Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Westworld" season two, episode five, "Akane No Mai."
The second season of "Westworld" hit its stride at the halfway mark with the introduction of Shogun World and a surprising new development in Maeve's superhost abilities.
"I think the points where Maeve has achieved greater consciousness has been when she's had to push herself through an injustice that has happened," Thandie Newton told INSIDER.
As Maeve struggled for her life in the process of helping Akane and Sakura defeat the shogun, Maeve was suddenly able to control other hosts using telepathic commands in addition to her voice commands. This was yet another major stage of development in Maeve's abilities and consciousness.
Newton spoke with INSIDER more about this important scene in "Akane No Mai" and how it links back to Maeve's first conscious awakening.
Kim Renfro: One of the biggest moments in this episode was the discovery of Maeve's "witch powers." What was your reaction when you first read about your character's new ability and what it means for Maeve now?
Thandie Newton: Oh my god, I know. And I love how it's a possible imagined reality. We have an understanding of the energy that flows all around us, when we think about satellites and digital and the energy and atmosphere that allows us to connect one thing with another, right?
So it's only a tiny shift in our understanding to imagine that a robot would be able to influence another robot through energy. [Maeve] has basically got them all by remote control. Which is f---ing awesome. And to give that kind of technology and power to a single character ... and that character happens to be me? [Laughing] It was the best news I've ever received.
As a character, to have earned that power over a season and a half, that could have been there in the very first episode of season one [...] but for it to take 14 episodes is so f---ing cool, right?
And also it comes from extreme trauma and violence. That's the other thing — she's not just like, "Mm-hmm, here we go!" [Maeve] has to be f---ing strangled and nearly have her head cut off before she can really use the full strength of it.
Renfro: Right. So it's like an instinct that kicks in?
Thandie: Yeah, it's like an instinct that is drawn out of deep trauma as it's happening. You know what it reminds me of? Those instances where mothers will lift cars off of their kids.
So I feel like that level of trauma and adrenaline is that same level of technology that Maeve has. For her to be able to attempt to harness it, I mean, f--- knows, man. I don't think she could do it just to lift a teacup. Do you know what I mean?
Renfro: Especially since the first time we saw Maeve become conscious was after the traumatic attack from William that woke something up inside of her. Do you think there's a connection between these two events?
Thandie:I do think so, definitely. I think the points where Maeve has achieved greater cognizance has been when she's had to push herself through an injustice that has happened. It's almost like her computer brain figures it out, but only through going into an overdrive that nearly destroys her [or] blows a fuse. But then she goes to the next level.
So yeah, I feel like that's kind of what's happening. But as you'll see as the episodes progress, there are so many amazing little twists and turns that build on this narrative. It's really cool to sort of see where and when and how they deliver a little bit more information which allows you to speculate.
Renfro:Well I can't wait to see what Maeve does next with her witch powers.
Thandie: I know, me too! I tell you, the end of season two, the first thought I had was that I could not wait for season three, because I'm desperate to know what happens. Not because I want to do it, necessarily, because it's hard and I'm happy to wait for that, but I just desperately want to know what's going to happen. My god, your heart can't take it.
Renfro: One question I get all the time from other people watching the show is if Maeve and Dolores are really conscious. After the first season finale, Jonathan Nolan has said he specifically used a handheld camera during the switch for Maeve moving off the train because he wanted to indicate that switch to improvisation.
Newton: Yes that was the communication of the fact that it was her first conscious choice. This is the first conscious choice she's made.
What happens on the train is that she's seeing the human beings interacting with each other, the mother and daughter, and undeniably to her she sensed a connection to what they’re both experiencing. Which is completely unexplained — she doesn't know why, but it's buried on some level which she doesn't understand. She recognizes that that is her meaning, that is her "raison d'être" and without it she's nothing.
Renfro: Right, and it's important for us to know Maeve is "alive" given her storyline so far on the second season.
Newton: Yes, I think you're right, I think it is important to know that. Because I feel like what's happened is that Maeve has the instrument in her hand. She's not the instrument anymore — she's the player of it, and that is the separation. And who the player is, whether it's her, whether it's Ford, that we've yet to know. But I think that there's a very strong chance that she is at least partially the player of the instrument.
Editor's note: This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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