Nine episodes into Westworld season one and it should be clear to even the least attentive viewer that we are seeing more than one time period cut together. And those of you who have fallen down the rabbit hole of Westworld theories have a much clearer understanding of the chronology of everything we’ve seen thus far, but being a Nolan-produced series, its all a bit complicated. Thankfully someone has put together an extensive chronological timeline to help us understand the when and where of it all. Hit the jump to jump into the Westworld timeline.

Warning: Before we get to the Westworld Chronological timeline, we must first explain to you that this takes into consideration the widely considered as true multiple time period theory. If you don’t want to know about this theory, I suggest you turn back now.

About The Westworld Timeline

For those of you who have not read the multiple time period theory, I will briefly explain. The theory suggests that the events we see with William and Logan’s adventure with Dolores are taking place some thirty-odd years in the past, while the events of The Man In Black and Teddy are taking place thirty years later, with William becoming The Man in Black.

Of course, we’ve also seen moments with Bernard talking to Dolores in an underground laboratory which is actually Ford’s old partner Arnold talking to Dolores 30-something years ago, before the park opened and before Arnold was killed.

As I said, with all of these multiple time periods being presented to us simultaneously, it can get rather complicated. Thankfully @IamAbernathy has compiled an extensive Westworld chronological timeline which we’ve been given permission to reprint the complete timeline below. Also @draupp was able to give us the authorization to print his fantastic Westworld timeline infographic chart seen above.

Time Period 1: 30-37 Years Prior to Current Events

The Glorious Early Days (34-37 years ago)

“For three years, we lived here in the park, refining the hosts before a single guest set foot inside. Myself, a team of engineers, and my partner. His name was Arnold. Those early years were glorious. No guests, no board meetings, just pure creation. Our hosts began to pass the Turing test after the first year” (Ford, episode 3).

According to Bernard, Arnold wrote half the code the park was founded on 40 years ago, but this is the first period that we know of in Westworld; this was at the beginning when Ford, Arnold, and their team worked on refining the hosts and making them pass the Turing test.

We can make an estimate about when this three-year period took place. We know that Arnold died 34 years and 42 days before current events, we know that he died right before the park opened, and we are aware that he and Ford spent three years working in the park before it opened.

“Last contact: 34 years, 42 days, seven hours ago” (the day that Arnold died) (Dolores, episode 5). “And then right before the park opened, one of the partners killed himself” (Logan, episode 5). “For three years, we lived here in the park, refining the hosts before a single guest set foot inside” (Ford, episode 3).

This means that the park opened to guests roughly 34 years ago (shortly after Arnold’s demise) and they began working there three years before that, approximately 37 years ago.

From Ford’s flashback in episode 3 and Dolores’ flashback in episode 8, we also know some of the hosts that were in the park in that period. There were Dolores, Maeve, Angela, Peter Abernathy, Armistice, Lawrence’s daughter, Teddy Flood, and Rebus.

Dolores & Arnold’s Sessions (34-36 years ago)

“There’s something I’d like you to try. It’s a game. A secret. It’s called the Maze. It’s a very special kind of game, Dolores. The goal is to find the center of it. If you can do that, then maybe you can be free” (Arnold, episode 4).

These sessions are between Dolores and Arnold since we know that Bernard is made in the image of Arnold. These sessions take place in a diagnostic facility under the White Church, since we see Dolores enter this facility through the White Church in one of her flashbacks.

“It’s a remote diagnostic facility. Ford and his partner used them when the park was in beta. I had no idea this one was here” (Bernard, episode 7).

They probably took place after the first hosts had passed the Turing test (a year after they started working in the park) and before Arnold died (34 years ago). So they took place sometime between 34-36 years ago.

The sessions between Arnold and Dolores were held in secret.

“I think it would be best if you not mention the things we’ve been talking about” (Arnold, episode 2)

In the first two meetings we see (episode 2-3), they talk about change, and Arnold seems fascinated by Dolores, whom he finds different and extraordinary.

“There’s something different about you, about the way you think. I find it fascinating, but others may not see it that way” (Arnold, episode 2) “It’s like the other books we’ve read. It’s about change. Seems to be a common theme (Dolores, episode 3).

In the third session (episode 3), Arnold appears to have doubts about what he is doing with Dolores, but when she starts showing signs of human consciousness, he decides to keep going down the path that they’ve started.

“I need to decide what to do with you. I think I made a mistake. I was just fascinated. I was being selfish, but I think it would be better if I restored you to the way you were before (…) No, Dolores. Let’s see where this path leads” (Arnold, episode 3).

In the fourth session (episode 4), Arnold decides to let Dolores try “the Maze” game. He sends her away from the Town with the White Church to travel the path of the Maze.

“There’s something I’d like you to try. It’s a game. A secret. It’s called the Maze. It’s a very special kind of game, Dolores. The goal is to find the center of it. If you can do that, then maybe you can be free” (Arnold, episode 4).

In the fifth session (episode 9), we see Dolores return to the Town with the White Church and reunite with Arnold after having traveled the path of the Maze.

“You came back. It’s very good to see you, Dolores” “I’ve been looking for you. You told me to follow the Maze. That it would bring me joy. But all I found was pain and terror” (Arnold and Dolores, episode 9).

The fact that Dolores has been away from the Town with White Church on her journey and has found her way back is further substantiated by Lawrence’s daughter, who asks Dolores if she found what she went looking for upon Dolores’ return to the town.

“Good morning. Did you find what you were looking for, Dolores?” (Lawrence’s daughter, episode 8).

So Dolores and Arnold’s sessions began in secret under the White Church, then Arnold sent Dolores away to travel the path of the Maze, and then she returned to the town upon having completed the Maze.