entertainment it also plays out as part mystery and plays with moments in time as we see flashbacks and flash-forward's. Writing this episode are Dan Dietz & Katherine Lingenfelter, here Dolores' original father has the same photo of William's fiancée in an earlier episode. It suggest that either the two guests, William and Ben are robots and are part of Ed Harris Man in Black story. Or that what we saw when Dolores' father looked at the photo was a scene that takes place in the future, possibly along with her in the empty room showing the fate of the park. Or something completely different.

This is the beauty of Westworlds over arching story by Jonathan Nolan Lisa Joy it prompts theories as it unravels. As well as the above William's and Ben's relationship reaches fever point, with Will killing dozens of Hosts Confederates. In another twist Dolores' finds out who killed Arnold, Arnold finds out who/what he really is, all the while Hopkins' Ford reaffirms his position with a backdoor code, along with Ed Harris' Man in Black showing his hand to Charlotte.

An excellent penultimate episode and a great piece of TV.

Amazing Secrets, Unbelievable Shockers, and perfect setup for finale!!!

[williamwarfielddavis · 10/10 · 8 February 2021]

Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Ed Burns, and Anthony Hopkins killing these last few episodes with amazing acting!!!

Wanted to create consciousness-mind-

[mgidb · 8/10 · 25 August 2019]

Everyone is remembering his memories and building their behavior from the beginning. Dolores killed Arnold and his son is not real and he killed himself.

Wooooow

[obdyahia · 10/10 · 17 July 2019]

Pretty good writing nice twist amazing amazing amazing 100000/10 one of the greatest episode I've ever seen

The Piano doesn't murder the player, if it doesn't like the music.

[ikshulnew · 10/10 · 5 May 2020]

One of the best episodes of the series, and the second best this season. Obviously, none before this can hold a candle to it except Trompe L'Oeil, but it is still outshone by The Bicameral Mind! Even then it is the best penultimate buildup to an exceedingly spectacular finale I have ever seen (except Who am I in Mr Robot). Twists galore, with special mention to an incredible performance by Jeffrey Wright supplemented by the eponymous 'mastermind' Anthony Hopkins.

The Plot Thickens So Hard

[hamidullahgenc · 10/10 · 4 December 2016]

Crossroads...

At first, we were guessing that Robert Ford is a good guy after all.

Then we see what he makes Bernard do to Theresa Cullen (so, Bernard is not human after all???) and we reroute our guess that Robert is the true evil and he will sacrifice all that comes his way to keep the Westworld safe which is like a son to him than entertainment.

Then we see Maeve Millay getting stronger and opening the eyes of Bernard to the situation that he is not a human, then Bernard pushes Robert to give him his memories back only to surprise us with the fact that Bernard was a human once and killed by the very thing he created called Dolores?.. Man!.. The screenwriters could stop playing with our minds!!1! (No, don't stop fellas. I like it much this way.)

We see how our minds operate to the point that we have to call some of these things in the Westworld human at one point, not because they look like human but they start a consciousness one way or the other and act however they like it.

No, we are probably wrong there too. They are directed by the voice inside their heads... And this seems like madness.

After all these revelations I can still call Maeve human though as she seems to have his own mind, body, soul / consciousness structure...

So, Maeve, go get girl!.. (What!.. I am evil.)

(After the 10th episode I will evaluate the first season; but I can say a few things about this episode without any spoiler. - Teddy is my little star... And he may have been Wyatt all along... or may he?..)

wonderful episode but ---

[gavinlee-05707 · 7/10 · 2 December 2016]

I spent two hours to watch this show , yes ,that is not live TV.

Many story lines get into original point "Arnold". Many confusing things clear out. The Dialogue is excellent,the conflict of the Hosts and their creator reach to the peak. Especially last ten min dialogue , that make me feel shame as a human being. " We are only humans ,Evitably ,we will disappoint you".

I was supposed to rate it 10, The scenario ,and acting performance is amazing ,but there is bug confusing me. Arnold is Bernard. If Arnold is one of the founder of park, his Pic and Credit would be shown in everyplace ,anyone would have known him. He not supposed to be mystically.

Perhas the Writer will wrap it up in the next season or something. Or Maybe Arnold working in the cooperation secretly so that no one see his face expect Dr.Ford and other man shows in the Pic.

Disappointed After the Recent 9th Episode.

[aaronetchesroatan · 3/10 · 30 November 2016]

*SPOILERS BELOW!!*

This series had me and I'll probably watch the last episode just to see the conclusion, but after episode nine "The Well Tempered Clavier" I'm pretty disappointed with the recent plot twist of the host Dr "Bernard Lowe" being created after "Arnold". Created in his image with coding to mimic his actions. What I find awful about this plot twist is that anyone coming to work at the Corporation would have known what Arnold looked liked. He was a founder of the company. His pictures and history would have been everywhere. There is no way anyone working there would have been fooled by "Bernard" especially those at the board level like Theresa Cullen who in all previous episodes was completed deceived by Dr. Ford. Because of this revelation all previous interactions make no sense and it's my opinion it ruined the entire series. What was an extremely intellectual TV show that kept me hungry for the next installment has now been thrown in the junk pile of mediocrity. Bo.

