Who Is The Man In Black | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Who Is The Man In Black

Are there two timelines within the Westworld story?

50
Who Is The Man In Black
Just Jared

For a few weeks now, my boyfriend has been trying to convince me to watch this new show on HBO that his friends drug him into. I refused for quite some time, unwilling to add yet another series to my list of unfinished addictions. However, I sealed my fate with a handshake on Black Friday when I traded a plethora of Victoria Secret merchandise for an agreement to give the series a shot. I was hooked after the second episode and spent the remainder of my Thanksgiving break catching up on all nine episodes currently aired. I say the second episode because the storyline is so complex, it took an entire episode just to set up the plot line. If you have yet to hear about Westworld or aren't yet caught up, stop right now, go to your HBO Now app or HBO On Demand -- or steal a friend's -- and binge watch the entire season before reading the rest of this article. I promise you won't regret it.

Now that we're all caught up, Evan Rachel Wood, the actress who plays Dolores Abernathy has already hinted that the season finale airing next Sunday, December 4, will completely blow our minds. We have a few theories on what might lead to that mind explosion. At this point, I'm going to assume you've already seen every episode, so I'm not going to go into too much detail of the actual storyline. This is your last chance to get acquainted with the show. Any further reading will simply confuse you otherwise.

As we learn more about Westworld in each passing episode, one thing remains constant: the Man in Black (Black) is easily the most interesting character, yet we know nothing about him. He seems to already know where he's going and what he's doing. We feel, as viewers, just as lost and confused as the hosts are, while Black already has everything figured out. It naturally makes us curious about his past relationship with Westworld. However, these remain ever as elusive with each passing episode. We yearn to learn more about his previous engagements in Westworld, but we're given nothing more than his snide remarks to the hosts he encounters. Or are we? My boyfriend and I have a theory that suggests we know much more about Black than one might originally assume.

The basic argument is that Black and William (Billy) are the same person. The story is being told in two separate timelines. Billy's timeline would be thirty years ago while Black's takes place in present day. While there is no hard evidence to prove this theory, there are a lot of subtle clues that suggest the storyline will confirm it in the finale.

Clue 1: Age Difference


As obvious as it sounds, Black and Billy look to be about 30 years apart. Black frequently mentions throughout the series that he has been coming to Westworld for 30 years. Even though this is an obvious clue, it creates the foundation for those to follow.

Clue 2: Maeve

It was mentioned that Maeve has only had the role of a prostitute for about a year. We see Black visiting Maeve before her current build as a prostitute at Mariposa through multiple flashbacks, so the timeline theory would fall apart if Billy ran into Maeve the prostitute. If Billy's timeline is set 30 years in the past, Maeve would not have been programmed as a prostitute at the time.

In fact, there's not a single scene with Billy and Maeve together. Despite his many encounters in Mariposa, the only relevant prostitute we see is Clementine. Typically in the Mariposa scenes, Maeve and Clementine can be found interacting, but when Billy is present, Maeve is nowhere to be found. This suggests Maeve was not a prostitute while Billy was visiting Westworld. She was either somewhere else in the world -- or perhaps not created yet.

Clue 3: Angela

In episode two, Billy meets Angela, played by Talulah Riley, a hostess of sorts that helps dress Billy for his arrival into Westworld. We don't see Angela again until episode eight when Black runs into her in the mountains with Teddy. She's now allied with Wyatt and at first glance appears to be reprogrammed into a different build. IMDB confirms that the hostess and this rebel were played by the same actress. If we follow the "timeline" the show presents this in, only a few days have passed between Angela's role as hostess and rebel. However, things seem a little off when Black mentions, "I thought they would have retired you by now" when he first sees Angela. If she was a perfectly functioning host just a few days ago, as the presented timeline suggests, why would it come to such a surprise that she still loops within Westworld? It's our opinion that Black met her 30 years ago as a hostess when he was Billy and has now run into her again in his quest to find the maze.

One could argue, maybe her role was simply changed in between the two times we saw her. However, it seems improbable that corporate would not only create a brand new role for only one host but also to implement that change right before Ford's new narrative is introduced into Westworld.

Clue 4: The Business Transaction

A conversation between Billy and his soon-to-be brother-in-law, Logan, occurs in episode two where Logan suggests the business they both work for has plans to invest in Westworld. This is a brief conversation that seems to be written to suggest Logan's wealth and seniority within his company, but we think it was intentionally inserted. Most recently in episode nine, we see a conversation between Black and Charlotte where they discuss how Black's investment is what "kept Westworld alive." Is it a coincidence that Billy's company is looking to invest in a struggling Westworld and Black's investment is what saved it? Perhaps, but we believe it further suggests these characters are tied together. We're witnessing the before and after effects of this investment.

Clue 5: Billy's Dark Side

Leading up to episode nine, the biggest case against this theory is the contrasting personalities between Billy and Black. Billy is almost innocent. He's respectful of the hosts and very hesitant to cause harm. Black, on the other hand, is ruthless. He can be seen shooting, stabbing, scalping and even raping hosts. No matter how much evidence you present supporting two separate timelines, it's hard to ignore how different Billy and Black are. This changes in episode nine. We witness Logan push Billy to the edge, causing him to dismember every host around him. We can see a distinct personality change as he speaks with Logan. A personality that resembles a much younger Black.

While there's no direct evidence that completely sells the theory that Billy and Black are the same person, there's still enough there to make you think twice about it. At least, it made two binge-watching fans pick the show apart for a week.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

189328
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14368
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457447
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26402
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments