![Ed Harris and James Marsden of 'Westworld 2.' - [Gage Skidmore via Flickr]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/4/6/660x290/b_502x220x82/ed-harris-james-marsden-of-westworld-2-gage-skidmore-via-flickr_1924911.jpg "Ed Harris and James Marsden of 'Westworld 2.' - [Gage Skidmore via Flickr]")
Season 1 of "Westworld" absolutely captured the imagination of the audience. A world where you are free to leave your morals at the door and you are safe to act out your fantasies among the hosts. But are you? In Season 1 of the TV Series, we saw the hosts beginning to develop free will. They began to understand who or what they are. There were epic plot twists and gripping scenes that kept audiences wanting more. Season 2 of "Westworld" will premiere in a matter of weeks, and fans are understandably excited. Season 1 left many unanswered questions.
Will Season 2 address these?
Is D.r Ford dead?
In an interview with the Independent, "Westworld's" executive producer, Jonathan Nolan, warned fans to "assume nothing" in regard to Dr. Robert Ford. We saw Ford, played by Anthony Hopkins, shot by Dolores in the back of the head at the end of Season 1. You could assume he was dead from this scene. Fan theories suggest that it could have simply been a host version of Ford that was shot. Or the theory goes the other way in that it was the real version of Ford shot dead, but we'll have a host version in Season 2. According to the Independent, we are going to see flashbacks of a younger Ford in Season 2 of "Westworld." Apparently, this character will be played by a new actor.
In Season 1, CGI was used to create Ford's younger self.
The transformation of William to the man in black
Theories were confirmed to be true that William was in fact "the man in black" during Season 1 of "Westworld." It was a plot twist that equally thrilled and frustrated the audience. How did the kind William become the bitter man in black?
Serious hints were dropped, during Nolan's interview with the Independent, that Season 2 of "Westworld" is going to answer more questions about this transition. Ed Harris is returning as the man in black in the TV series.
How did Barnes get off that horse?
William's brother-in-law, Ben Barnes, was last seen riding into the distance naked, bound with rope, on horseback.
A very fitting end for his character. Barnes then featured in the "Westworld" Season 2 trailer. This may have been flashbacks, or Season 2 may show how he managed to get out of the naked situation and attempt to recover his reputation back in the real world.
Are Elsie and Ashley alive?
It is thought that Delos employees Elsie Hughes (Shannon Woodward) and Ashley Stubbs (Luke Hemsworth) are still alive and are within the park following the interview with Nolan in the Independent. In Season 1 of "Westworld," we saw Bernard, who we found out was actually a host, strangling Elsie. It appears she possibly didn't meet her end and may appear in Season 2.
Twist after twist
The plot twist with Maeve (Thandie Newton) was a gripping turn of events in Season 1.
She was about to leave the park for good, only for it to emerge that this was actually a storyline that had been written for her. Collective gasps. She then managed to go against this storyline by going in search of her daughter and stepping off that train. This is actually the first real decision she's made, despite us thinking she had been acting with free will all along in Season 1. Trailer footage suggests she'll not only be part of "Westworld," but also enter Shogun World in Season 2.
Introduction of Shogun World
“For those for whom "Westworld" is not enough, the true connoisseur of gore can indulge their fantasies with the slash of a katana,” The Delos website description reads. “Modeled after Japan’s Edo period, Shogun World offers a chance for guests to embrace their inner warrior, in a landscape of highest beauty and darkest horror.
Let your true self-take shape in the land where self-discovery is an art form.”
This could actually be only one of six new Delos Incorporated-owned parks that are set to feature. There was a binary code in the "Westworld" Season 2 trailer which premiered during the Super Bowl. Fans decoded this and were taken to the Delos website (an official tie in to "Westworld") and revealed there are six parks. During Nolan's interview with the Independent, he ruled out featuring Roman World and Medieval World, which both featured in the original "Westworld" film from 1973.
Where is 'Westworld?'
Is it located on an island? This was hinted at by Maeve's goal of inland infiltration. Some fans of the TV series have speculated it's actually on another planet.
The ultimate plot twist?
What if the host's uprising within "Westworld" isn't actually them making their own decisions? This could be the ultimate plot twist. The hosts could have been programmed all along to rise against Delos, possibly by Dr. Ford.
What to expect from Season 2?
Expect to see roles reversed in "Westworld" Season 2, where humans no longer have control over the park. The hosts have the ability to choose who they want to be. The humans are dealing with the loss of control and figuring out where their alliances lie. It is expected that the pace of the TV series will be very different to Season 1, but with familiar aspects of continuity.
Season 2 premieres Sunday, April 22 at 9 PM on HBO in the US and April 23 exclusively on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW TV at 2 AM, repeated at 9 PM on the same day.
