Simon Quarterman’s “Westworld” character never expected the computer-programmed hosts to achieve a kind of consciousness, let alone that one would hold him captive. But that’s exactly where we find Delos story creator Lee Sizemore at the beginning of Season 2.
“He’s found himself kind of an unwilling hostage of Maeve’s,” Quarterman told TheWrap of his conflict with Thandie Newton’s character ahead of the Season 2 premiere. “Maeve is off to search for her daughter, so I’m kind of there to help.”
It all makes sense — since Sizemore writes the narratives for hosts in the park, he probably knows what’s going on with Maeve’s daughter, or at least which storyline of which she’s a part.
Sizemore is getting a taste of his own medicine on his adventure with Maeve — who looks to be using him as a prop for her end game, instead of the other way around.
“Lee’s always seen these hosts as just being props to his stories,” Quarterman said. And Sizemore’s biggest concern in Season 1 centered around the hosts being made “almost too human.”
Now, Sizemore might be getting a lesson in empathy, as he’s finding himself at the center of one of his own storylines.
“He really is in the most uncomfortable position he could possibly be in,” Quarterman said. “He finds himself thrust into playing a round of his own game.”
Quarterman was careful not to give away any spoilers, but said that the universe of “Westworld” is going to open up in Season 2.
“I suppose you’re going to gain a little more information about the kind of nuts and bolts of the place, in Delos and things like that,” said the 40-year-old actor. “So you get to see maybe more interaction from the outside world, perhaps.”
Quarterman added that the cast would theorize with one another while waiting in makeup, but he didn’t do too well on guessing the second season’s outcome.
“You kind of get an inkling, and you go ‘oh, I think it’s going to go this way,’ and then you spend half the season thinking that you’ve got it right and then, you just…” Quarterman shook his head, signaling defeat.
Watch the full interview with Quarterman above, and work on your own theories when “Westworld” comes back online Sunday, April 22 on HBO.