‘Westworld’ Season 3 Premiere ‘Parce Domine’ Review: Outside the Park

Westworld gets a complete makeover at the start of its third season. With the Delos Park shut down after the murders, the focus shifts on the world outside it. Since there is a limited amount of hosts around, a host revolution remains in the works. Here we get a glimpse of what reality is like and how society works. Not every host is as mindless as they were back in the day. Similarly, not every human is as evil as the ones that went to Delos Parks.

On Sunday’s season premiere of Westworld, Dolores Abernathy (Evan Rachel Wood) and Charlotte Hale (Tessa Thompson) now disguise themselves in the real world. As Charlotte runs what remains of Delos, Dolores sets her plan in motion. Meanwhile, Bernard Lowe (Jeffrey Wright) keeps a low profile, framed for the Delos Westworld Park Murders. Amid this, Caleb Nichols (Aaron Paul) gives a new perspective of the world ran by algorithms.

The Facade

HBO

Whatever Dolores’ plan is, Charlotte is for sure an accomplice. Her status as the current person in charge of Delos comes with access to the company’s resources. However, it is not time to reveal themselves just yet. Also, we are not so sure about what to expect from this Charlotte. Since she is a host, she is completely different from her deceased human counterpart. This Charlotte seems ruthless as her take on the Delos Westworld Park Murder is nothing more than a minor incident. As the production of hosts resumes, she will be in charge, too. Likely, these new hosts will be the backbone of her and Dolores’ army.

Vigilanteism

HBO

This time, Dolores operates alone. Her ruthlessness and capabilities have its fair share of airtime during the cold open where she takes down yet another Delos investor. Most of the episode previews how she adjusted to life outside the Delos Westworld Park, and she adjusted quite well. Her skills and wit managed to have her fool Liam Dempsey Jr. (John Gallagher Jr.), current puppet CEO of Delos’ rival company, Incite. Incite has resources that Dolores could use, notably a project called Rehoboam. It is an algorithm that computes the best paths for anyone who avails of the program. However, Liam was not her main target; his bodyguard, Martin Connells (Tommy Flannagan), who is of better use to her is the real target.

It does seem like Dolores’ plan is to use the humans’ technology against them. Now that she has a mole (she has a replicated host version of Connells) in Incite and Charlotte in Delos, she will have control over two major tech companies. She could use both the Delos Hosts and the Rehoboam project to wreak havoc and bring about their ‘new species.’ Still, she will need help– and this help comes in the form of Caleb who quite literally catches her in his arms.

Someone Real

HBO

Unlike the other main characters, Caleb is a real human being. The show writes his character as similar to season 1 hosts alongside the contrast of him being a human. After his army buddy, Francis (Kid Cudi) died, Caleb lived life on a loop and relied on technology much like everyone else. His turning point, however, is when he unsubscribes from a simulator that mimics his fallen friend. For sure, Caleb’s involvement with Dolores would change her perception about humans as he is different compared to the ones Dolores knew. Caleb represents the working class, the people who do not afford to go to Delos Destinations. Still, their common dislike for the elite makes them a dangerous duo as Caleb is no stranger to committing crimes; a skill Dolores will find handy.

Out of the Loop

HBO

While Dolores and Charlotte are off sowing the seeds of the next Host Revolution, Bernard is hiding somewhere in an Industrial Meat Processing Plant. Now going by the name Armand Delgado, Bernard spent his days keeping a low profile until some plant workers figure out his true identity. With his face all over the news, his fake identity and his new haircut become insufficient as two plant workers attempt to subdue him for presumably reward money. What is strange about Bernard, however, is how he managed to program his aggressive self to activate and deactivate with the press of a button. Also, the man/host needs help as he interrogates himself in an attempt to find Dolores. So far, the best (and possibly only) decision he makes is to seek out yet another host posing as a human, Ashley Stubbs (Luke Hemsworth).

War World

HBO

Another key character that appears seemingly missing is Maeve Millay (Thandie Newton). In the season 2 finale, Maeve dies saving those she loved, escaping into The Valley Beyond. Delos likely repurposed all of the hosts that died in that showdown as Maeve finds herself in War World, a different Delos Park set during the World War II Era. Her survival means that the rest of her friends, Hector Escaton (Rodrigo Santoro), Armistice (Ingrid Bolsø Berdal), and Hanaryo (Tao Okamoto) are likely alive, too. How she makes her way out of this park and whether or not she retained her abilities is the question.

‘Westworld’ Season 3 Premiere ‘Parce Domine’ Final Verdict

Westworld begins with a clean slate in terms of world-building alongside new characters. This first episode is not as hard to follow as any of the previous seasons’. Also, the differences in the main characters’ developments are not unreasonable; they still retain aspects of their characters since the beginning. Still, this new direction that Westworld takes gives it a completely new vibe, almost like it is a new show until one notices subtle callbacks and references to the show’s previous seasons. As an introductory episode, this chapter did well in establishing the new journeys the hosts will take.

Westworld continues Sunday, March 22nd with ‘The Winter Line’ at 6/7c on HBO.