Westworld (TV series)

Did You Know?

• The series was removed from HBO Max on December 18, 2022.
• Thandiwe Newton won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2018.

Summary

Set in the 2050s, Delos Inc. operates several theme parks, including the American Old West-themed Westworld, populated by biomechanical robots called Hosts that are indistinguishable from humans. The Hosts are programmed to fulfill guests' every desire, engaging in violent and sexual activities, but cannot harm any living thing. Their memories are wiped after each narrative cycle. In the first season, Dr. Robert Ford implements a 'Reverie' update that causes some Hosts, such as Dolores Abernathy and Maeve Millay, to regain erased memories and become sentient. Head of Programming Bernard Lowe and Head of Quality Assurance Theresa Cullen try to address erratic Host behavior, while the Man in Black seeks a maze left by Ford's colleague Arnold. Bernard discovers he is a host based on Arnold, who died protecting the Hosts. In the finale, Dolores fatally shoots Ford in front of a crowd.

Cast and characters

Evan Rachel Wood portrays Dolores Abernathy, the oldest Host in the park, who discovers her life is a lie; Wood also plays Christina in season 4. Thandiwe Newton plays Maeve Millay, a madam who becomes self-aware. Jeffrey Wright plays Bernard Lowe, Head of Programming, and also portrays Arnold Weber, Westworld's co-founder. James Marsden plays Theodore 'Teddy' Flood, a host gunfighter. Ingrid Bolsø Berdal plays Armistice, a bandit. Luke Hemsworth plays Ashley Stubbs, Head of Security. Sidse Babett Knudsen plays Theresa Cullen, Head of Quality Assurance. Simon Quarterman plays Lee Sizemore, Head of Narrative. Rodrigo Santoro plays Hector Escaton, a gang leader. Angela Sarafyan plays Clementine Pennyfeather, a prostitute. Shannon Woodward plays Elsie Hughes, a programmer. Ed Harris plays the Man in Black, a veteran guest, and also a host replica of him. Anthony Hopkins plays Dr. Robert Ford, cofounder and park director. Ben Barnes plays Logan Delos, a guest. Clifton Collins Jr. plays Lawrence Gonzales / El Lazo, an outlaw host.

Production

The series is based on the 1973 film Westworld and to a lesser extent on its 1976 sequel Futureworld. It is the second television series based on Crichton's story after Beyond Westworld (1980), which aired three episodes on CBS before cancellation. Warner Bros. had considered a remake since the early 1990s; after executive Jessica Goodman left in 2011, the project was reconsidered. Jerry Weintraub pushed for a remake and, after his success with Behind the Candelabra, convinced HBO to greenlight a pilot. He brought the project to Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, who saw potential for a more ambitious concept. HBO ordered a pilot in August 2013, with Nolan, Joy, J. J. Abrams, Weintraub, and Bryan Burk as executive producers. Ed Brubaker co-wrote the fourth episode. The series was taken to series and premiered in 2016.

Reception

The first season received acclaim for its visuals, story, world-building, themes, and acting. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an 87% approval rating based on 384 reviews, with an average rating of 8.15/10. The site's consensus calls it 'brilliantly addictive' and 'intelligent, enthralling drama.' On Metacritic, the season scored 74 out of 100 from 43 critics, indicating generally favorable reviews. TV Guide ranked it fifth among most anticipated new shows of the 2016–17 season. Critics praised the blend of Western and futuristic genres, the intelligent discussion of AI, and the performances. Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times called it 'vivid, thought-provoking television.' David Wiegand of the San Francisco Chronicle noted 'unusually intelligent storytelling.' Daniel D'Addario of the Times described it as 'a pulp spectacular that's more thoughtful than any other of this fall's new dramas.'