The sci-fi idea of androids and them becoming more than just robots is not uncommon, and I did wonder how Westworld would add to this very familiar subject matter. My slightly cynical approach lasted a very short time because of how well created the overall world is. The first episode tells you a lot – particularly if you play open- world video games. The interactions with the hosts is very well observed, and their dialogue is very much like that of cut-scenes or stranger interactions in games. Red Dead Redemption of course comes to mind, but it is not just that game but rather the genre.
This very much sells the impression of being in a game to the viewer, even if the game is so far ahead of what we do now in practice. The core ideas remain the same – NPC characters who are there for the purpose of triggering you to do actions and complete quests as part of a story that is wholly about your experience of it. This base is a great place to start because we buy into the world and thus engage with the threads within it. And there are plenty of characters and plenty going on, all of which relates to the rest directly or indirectly – with humans, hosts, and corporations, all on journeys. It is very event and suspense driven though; this is not per se a bad thing, but it does mean that the character development is focused more on the support of the narrative than it is in really fleshing out who these people are. Having said that, some of the threads are about finding out who these people are (for them and us) so although this is a weakness to the wider show, it is not a big issue while watching.
The events themselves are compelling, and there is plenty of detail to inform and reflect upon. I avoided the internet throughout, which was probably best, but I did enjoy wading through people's observations after the fact. For some, engaging in detailed theories and analysis is part of the fun, for me I prefer to let the story tell itself. This it does very well, and it is darkly satisfying throughout. There are lots of specifics you can question (like the technical aspects of what stops humans killing other humans, or what hits humans when hosts fire a gun), or lack of logic (everything involving the hosts and the technicians occur in all glass rooms with CCTV, but yet nobody notices anything odd happening). There are more plot-specific things in this vein too, but if you go with the flow they will not bother you much simply because the narratives and the mystery is what drives it forward.
Almost goes without saying that the production standards are insanely high. It must have cost a fortune but it is technically great in many ways: special effects, cinematography, the deep talent of the cast, the sound work, the score – everything is top notch and screams of quality. It may not be as perfect as some fans would tell you, but it is a very strong first season that delivers a satisfying narrative – no doubt I will return for season 2 with the hope of it building on this base.
This very much sells the impression of being in a game to the viewer, even if the game is so far ahead of what we do now in practice. The core ideas remain the same – NPC characters who are there for the purpose of triggering you to do actions and complete quests as part of a story that is wholly about your experience of it. This base is a great place to start because we buy into the world and thus engage with the threads within it. And there are plenty of characters and plenty going on, all of which relates to the rest directly or indirectly – with humans, hosts, and corporations, all on journeys. It is very event and suspense driven though; this is not per se a bad thing, but it does mean that the character development is focused more on the support of the narrative than it is in really fleshing out who these people are. Having said that, some of the threads are about finding out who these people are (for them and us) so although this is a weakness to the wider show, it is not a big issue while watching.
The events themselves are compelling, and there is plenty of detail to inform and reflect upon. I avoided the internet throughout, which was probably best, but I did enjoy wading through people's observations after the fact. For some, engaging in detailed theories and analysis is part of the fun, for me I prefer to let the story tell itself. This it does very well, and it is darkly satisfying throughout. There are lots of specifics you can question (like the technical aspects of what stops humans killing other humans, or what hits humans when hosts fire a gun), or lack of logic (everything involving the hosts and the technicians occur in all glass rooms with CCTV, but yet nobody notices anything odd happening). There are more plot-specific things in this vein too, but if you go with the flow they will not bother you much simply because the narratives and the mystery is what drives it forward.
Almost goes without saying that the production standards are insanely high. It must have cost a fortune but it is technically great in many ways: special effects, cinematography, the deep talent of the cast, the sound work, the score – everything is top notch and screams of quality. It may not be as perfect as some fans would tell you, but it is a very strong first season that delivers a satisfying narrative – no doubt I will return for season 2 with the hope of it building on this base.