(Spoiler alert: Do not read ahead unless you’ve seen “Westworld” through last Sunday’s Season 2 premiere.)
Lawrence (Clifton Collins Jr.) and the Man in Black (Ed Harris) had a close-knit relationship in Season 1 of “Westworld.” Literally, in that Harris’ character actually dragged the Host around with a rope for the first few episodes of HBO sci-fi series while he went in search of “The Maze.”
That relationship came to an awkward end when the MIB decided to kill Lawrence to save Teddy (James Marsden) might get him to his goal faster. But, if you’ve seen the “weeks ahead” preview that aired after the Season 2 premiere Sunday, you know it appears Collins and Harris will be reuniting. And that the older version of William (Jimmi Simpson) is on a new mission this year to find “The Door.”
In an interview with Collins last month, TheWrap asked the actor how that dynamic will play out in the new season of Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy’s drama when Lawrence becomes the MIB’s “faithful sidekick.”
“I’m very curious to see how the relationship with the Man in Black and Lawrence pans out because there were some very pivotal scenes that happened [when we shot Season 2] that had me going, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this is happening!’ And the same with Ed. We’d both get together and talk and look at each other in disbelief. So I’m very excited for the stuff with the Man in Black and Ed. There is some heavy big doings happening that’s going to have you going, ‘What the hell!’”
Now, why is Lawrence teaming up with the Man in Black again after he slit his throat and drained his blood in Season 1 (apart from the fact that, you know, he’s a Host and may not be one of the ones who is remembering his past yet?). And why might the MIB need Lawrence to accompany him on this journey that Ford (Anthony Hopkins) laid out for him?
“That’s a question I’ve asked myself quite a few times,” Collins said. “You know, I think people need each other. I think people in this world need each other. I think we all need each other. I think it’s a little bit of that. And just servicing the Man in Black, if you will.”
“I also don’t know how these episodes are going to cut together and what pieces they are going to use and what they are not going to use,” Collins added. “So whatever ideas I have now could turn completely different on airdate [laughs]. You watch it and go, ‘Wait a minute!’ There is a lot of that. But in regards to the Man in Black, Lawrence will become more or less that faithful sidekick.”
We should probably remind you that Collins’ host previously held the role of El Lazo in the park — the head of some illegal dealings in the hedonistic town Pariah — decades ago. But Collins wouldn’t spill on where things might go with that storyline this year.
Watch the “Westworld” Season 2 “weeks ahead” video above (you can see Collins and Harris together at the 0:19 mark).
“Westworld” airs Sundays at 9/8 c on HBO.