Below, Joy takes some of our burning questions about the episode.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: The story of James Delos (Peter Mullan)was such a horrifying and mesmerizing tale.
And the big founder, patriarch, and mogul, James Delos, its his bid for immortality.
Credit: John P. Johnson/HBO
Youve seen the hosts in their loops before, and the humans are always in control.
And somebody like James Delos is used to calling all the shots.
They were playing the constant to James Delos as the variable in an experiment.
I asked both actors to do a rehearsal where Jimmi and Ed would see what was happening.
I couldnt be more grateful to both actors.
Its like he has this nervous tic.
His body is doing these tiny revolts.
Theyre mechanical but read as psychological, something that seems like a neurological condition.
Its what the hosts had to reckon with all first season.
Hes one of the villains, but you cant help but pity him.
which is what Angela asked him in season 1.
Thats basically the central question of the whole show, right?Yes, right.
And to have it mimicked back to them.
Its something were grappling with, this question, along with the nature of good and evil.
Then in the end, it seemed clear you were going for a metaphor of him being in hell.
Youre starting with him lighting a cigarette and the Rolling Stones song Play With Fire.
He talks about devils and angels.
I wanted to ask: Can you have sympathy for the devil?
You see two elemental forces in this episode.
And then you see fire.
One last thing: I think the railway tie scene might disturb a few viewers.
It seems like youre doing a macabre revenge twist on Chinese railway worker exploitation.
America is built on the labors of the oppressed.
For more, seeour deep-dive recapof The Riddle of the Sphinx.
