Westworld‘s wild, wild west setting lends itself to crazy fan theories. But could this one change everything about how the show operates?

The line between artificial and genuine interaction is where HBO’s Westworld lives. It is a choose your own adventure story. But the visitors to the park are not the only people directing their narrative. The audience plays a huge role dictating where their story takes them.

Fan theories, especially popular ones, run rampant across many series. Sometimes they encompass the entire scope of the show — Dallas‘s “This is all a dream!” Other times, they harp on one character– Murder She Wrote‘s Jessica Fletcher was actually a serial killer.

Either way, fan theories can change the way a person watches a show depending on which details they choose to accept. Westworld is early in its run, but a popular fan theory may have already set the stage for how the audience’s influence will change the show.

Some would argue that the audience already knows how far gone the hosts are from their creators. The timeline, or in the case of this theory, timelines are unfolding at the same time.

Here is a breakdown of the most popular fan theory surrounding Westworld right now.

‘Westworld’ has multiple timelines

There is no use crying over spilled milk. Unless that can of milk just happens to break open a crazy theory about HBO’s expensive new drama.

The theory– one world, many timelines.

Huh. Dolores, as we know, is one of the oldest hosts in the park. The man in black notes that he has been coming around for nearly 30 years and every year Dolores appears without aging a day. The developers also note that it may be time to retire Dolores.

Bernard’s private sessions with Dolores keep her not only in the park, but under observation for his independent study with consciousness. How long has her awareness actually been going on? That’s where the multiple timelines come into play.

There are a striking number of details worked out by fans that layer on new meaning to lines from episode 1 to branding featured throughout headquarters.

Watch below for a comprehensive guide to the multiple timeline theory.

How will these theories change the way audiences and the creators engage with ‘Westworld?’

When a popular theory takes a hold of the audience it creates a slippery slope for the creators to climb in development. Mr. Robot suffered in its second season when the creators thought they had to outsmart their audience with more and more twists. Westworld has the opportunity to accept that its audience is smart and willing to tune in for the reveal.

Westworld has a chance to develop with their audience, not actively seek to go against them.

How much should a creator pay attention to the fan theories? In the case of Westworld, I would offer that they use season 1 as a learning curve.

The series’ showrunners, Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, confess that while they have an idea for where the show will go in five seasons, the plan will only work if enough attention is given to the details. Hence, why a single shot of a can of milk matters.

There is still plenty of mystery left in season 1. What and where is the maze? Is Arnold still communicating with Dolores? And what is Ford’s ultimate goal for the park? Your guess is as good as mine. For now, that’s enough to keep me coming back each week.

Will this ‘Westworld’ theory change how you view the show?

Watch Westworld episode season 1, episode 6, “The Adversary,” Sunday, November 6 at 9:00 p.m. ET on HBO or HBOGo.