Westworld season 2 has a lot of questions to answer after season 1’s mind-bending finale. Even before that episode, though, there was one plot thread from the sci-fi show’s debut season that was weirdly left dangling. Just what happened to Westworld employees Hughes and Stubbs?
Programmer Elsie Hughes was last seen in episode 6 when she was attacked by some mysterious figure. It was later revealed that this was Bernard, with it being implied that he’d also murdered her. Later, in episode 9, Head of Security Ashley Stubbs went to investigate Elsie’s disappearance and was bombarded by Hosts. Again, we were left to assume that he was killed by them but, in both cases, nothing was confirmed.
While dishing out some illuminating details to EW, Westworld showrunners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy have now revealed that both Elsie and Ashley are indeed alive. However, they’re trapped within the Westworld park which, as we saw in the season finale, is under the control of the liberated Hosts.
“Smart-ass programmer Hughes vanished near the end of season 1, while wary security chief Stubbs was captured by a tribe of Native American hosts when he went looking for her. Both are alive, but not exactly doing so hot. “They’re finally getting to experience Westworld as guests and not in the managerial halls, but I’m not sure they’re enjoying their experience,” Joy says dryly.”
EW’s piece is a must-read for Westworld fans, as it hints at what just about all of the show’s main characters will get up to in the new run. For instance, it mentions that Jimmi Simpson will be back as William AKA the younger Man in Black and, though Anthony Hopkins’ character is 100% dead, park founder Robert Ford will return via flashbacks – but played by a different actor.
Westworld will return to HBO with its second season premiere, “Journey into Night,” on April 22nd. The only question now, is, will you be tuning in?