[TV] Westworld

[kuhla]

imdb - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475784/

 

Saw the first episode. Kinda liked it. Sci-fi western thriller mishmash. Production value seems pretty high (that's HBO for you). Looking forward to next week to see where they are going with this....

 

 

[Malaphax]

It's looking solid so far. I've heard this is one of the most expensive series that HBO has ever undertaken. We're into the $100M+ territory now, and it does show. Some of the aerial cinematography is rather impressive, and I do wonder how much of this was filmed on location out in the midwest or how much was green screened. I'm glad they've seemed to mix a very healthy dose of sci-fi in with the western setting. I'm getting some blade runner vibes and that means they're on the right track.

[kuhla]

No spoilers.

 

Having seen the second episode I still like the show but I'm a tad worried at the pace. It is slow and I don't mind slow but we only have 10 episodes this season and we are already 2 in and I'm still not 100% sure where the story is going exactly (although I have a couple of theories I'm sort of expecting to see play out).

[kuhla]

No spoilers.

 

Having seen the second episode I still like the show but I'm a tad worried at the pace. It is slow and I don't mind slow but we only have 10 episodes this season and we are already 2 in and I'm still not 100% sure where the story is going exactly (although I have a couple of theories I'm sort of expecting to see play out).

 

We are now 5 episodes in and I still have the same concern. Yes the plot has moved but not a lot and we have only 5 more episodes to go until the end of this season. I'm still enjoying it. I'm just worried.

[Malaphax]

I think the creators have mentioned that they've planned out 5 seasons total which is why it may end up looking far more like game of thrones season 1 than the current light speed pace of season 6.

 

I expect there to be a *cue shyamalan* twist which upends how we've been seeing the world before we're given an even larger problem to face which will build in subsequent seasons.

 

I think the current trend of "premium" TV is to focus on longer narrative structures rather than the "problem of the week" that heroes need to solve. I wonder if we're starting to reach the far end of that approach where we have show creators who have planned out an entire series but may have neglected the individual season's pacing as a result.

 

Personally I don't have a problem with the show's pacing, but I'm more willing to enjoy a slow burn approach as long as the quality is high, and considering some of the fantastic acting and set pieces, I've been more than happy to enjoy the ride.

[Malaphax]

 

[Malaphax]

 

[kuhla]

This thread needs a bump.

I just watched S03E05.

I want to make a special mention about tonight's episode:

Spoiler

What were they thinking with that whole drug trip sequence?

 

[Malaphax]

Spoiler

The drug sequence was straight out of /r/nothowdrugswork - one of the most cringeworthy sections of the show. 

The show still has plenty of mind-fuckery, with multiple divergences and continuity errors leading me to believe that at least some of this season is taking place in rehoboam simulation and not the "real" world. 
I'm interested in some of the weird biblical references they're making, combined with the whole "they built their own god" throughline, I'm not sure how well they can pull some of that off without it being super pretentious.  

 

[kuhla]

Spoiler

I do find it a little curious that you have both Devs and Westworld going after the destiny/personal-autonomy/free will question and augmenting it with "the super computers" or technology in general.

 

[Jedi2155]

I watched through several episodes in Season 1 (maybe up to E6 or E8) and skipped a bit into season 2, but my general thoughts were it was kinda boring to me and I don't think I"m going to continue watching. I did enjoy seeing Talulah Riley doing some limited attempt at acting early on but generally I was never able to enjoy this series.

[kuhla]

3 episodes into Season 4

• There are some possible directions I think they could go with this that would be mildly interesting but....
• a lot of those possible directions, and even a lot of what has already happens, make the previous seasons seem somewhat pointless. There seems to be a lot of ideas and content just getting wholesale recycled. Are they running out of ideas?
• There is supposed to be ANOTHER season after this one? Why? What is that one supposed to be? Terminator Salvation the series?
• I'll keep watching this show for now but only very casually. This shows has basically lots its "magic" for me.

[kuhla]

Take all the plot elements from season 1 and change out all the nouns and you get most of season 4 (minus the filler). Everything feels recycled. What is the point?

Spoiler

Some hosts are starting to become aware of the controlled amusement park world they live in and the twisted desires of some the humans that visit. A mysterious design is affecting some but is not understood. Dolores is somehow crucial to all of this. A small group seems to be actively seeking to overthrow everything.

 

Some humans are starting to become aware of the controlled amusement park world they live in and the twisted desires of some the hosts that visit. A mysterious illness is affecting some but is not understood. Dolores is somehow crucial to all of this. A small group seems to be actively seeking to overthrow everything.

 

[kuhla]

Finished the season.

I know there is another season to go but I really wish they would just end this show here. It was a sad season and there is a bit of closure at the end of this season which is enough for fans to walk away.

Everything still feels recycled and ridiculous. I don't even remember what I enjoyed about season 1 anymore.