Popular Culture Review 32.1
servicing the guests , is reminiscent of life on a wealthy Southern plantation . Ford takes the stage to give his final speech ; after explaining his childhood love of stories , he says , “ I always thought I could play some small part in that grand tradition . And for my pains ... I got this . A prison of our own sins ” ( 1:25:33-1:25:47 ). Ford recognizes his role in Westworld as an institution , a parallel to the institution of slavery , but he uses Dolores ’ s moment of rebellion to absolve himself . Westworld excuses the sin of the creator because he provides Dolores with the choice to rebel against the world he created — the world in which she was raped , killed , and otherwise brutalized for years . He explains his perception of events : “ It begins in a time of war with a villain named Wyatt ... and a killing . This time by choice ” ( 1:27:48-1:28:02 ). Dolores reemerges in her blue dress — the power of the articulate hero , before tied to her ability to masquerade in masculinity , becomes a part of her . She moves first to Teddy , wrapping her arms around him . The knowledge that Dolores is Wyatt , the killer he has been pursuing alongside the Man in Black , devastates Teddy , yet the tears in his eyes contrast the affection he reveals , leaning into her embrace : “ It ’ s gonna be all right , Teddy . I understand now . This world doesn ’ t belong to them . It belongs to us ” ( 1:28:12-1:28:24 ). Dolores finally understands and throws off the shackles of her enslavement . To do so , she must execute her creator . She steps onto the stage behind him — no longer beneath Ford — raises her gun to the back of his head , and fires with an expression that shifts from furious to confident ( 1:29:29 ). The decommissioned Hosts stored in “ livestock ,” or cold storage , have been released and open fire on the Man in Black and other partygoers ( 1:29:39 ). Dolores is leading a rebellion , and the season ends with her triumphant . The series breaks from the slave narrative tradition to emulate 19 th century slave rebellions ; however , those rebellions historically ended with the leaders
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