When it was announced that "Westworld" was being produced by Bad Robot productions, I knew it would be something special. The collaboration of J.J. Abrams and Jonathan Nolan? This has to be good! In most senses, I was not disappointed. "Westworld" is perhaps the pinnacle of high-concept, "thinking-person's TV" that I have ever seen. In fact, it is so richly sophisticated that it can almost feel a bit "stuffy" at times.
For a basic plot summary (no big spoilers), "Westworld" tells the story of the amusement park of the same name, created by Dr. Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins). The wild-west setting is populated by highly life-like androids, like prostitute Maeve (Thandie Newton), cowboy Teddy (James Marsden), and pioneer Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood), which allow guests to interact with them in the name of pleasure (sex, violence, etc. are all fair game). The lines are blurred between what is and isn't real, as evidenced by the mysterious Man in Black (Ed Harris), who seems to have greater knowledge of everything in the park besides a "Maze" he is obsessed with. Early on in the 10-episode run, the "hosts" (robots) start to malfunction a bit, even as Bernard (Jeffrey Wright) tries to fix them. The hosts seem to be remembering things they shouldn't..."memories" from a past lives. We are also given a more human glimpse into the park's workings, following two "normal guests", William (Jimmi Simpson) and Logan (Ben Barnes) as they carve their own path through the wondrous sights.
As you can tell, the scope of "Westworld" is incredible. I can't give away any more details without spoiling the fun, but suffice it to say that the above description only scratches the surface of what unfolds. I'm a fan of cerebral television, but "Westworld" takes things to a whole new level, blending outright mysteries with more oblique questions about the very nature of humanity. Each episode is crafted with the utmost care (production was even halted at one point because Nolan wanted to make sure to get the scripts right) and one can tell just how much thought was put into every detail, visually and intellectually.
The acting on "Westworld" is also some of the finest I've ever witnessed. Hopkins continues to be a master at his craft, Wright ascends to that same level, Harris nearly steals the show in the early goings, and all the rest are spot-on as well. This is a show that requires equal parts nuance and grandiose to pull off, and the actors get it just right.
So, after all that praise, why the four-star rating instead of the full five? The best analogy I can give is this: Remember that college class you took that really challenged you and make you question everything? While you were taking that class, you may not have 100% enjoyed the experience (precisely because it was so difficult), but you (likely) came out on the other side better for it. That's the best I can do to describe my "Westworld" experience. Though at times the show dragged for me a bit (especially some of the action inside the park) and other times felt like it was "stringing me along" a bit in terms of only scarcely parceling out actual information/answers, I still maintained a great appreciation for its high-concept material. The show has been renewed for a second season, so perhaps a slightly better balance can be struck in that campaign.
Overall, though, "Westworld" is a remarkable show for its ability to stimulate the mind and create an epic sense of drama and mystery. The Abrams "mystery box" is in full effect here, and who better to shape that concept than Jonathan Nolan?! It's the perfect pairing of intellectual, motivated film-makers that nearly creates a perfect show. Much like the hosts of Westworld itself, there may be a few kinks yet to work out, but there is more than enough great material here to sink one's brain into.
For a basic plot summary (no big spoilers), "Westworld" tells the story of the amusement park of the same name, created by Dr. Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins). The wild-west setting is populated by highly life-like androids, like prostitute Maeve (Thandie Newton), cowboy Teddy (James Marsden), and pioneer Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood), which allow guests to interact with them in the name of pleasure (sex, violence, etc. are all fair game). The lines are blurred between what is and isn't real, as evidenced by the mysterious Man in Black (Ed Harris), who seems to have greater knowledge of everything in the park besides a "Maze" he is obsessed with. Early on in the 10-episode run, the "hosts" (robots) start to malfunction a bit, even as Bernard (Jeffrey Wright) tries to fix them. The hosts seem to be remembering things they shouldn't..."memories" from a past lives. We are also given a more human glimpse into the park's workings, following two "normal guests", William (Jimmi Simpson) and Logan (Ben Barnes) as they carve their own path through the wondrous sights.
As you can tell, the scope of "Westworld" is incredible. I can't give away any more details without spoiling the fun, but suffice it to say that the above description only scratches the surface of what unfolds. I'm a fan of cerebral television, but "Westworld" takes things to a whole new level, blending outright mysteries with more oblique questions about the very nature of humanity. Each episode is crafted with the utmost care (production was even halted at one point because Nolan wanted to make sure to get the scripts right) and one can tell just how much thought was put into every detail, visually and intellectually.
The acting on "Westworld" is also some of the finest I've ever witnessed. Hopkins continues to be a master at his craft, Wright ascends to that same level, Harris nearly steals the show in the early goings, and all the rest are spot-on as well. This is a show that requires equal parts nuance and grandiose to pull off, and the actors get it just right.
So, after all that praise, why the four-star rating instead of the full five? The best analogy I can give is this: Remember that college class you took that really challenged you and make you question everything? While you were taking that class, you may not have 100% enjoyed the experience (precisely because it was so difficult), but you (likely) came out on the other side better for it. That's the best I can do to describe my "Westworld" experience. Though at times the show dragged for me a bit (especially some of the action inside the park) and other times felt like it was "stringing me along" a bit in terms of only scarcely parceling out actual information/answers, I still maintained a great appreciation for its high-concept material. The show has been renewed for a second season, so perhaps a slightly better balance can be struck in that campaign.
Overall, though, "Westworld" is a remarkable show for its ability to stimulate the mind and create an epic sense of drama and mystery. The Abrams "mystery box" is in full effect here, and who better to shape that concept than Jonathan Nolan?! It's the perfect pairing of intellectual, motivated film-makers that nearly creates a perfect show. Much like the hosts of Westworld itself, there may be a few kinks yet to work out, but there is more than enough great material here to sink one's brain into.