Westworld Season 2: The Best Bernard Theories

Is Bernard a host or a human or something else? After a season and half of Westworld, there is one pivotal character that appears to be the key to understanding the mysteries of the show; Bernard Lowe is the little piece of a much larger puzzle. But how?

Season 1's shocking twist was that Bernard was actually a host replica of Park creator Arnold. Now, as Westworld Season 2 approaches its mid-season episode, Bernard continues to play a central role in understanding how we perceive reality as he shifts through different timelines.

Showrunners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy know their fans love dissecting every single scene, something they've really steered into with Bernard in Season 2. Ever since he woke up on the beach in the first scene in Season 2, his confusion (along with the audiences) has been central to understanding how the timelines connect. Eagle-eyed fans are examining every move Bernard makes and conjuring their own theories about who or what he is. So let's take a look at some of the best theories surrounding Bernard (or is he Arnold)?

This Page: Is Bernard Really A Host?
Page 2: Is Bernard's Son (Or Daughter) The Key?

Bernard Is Actually A Clone

Westworld Season 2 Trailer - Charlotte with Bernards

Even though Westworld Season 1 seemed to resolve Bernard's nature, a lot of Season 2 has thrown that for a loop, with a popular theory being that we're dealing with multiple Bernards. This idea stems from the two main timelines in Westworld Season 2: Present Day and Two Weeks Ago. An easy way to decipher which Bernard is in which timeline is by looking at his suits; Present Bernard is wearing a grey suit, while Past Bernard is wearing a dark suit. However, it's been suggested that the Bernard hanging out with Charlotte Hale in the past is actually a clone.

This idea actually predates Season 2's premiere. In one of the trailers, there's a shot of Charlotte standing in front of three different versions of Bernard, as well as a mechanical host with the creepy mouth that looks just like Bernard implying that Ford was working on a host during the time before the current park opened.

Now that the show's out, the plot has thickened. We've learned that not only was Delos interested in creating robots, they wanted to manufacture clones. Each clone would carry the memories from the previous clone. An example of this happening may have occurred during the cave scene where Bernard finds Elsie he starts to have memories of finding the hidden lab and creating a new host, but are these memories his?

Bernard Is Evolving Into Arnold

Whose consciousness is in the red ball is sparking several theories. Some fans believe it holds the mind for young William, while others think it signifies that Robert Ford is coming back to the park. But some fans are pointing towards Bernard, suggesting he is actually evolving into Arnold. This could explain why he's been glitching very much like James Delos, and why some of his memories come back after Elsie and Bernard find Delos still alive in the fishbowl room where the Man in Black left him to suffer.

What this implies is that when Bernard is found on the beach, it's really Arnold Weber with a brand new body. This not only explains his complete disorientation, but also a key aesthetic change: future Bernard has no scar on his temple. The Bernard two weeks prior has the wound where he shot himself in the head in Season 1, whereas the one on the beach does not.

Of course, the question is why Ford would do this to Arnold? What is his motivation to bring back his oldest friend? As interesting as this theory sounds, it doesn't coincide with Ford's love of the past.

Page 2 of 2: Is Bernard's Son (Or Daughter) The Key?

Is Charlotte Really Charlie?

One of the most intriguing theories concerning Bernard goes back to Westworld Season 1. It revolves around his "cornerstone", which is the death of his son Charlie. Ford created this memory as an homage to his friend Arnold's own tragedy. The death of Charlie played an important role in defining and anchoring Bernard's reality - at least, the reality where he believes that he walking around as the human Bernard Lowe. But Charlie only appears briefly in a handful of episodes, and not much is revealed about his history. Already, there is this element of mystery behind the life and death of Bernard's son.

It's the introduction of Charlotte Hale that kicks this theory into high gear. Since this is a show about identity and reality, some fans questioned if Charlotte Hale is really Charlie - Arnold's daughter - as an adult. Initially, the theory was mainly powered by "Charlie" being a common nickname for Charlotte, but Season 2 has deepened things. When Grace is revealed to be the Man in Black's daughter Emily during “Riddle of the Sphinx”, it's clear parental lines are a key thematic area.

Did Bernard Make A New Charlie?

In "The Riddle of The Sphinx", Bernard has a memory that he printed another body and made another red sphere. The red sphere contains the conscious of some mysterious person. Following on from Charlie as a focal point, what if the new body and mind are for Charlie?

One of the recurring themes of this season are parents reuniting with their parents: Maeve is on a quest to find her daughter; Dolores found Peter Abernathy; and the Man in Black has reunited with his daughter Emily. It thus wouldn't be out of the question that this red sphere is a way for Bernard to get his son back. Season 2 is all about Delos looking for a way to become immortal. What if Ford figured out how to solve the Cognitive Plateau that caused James Delos to malfunction 149 times and wants to give back to Bernard for all of his help around the park?

Throughout Season 1, Charlie's background tied into several meanings behind the designs and programs of the hosts: his favorite song was "Reverie" from Claude Debussy and his favorite toy was the ball in the maze. Ford spoke about famous artists live on through their works, and children are a way for parents to continue their legacies. Whatever happens, Charlie looks to be the key.