The Reference To Greek Mythology You Missed In Westworld
"Westworld" traffics heavily in Easter eggs, obscure historical references, and secret meanings. Based on the 1973 science-fiction film of the same name, the series takes place in a futuristic world where rich "guests" are given the opportunity to travel to expansive theme parks filled with lifelike androids called "hosts." Helmed by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, "Westworld" charts the epic human vs. android conflict that plays out after the world's theme park "hosts" begin to rebel against their human creators and tormentors. It boasts a wide ensemble cast led by Evan Rachel Wood, Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Thandiwe Newton, Tessa Thompson, and Luke Hemsworth.
Over the course of its first three seasons, the HBO drama has repeatedly played around with time and identity in unexpected and mind-bending ways too. As a result, fans of the series have had to get very good at sniffing out and catching the various different references and clues scattered throughout nearly every episode of "Westworld." But even the most die-hard fans of the sci-fi epic may have missed the secret meaning of one important "Westworld" family's name.
How Delos' historical origins tie back into Westworld's themes and story
"Westworld" Season 2 explores the origin of the show's titular park even more deeply than its first season did. Indeed, the series' second season spends a considerable portion of its runtime revealing the backstory and secret motivations of Delos Incorporated, the company that finances and runs all of the show's various theme parks.
After introducing viewers to Delos founder, James Delos (Peter Mullan), the series reveals that the company ultimately decided to invest in Westworld so that it could learn how to use the park's android technology to upload a real person's consciousness into an android body. James, who was dying of an unknown disease, saw the technology as a way to evade his mortal doom and achieve possible immortality. That reveal is compelling in and of itself, but takes on an even deeper meaning upon learning the story of the location that the Delos name is a reference to.
While the HBO series uses Delos as the name of the family and corporation behind "Westworld," Delos also refers to a Greek island. It's the island where the greek gods Artemis and Apollo were said to have been born, and interestingly, is also the location where it was once made illegal for humans to die (via The Guardian). In other words, Delos isn't just the name of a man who tried to avoid death in "Westworld," but also an island where it's said that society once sought to eliminate the presence of death altogether.