‘Westworld’ stars mull complex finale

Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright just go with the flow

Ed Harris doesn’t know what that mysterious “Westworld” finale postcredits scene means for the Man in Black/William, but he knows when it takes place, providing an intriguing clue for Season 3.

“It’s way into the future, so the Man in Black (is) deceased. He couldn’t live that long,” Harris says of the surprise sequence, which adds more questions to the many raised in the 90 minutes that preceded it.

The future time frame means Emily, who approaches him as he enters the wreckage of The Forge, isn’t human, either. But Harris doesn’t know what they are, or where the scene will lead.

“Whether he’s a host or some other being, I wouldn’t know,” Harris says of his character, the majority owner of the Westworld theme park who is distraught at the damage its technology has caused. “I have absolutely no clue where they’re headed with this.”

That’s one point upon which Harris and Jeffrey Wright, who plays Bernard, agree. Each man focused on his own character’s story to anchor his understanding of a complex show that has become even more challenging for viewers.

“Well, no kidding,” Harris says when asked about the show’s intricacy. “I have an understanding of what my character’s doing. (Then) I just watch on Sundays. There’s a lot I don’t totally understand, but it’s still really enjoyable.”

(Executive producers Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy declined an interview request to elaborate on the finale.)

Wright had a demanding task in sorting out Bernard’s presence in different timelines and with “de-addressed” (or disconnected) memories. He did that to prevent park managers and security forces from harvesting his mind for information against the robot hosts.

In the episode, the characters finally meet, as they seek to shut down The Forge, the secret storage area for copies of park guests’ minds.

However, as Season 2 ended, William and Bernard were in much different places. William seems trapped in the fantasy world he controlled; Bernard is free in the real world and appears ready to make his own choices.

Harris applauds viewers who immerse themselves in “Westworld,” but advises others to go along for the ride.

“My mother watches and doesn’t have any clue what’s going on, but she enjoys seeing her son, so there you go.”

HBO “I have absolutely no clue where they’re headed with this,” says Ed Harris of “Westworld.”