Westworld: The 11 ways humans have died in the park

Including self-cannibalisation and auto-erotic asphyxiation

There’s been a lot of talk amongst Westworld fans about whether the park’s Guests, who are invulnerable to attacks from Hosts, can hurt - or even kill - each other.

Co-showrunners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy weighed in, explaining that the robots have a built-in Good Samaritan™ reflex that makes them jump in and help a Guest if they’re in danger (where possible).

But it turns out it’s not a case of if; there have already been a string of deaths in the park. The official Westworld website, which is designed as though you are a Newcomer, contains a contract from parent company Delos Destination with a long Terms of Service list.

Under the ‘Limitations of liability’ section, it reads: ‘Statistically speaking, you are more likely to die from lightweight strike than to die while in a Delos park. However, the following cause of accidental death have occurred within the Delos Destinations compound:

Buffalo stampede

Self-cannibalism

Accidental hanging

Drowning

3rd degree burns

Auto-erotic asphyxiation

Blunt force trauma

Allergic reaction to non-native plant life

Falling from great heights

Common manslaughter

Tumbleweeds.

Tumbleweeds?! Their safety testing has clearly not always been so rigorous.

Not only has injury to guests occurred, but Delos is not responsible for it. From another clause:

‘You dissolve Delos, Inc. of any responsibility, financial or criminal, that would result from dismemberment, broken bones, heart failure, loss or use of hand and foot digits, shock, marital and relationship strife, child endangerment, psychological trauma, delusions or hallucinations results from the realistic nature of the park experience, and/or any other physical emotional and psychological effects results from strenuous park activities.’

Was the contract likely typed up by an HBO intern? Yes. Would it, however, have been based on agreed logic and parameters with the creators? Also yes.

We can probably expect more Guest casualties as season 1 progresses then, as it seems Westworld is a lot more dangerous than a simple ‘theme park’.