In the opening scenes of Westworld, we see a naked woman named Dolores Abernathy sitting in a chair in an otherwise empty room. When a fly crawls over one of her unblinking, open eyes, we realize that she is a robot. We follow Dolores through her mundane routine, which repeats every day: she wakes up, leaves her house, goes into town to get groceries, then comes back home to make dinner and go to sleep. While watching Dolores do ordinary errands and chores, it’s easy to forget she’s a robot – until she gets shot, “dies,” and is rebooted the next day with her memories wiped so that she can do it all again.
Based on the 1973 film of the same name written and directed by Michael Crichton, this riveting version of Westworld is also a sci-fi Western thriller, minus the cheesy 70s haircuts. It’s a future where Dolores is one of many robots (which are called hosts) that live in a high-tech Western-themed park that rich people visit for amusement. Her programmer Bernard asks her, “What if . . . you and everyone you know were built to gratify the desires of the people who pay to visit your world? The people you call the newcomers. What if I told you that you can't hurt the newcomers? And that they can do anything they want to you?” Although Dolores and the other hosts’ memories are wiped at the end of each day, they start becoming increasingly aware of the cruelties they are constantly subjected to. People who visit the park can shoot, torture, and rape the hosts without any consequences. Programmers can even change the hosts’ personalities on a whim, shut them down, or lock them away in storage if they misbehave. If all of this sounds messed up, that’s because it is.
The first season of Westworld is thought-provoking to say the least. It poses the tough question of what is morally right and wrong to do when interacting with intelligent robots that arguably have conscious awareness. It also poses the question of what exactly makes us human: our bodies, minds, or something else entirely? Since humankind is constantly advancing technologically, these topics may likely become real issues that we will face soon.
Westworld isn’t the only TV show about androids that’s gaining popularity. AMC’s British series Humans also explores the moral gray areas that arise when humans and sentient robots interact. In Humans, the robots (called synths) are integrated into people’s daily lives and some even live with families to help around the house. It’s essentially a drama series, whereas Westworld is an action-packed adventure. Some of the hosts in Westworld attempt to escape from their perpetual imprisonment and discover the dark, hidden truths about the place they call home, while others (such as Dolores) uncover answers about their own pasts. They evolve as the season progresses since they’re constantly faced with dangerous, difficult moral decisions. The incredible depth of each character and the high-quality dialogue reveal that Westworld is a very well-written show, which is sometimes lacking in Humans, making some scenes come off as unrealistic.
The directing of Westworld is superb as well, which is impressive considering that the pilot episode marked Jonathan Nolan’s directorial debut. Nolan has a clear vision that harmoniously translates the world, story, and characters from the script onto the screen. The breathtaking visual appeal blows Humans right out of the water. (I’m not saying Humans is bad; Westworld is just better!) It’s amazing how Westworld has such a diverse range of settings in nearly every episode. In one scene, the audience might be looking across a vast prairie with wild horses standing alongside a river. Then in a different scene during that same episode, a robot that looks eerily similar to a human is being pieced together in a laboratory, one synthetic muscle fiber at a time. The juxtaposition between the old-time feel of the Western-themed amusement park and the high-tech, futuristic laboratory is phenomenal. All of the graphics, costumes, makeup, and set design are part of what makes the show so effectively entertaining.
Complementing the stunning visuals are music and audio, which help to create a rich experience. The original theme song represents the show wonderfully since it’s an eerie balance of beautiful and sinister. It might send a chill down your spine with its lovely, dark, and mysterious tones. After the theme song plays, there are often scenes that take place in a Western brothel, which feature old piano songs playing in the background. Not only is the lighthearted piano music capable of immediately transporting the viewer back to the Western days, it also contrasts dramatically with the poignant theme song. The unique soundtrack is an odd combination of music that somehow achieves the perfect balance, making the show that much more dynamic.
Let’s not forget about the acting, which plays a huge part in making the show come to life. Evan Rachel Wood does a wonderful job of portraying the struggles and emotional growth of the determined main character, Dolores. Then there’s Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Ford, who couldn’t have been cast more perfectly. As Dr. Ford says in one episode about the morals involved while creating these androids, “You can't play God without being acquainted with the Devil.” Just a fair warning: his stellar performance and piercing blue-eyed stare might give you nightmares. Next up, Ed Harris as The Man in Black is the main villain we love to hate. He’s terribly evil, malicious, and sadistic – yet that won’t stave off anyone’s curiosity of wondering what he’s up to next. Each of the actors are convincing in their roles, which allows the audience to be completely engaged in the show while watching it.
If you don’t have HBO, find a friend who does so you can watch Westworld for yourself. The compelling story is elegantly told so that as soon as one mystery is solved, another two questions are created. This makes it so complex, suspenseful, and enticing to watch that it’s nearly impossible not to tune in for the next episode. With one plot twist after another right up until the end of the season, it’s a constant challenge to predict what’s going to happen next. Why does season 2 have to be over a year away?!
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