Seriously twisty and intense

[TheDonaldofDoom · 27 December 2019]

We finally get answers to Bernard's backstory. We don't know everything yet (in fact Season 2 adds even more) but what we do learn comes as a real surprise, even if it was sort of expected. But it also explains the scene with "Bernard" (actually Arnold) and Dolores earlier in the season. And it implies that Ford isn't working against Arnold's plans to give hosts sentience, as the reason he gets Bernard to shoot himself is because he doesn't know that Ford may actually be working for the same thing Arnold was working for. Still, that scene at the end is chilling, even though Bernard can probably be restored as he's a host.

Dolores's flashbacks are also pretty much explained, really giving many of the answers already that are then confirmed in the next episode. The voice that Dolores was following the whole time, that she thought was Arnold's, was actually her's, and that means she is truly conscious. And when we see the photo Logan shows William is the same one that Dolores's father has in the very first episode... yup, two timelines confirmed here. We even get an obvious sign that the Man in Black is William as he recognizes Angela, saying he thought she'd been decommissioned a long time ago. It's this attention to detail that makes Westworld so enthralling, knowing that the answers were already hinted at since the very start.

Elsewhere, this episode is still full of fantastic stuff, from the complex way Logan's cut into Dolores affects William to the moment Maeve shows Hector the safe is empty. It's the best episode yet, although the finale surpasses even this.

The one before the last

[tenshi_ippikiookami · 8/10 · 11 December 2016]

The show continues with its many story-lines, secrets within secrets and personalities and identities within identities. It just follows the topics introduced in previous episodes and sometimes falls into muddy-we-will-just-complicate-for-the-sake-of-it exposition style, but it is a very strong episode and the show keeps delivering.

Teddy discovers there is more in his past than he 'remembers', the Man In Black With A Hat just wants to keep playing his particular game and doesn't care if the world burns in flames if he is left alone, Dolores is trying to connect to her past, Maeve is working on 'its' robot-raising, and Bernard and Ford have a very interesting conversation.

The whole episode basically centers around Bernard and Ford's confrontation and it does a great job of piling surprises, twists, little moments and a quite strong dialogue. Of course, it helps if you have Wright and Hopkins delivering it. Jeffrey Wright is just doing an amazing work as Bernard, and, here, continues raising the bar.

The rest of the episode is really good too, but it just seems to be there to put the little details for the last episode's showdown and to tease the viewer with little secrets and details. The production, direction and acting keeps being top-notch all through.

All sub-plots firing

[Leofwine_draca · 9/10 · 27 December 2022]

So this one's the penultimate episode of season one and it's a definite step up in quality. So far this show started on an amazing high for a few episodes before dropping down in quality and becoming slightly repetitive, even a little sluggish at times in the middle part. However, things are starting to happen again now, it's starting to come together and we're getting a sense of gravitas that really works. Bernard makes for an interesting character in particular, because you think his character arc has come to a natural close and yet there's still more to discover. At this point all the sub-plots are firing, and I'm looking forward to the climax.

outstanding secrets, and an amazing set for season 2

[moviesfilmsreviewsinc · 10/10 · 16 March 2022]

"Westworld" think it's on the side of the Man in Black (Ed Harris), and by extension, the audience. The series lectures us constantly about how, in Hale's words, "Most of the guests just want a warm body to shoot or to f---. They'd be perfectly happy with something less baroque." nature of the show, if you'll indulge me, could be a powerful one. Reflecting the tensions in popular entertainment in the divide that places Hale, the late Theresa Cullen (Sidse Babett Knudsen), Logan and the Board against the Man in Black, William and even in his own way Ford, could be a powerful thing. The problem is that on balance, "Westworld" is giving us as much of - or more than - the story that Hale, Cullen and Logan want as it is delivering the deeper meaning the Man in Black wants, and the sensitivity that William craves. Again, there's something fascinating about a show that is predicated on oppressed people, especially women, achieving the consciousness that would make them dangerous. There's something especially radical, particularly in this political moment, about suggesting that trauma can be both an anchor for a person's personality and a limitation, a defining experience that doesn't allow a person, or a host, to see too far beyond their cornerstone. But what "Westworld" does in this episode is to subordinate Dolores's experiences to an info dump, to make her the sum of what Ford and Arnold did together, and what Dolores herself did to Arnold. This isn't a story about how trauma has shaped Dolores, and who she's becoming. It's a story about what Ford and Arnold created, how one of their creations lashed out at them, and how Ford, the surviving partner, built Bernard in order to re-create his own lost sense of partnership.

