6) Arnold’s Suicide
In earlier episodes, Arnold was painted by Ford as this mad scientist type who died when his crazy scheme to make the hosts more human failed. We find out in the finale, though, that this is far from true. Arnold is simply the more compassionate of the two Westworld founders, driven to extreme measures by his moral outrage and quasi-parental love.
When he realizes that Dolores – his surrogate child, after the death of his son – is gaining sentience, Arnold campaigns to get Ford to shut down the park. When he fails, he’s so overcome with grief that he’s convinced the only way is to take out all the hosts and himself from the equation. Arnold uploads the “Wyatt narrative” into Dolores and orders her to massacre her hosts – and finally kill him. He does not see it as death, only a way for him to see his son once again.
As this show is fond to do, this scene lets us see the true version of some event that the series has previously made us perceive differently. It also acts as further evidence that Ford is the true villain of the piece. At least, it appears that way.