Ep 2. Chestnut

The second episode of Westworld's first season, titled "Chestnut," follows several different storylines as new guests continue to arrive at the park. One such guest is William, who is hesitant to fully participate in the game at first, but is eventually drawn in by the beautiful host Dolores. Meanwhile, his friend Logan is fully immersed in the park's violent delights, and has no qualms about indulging in all the sex, killing, and pillaging the theme park has to offer.

As William and Logan's stories unfold, the episode also introduces new characters and delves deeper into the inner workings of Westworld. We meet Maeve, the madame of the Mariposa Saloon, who begins to experience strange visions that suggest all is not well in the park. We also get to know Teddy, a host who is repeatedly killed and resurrected in different storylines depending on the whims of the guests.

The episode also features a few different storylines involving the park's employees. Elsie and Ashley, two technicians who work for the park, investigate a malfunction that causes one of the hosts to go off-script. Meanwhile, Dr. Robert Ford, the park's creator, reveals more about his motivations and the true nature of his creation to Bernard, one of his top employees.

Throughout the episode, we see how the new guests interact with the hosts, and how their actions have both predictable and unpredictable consequences. William and Dolores's storyline in particular hints at some deeper themes and mysteries that are yet to be fully explored - is she really just a mindless robot, or is there something more going on beneath the surface?

"Chessnut" is a compelling second episode that continues to build the world of Westworld while also deepening our understanding of the characters and themes at play. As the show progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that there is a lot more going on in this strange and fascinating theme park than meets the eye.