We finally get to meet Arnold.

[Amari-Sali · 7/10 · 28 November 2016]

Review (with Spoilers)

Topic 1: William Snaps (William, Logan, and Dolores)

After Logan has pushed William to get into Westworld so bad, he finally has. He has fallen for Dolores and when Logan hurts her, but she gets to escape, he tricks Logan into thinking he has returned to normal. Truth is, he is broken beyond repair and after wiping out all of Logan's hosts, he decides to use Logan to help him find Dolores once more.

Commentary

Lack of development. To me, that is the problem with, not the hosts, but the guest. Who are they outside of Westworld, that is the reason why Billy's drastic change makes no sense. We know he worked his way close to a position of power, is to marry Logan's sister and get a say within their company, but what else? He is as barren as a newly born host and it makes it hard to get into his story. Even with the madness of Logan to try to push you to care. For it all feels rather cheap. Let's pair this naïve and almost innocent boy with a madman and watch him be pushed to the point he eclipses his provocateur.

Topic 2: The Truth (Dolores, Bernard, and Ford)

It is revealed Ford made Bernard in Arnold's image and Dolores is the one who killed Bernard. Also, the maze may just be the old offices of Ford and Arnold. Well, at least the entrance may just be that. Oh, and also, Ford has Bernard kill himself for he tires of the fighting and looping, he just wants to get his work done.

Commentary

I'm not going to pretend I wasn't shocked to learn Bernard was made in Arnold's image. But, like with William, there is this feeling that Westworld doesn't know how to build up to things really. At least in terms of emotion. Yeah, it can build up to a violent moment, but it can't stir up your emotions and manipulate them to a point where you are truly shocked. All that is applied are just twists. Twists which don't come off for pure shock value, but when a show pretty much tows the line when it comes to sci-fi storytelling, it makes a handful of twists, sometimes just thrown out there, like Elsie's death, sort of uneventful. You expect them to happen but just don't know what exactly will happen. With that, it is hard to be excited for you are drowning in your own theories vs. getting lost in the story.

For while, as noted in many an episode, it is the actors who make this show more than what it is, and certainly is the sole reason I can fathom for the hype, take that away and what does this show really have? Sex, violence and your usual HBO fare. Nothing of substance really, there is nothing but pure entertaining. In a way, it is like we are the newcomers and they are the host. They may have these finely written backstories, but at the end of the day it all is mechanical and feels so predetermined that you'd have to be of the mindset of William to be fooled into a state of enchantment.

Things to Note | Question(s) Left Unanswered

How are things handled when someone quits or gets fired?

How many members of the board are in the park?

Teddy dies and we learn that MIB, or Mr. Flood, is on the board. Also, he is one of the reasons Ford has been kept in power. Though he is a bit indifferent about his position as park director at this point.

Maeve is still recruiting.

Arnold wanted to release his creations out into the real world.

Elsie was killed by Bernard.

Intemperate Resolution

[theminorityreporter · 8 June 2019]

In this episode the ingénue's abdomen is cut open by a human to demonstrate to another that she is a robot by revealing the mechanical structure inside. She's forcibly held by another man after first being creeped on by a group of men then, pulling her shirt up the man drives the knife into her with a heavy thrust, drawing the knife upwards in a partial evisceration as she screams and gasps, experiencing extreme pain and terror. He then tears her wound apart with his hands to display her inner workings, much to her continued anguish. There's lots of agonizing belly stabbing and tearing against women in this show.

The brothel madam and the outlaw have a 'passionate' sex scene in which they choose to perish in a fire. They evidently mean to be rebuilt and rebel against the establishment, but there's the small problem that they obviously feel pain, and suffering burns is an agonizing experience that they would ultimately be compelled to avoid like anyone else (especially the outlaw, but probably even the madam, whose sensitivity may have already been lowered somewhat so it'll "sting less" (The Adversary)). The madam having kicked over a lamp in the tent they're in, it's also likely to be a 'slow burn' that builds in continual escalation to the point of what should be an intolerable outcome.

When the ingénue comes to the realization that she killed the former cofounder of the park at his behest, it's unsurprising to discover that she committed the violent act and I can't stop noticing that the player is wearing color contacts.

I'm glad I didn't become emotionally involved in the head of the behavior team's sad loss of his son to terminal illness because the entire relationship was false. The resolution of the relationship as a lie is played out in a scene in which he demands full disclosure of his historical data from the founder of the park. Anyone can guess from the start that there's no positive outcome for him; he is forced to suicide by the founder. Suicide is a deeply confounding and emotionally devastating event that ends all worldly experience for the person taking their own life and leaves a seemingly interminably hollow and yet sharply afflicted void in the hearts, minds, and lives of loved ones. The use of it as a dramatic device here to just tie things off tersely and bring a sense of finality to the scene is shallow and expedient, and it's a bad omen for the future.