So, for me, season 2 really came together in the last 3 episodes. I was confused at times, but for the most part I think they did a good job of tying the overall "ideas" together. I also think they set up the next season (or more) nicely. There's so much more they could do with the idea of simulated worlds and levels of those worlds (Jonathan Nolan is cribbing from his brother here), people as algorithms, and the nature of the mind. I'm glad the theory of mind became important to the plot again.
That isn't to say the season didn't have it's flaws, it feels like 90% or so of the real important plot developments happened in the last 3 episodes, and most of the previous episodes were filler. Peter Abernathy's character and most the conflict and drama around him and his core just turned out to be largely superfluous, IMO. He/his core was a macguffin, and I feel like the ending didn't need all that drama around him to happen.
Maeve's storyline also ended up being something of a dead end (although they left it hanging for a rescue). I was disappointed that it never came down to her taking control over anything other than herself and her daughter. It sure felt like they were building something much more important for her, even going so far as having Ford proclaim her his favorite child. I still think she could end up being much more important, but all she really did was providing some personal drama in a larger conflict. I hope there's more, because Thandie Newton chewing the scenery is fun. She's great on show.
In fact, the show has great actors doing great jobs despite the sometimes meandering plot. Bernard, Maeve, and the MiB are all great performances. Tessa Thompson was the perfect sleazy corporate cop. It's too bad they are really banking on Evan Rachel Wood as Delores, because I don't like her. She rubs me the wrong way.
While I was annoyed by there being a post credits thing (leave it to Marvel movies), what it showed us intrigued me. Clearly it was a different time than what we saw just before the credits. I'm not certain that the MiB before that was a host, I suspect not. But, the post credits scene he clearly is, and I think it's WAY in the future (and not a simulation), possibly one the robots have already won and taken over. But they're testing him over and over again. Why? Is it because Dolores is torturing him? Or is it because his algorithm has something special they haven't figured out. Too bad we'll have to wait to find out.
