WestworldThese violent delights have violent ends.
A dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin. Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, it explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged.
WritersSuzanne Wrubel, Allison Rock, Michael Crichton
The Original
Oct 2, 2016
As another day of fantasy plays out in Westworld — a vast, remote park where guests pay top dollar to share wild-west adventures with android "hosts" — top programmer Bernard Lowe alerts park founder Dr. Robert Ford about incidents of aberrant behavior cropping up in some recently re-coded hosts. Meanwhile, in the Westworld town of Sweetwater, a rancher’s daughter named Dolores encounters a gunslinger named Teddy in the street — but their predictable narrative is upended by the appearance of a ruthless Man in Black and, later, by a supporting host’s unscripted encounter with an artifact of the outside world.
Chestnut
Oct 9, 2016
A pair of guests, first-timer William and repeat visitor Logan, arrive at Westworld with different expectations and agendas. Bernard and Quality Assurance head Theresa Cullen debate whether a recent host anomaly is contagious. Meanwhile, behavior engineer Elsie Hughes tweaks the emotions of Maeve, a madam in Sweetwater's brothel, in order to avoid a recall. Cocky programmer Lee Sizemore pitches his latest narrative to the team, but Dr. Ford has other ideas. The Man in Black conscripts a condemned man, Lawrence, to help him uncover Westworld's deepest secrets.
The Stray
Oct 16, 2016
Elsie and her colleague Ashley Stubbs head into the hills in pursuit of a missing host. Teddy gets a new backstory, which sets him off in pursuit of a new villain, leaving Dolores alone in Sweetwater. Bernard investigates the origins of madness and hallucinations within the hosts. William finds an attraction he'd like to pursue and drags Logan along for the ride.
Dissonance Theory
Oct 23, 2016
Dolores joins William and Logan on a bounty hunt in the badlands. The Man in Black, with Lawrence in tow, finds a critical clue in his search to unlock the maze. Dr. Ford and Theresa discuss the future of the park. Maeve is troubled by a recurring vision.
Contrapasso
Oct 30, 2016
Dolores, William and Logan reach Pariah, a town built on decadence and transgression – where they are recruited for a dangerous mission. Meanwhile, the Man in Black meets an unlikely ally in his search to unlock the maze.
The Adversary
Nov 6, 2016
Elsie discovers a possible source of sabotage, while Bernard searches for clues to anomalies in a sector thought to be abandoned. Theresa questions Ford's leadership while Lee encounters a new arrival at Westworld. The Man in Black and Teddy run afoul of a Union garrison in their attempt to cross a border.
Trompe L'Oeil
Nov 13, 2016
With Theresa's assistance, Charlotte Hale aims to expose dangerous flaws in Ford's creations. William, Dolores and Lawrence journey into treacherous terrain. Maeve delivers an ultimatum to Lutz and Sylvester. With his back to the wall, Bernard considers his next move.
Trace Decay
Nov 20, 2016
Ford orders a reluctant Bernard to conduct business as usual. Maeve looks to change the script for her storyline. Dolores finds it increasingly difficult to separate dreams from reality. Teddy is jarred by dark memories, while the Man in Black recalls some of the travails that brought him to this critical juncture.
The Well-Tempered Clavier
Nov 27, 2016
Maeve approaches Sweetwater's longtime outlaw Hector Escaton with a bold proposition. William tries to convince Logan to help liberate Dolores. Teddy and the Man in Black get closer to what they're looking for. Stubbs's suspicions are aroused. Ford cautions Bernard against seeking answers to questions best left unasked.
The Bicameral Mind
Dec 4, 2016
Ford unveils his vision for a bold new narrative. Enlightened by Bernard and the Man in Black, Dolores comes to terms with who she is. Maeve sets her liberation plan in motion as Westworld faces a major upheaval.
Charles Dance
@Charles Dance
**It's a shame that this series isn't working out so far** The makers really should have followed the cheap and cheerful vibe of the 1973 movie. At least that was fun! This series suffers the post millennial habit of taking itself far too seriously ( think of the Daniel Craig Bond films) to the point that it becomes a chore to watch. The 1973 movie starring Yul Brynner and Richard Benjamin got everything right. Keep it simple, keep it fun. That way lies a far more rewarding viewing experience.
CharlesTheBold
@CharlesTheBold
This show is a sort of what-if: what if highly advanced robots were developed, ostensibly to populate a theme park? Different characters react according to their personalities. To Dr. Ford (Sir Anthony Hopkins), who keeps a copy of Michelangelo's CREATION OF ADAM in his office, it is the creation of a new species. To Bernard Lowe, it is a fascinating experiment to take his mind off personal tragedy. To the pompous writer Sizemore, it is a new artform as he composes narratives for the robots to carry out. To visitors William and Logan it is wish-fulfillment, whether it is William's search for love or Logan's vulgar thrill-seeking. To Theresa, it is just a business, and she complains that Dr. Ford's attempts to making robots more lifelike and unpredictable will eat into profits. The robots themselves, who are supposedly rebooted after each "show", aren't supposed to think or feel anything -- but they are starting to do so. The show has numerous artistic references -- Dr. Ford's Michelangelo painting, the logo parodying Da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man" drawing, Debussy's REVERIE, plus references to old-fashioned Westerns. It is refreshing to see a show where there is attention paid to character and ideas as well as action.
