In that vein, we have examined the new title holders, which you can view below. If you want to take a look for yourself, here they are one more time… The new Westworld Season 2 opening credits sequence features less clues than it subtle alterations that indicate a symbolic and significant change of focus. For instance, both the season 1 and season 2 promo begin with the tracking of musculature on a synthetic beast kept in Ford’s park. However, in the first season it is the subservient and domesticated horse whereas in season 2 it is a bison/buffalo, a creature that roamed free until it was hunted to extinction. Now in a strained metaphor, the buffalo could either be important because it represents the untamed hosts led by Dolores’ bloody revolution, or they can signify the humans who are about to go the way of the buffalo when faced with a superior hunting force from Ford’s robotic progeny. Other changes include the more straightforward removal of a man and woman, one human and one an unwitting, sex slave android, to something more hopeful. Rather than emphasizing the titillation and exploitative aspects of the Westworld park (or television series), it signifies a hope for the future from a new species as a robotic woman holds what appears to be a newborn babe close. This is likely in reference to Thandie Newton’s Maeve, who despite knowing that her love for a daughter at least began as an artificial “narrative” placed in her programming, that affection and concern for the smaller robot is real. So much so that she’ll risk her life and freedom to find her. This might prove more powerful than Dolores’ fire and fury, as it hints of a tomorrow and future where robots live for more than revenge against their vain overlords.
Also in the final contrast with the season 1 intro, whereas the robot being built is dunked into the milky white substance that helps graft on the texture which will help replicate human skin, in the season 2 intro, the Dolores-esque model is rising above the backlight into the air. It is no longer meant to be a product soaking in our desires; it is rising above us. To replace us. At least that’s our takeaway from the new intro. What is yours?
