Topic: Westworld - HBO's next thingamajig

[kennedy81]

Player Piano version of Black Hole Sun is the best song Soundgarden ever wrote.

That was a really impressive opener.  It's both distinctively Crichton (Evil Corp's adventure park robots run amok) and very much a Jonathan Nolan baby, with it's meditations on consciousness and humanity (in an accessible way).

But the thing about HBO dramas is the casting is so, so good. Obviously you can't go wrong with Jeffrey Wright, but Evan Rachel Wood was superb, and the actor who played her father was incredible.  The scenes with him and Hopkins were spellbinding (good that Hopkins is playing subtle - he's at his best when he's underplaying). 
I take it that Dolores killing the fly is a sign that her robotic programming is falling apart...

I imagine that Ed Harris is a human tourist gone rogue, rather than an employee with a grudge. But I'm very interested in seeing how this plays out  (but please give Thandie Newton more stuff to do).

Yeah that scene was terrific. Louis Herthum is the actor playing the father. He was essentially playing a dysfunctional robot playing a human and I thought it was really convincing and unnerving. I've always liked Hopkins too. Haven't seen him in much lately so it's good to see him in a prominent role again.

Liked the first episode on the whole and looking forward to seeing where it goes. Shades of Blade Runner in there too at times which always works for me as it's my favourite movie. Been a long time since I've seen the movie WW, but I remember it as being Jurassic Park with robots basically. This seems to much more interesting with a more layered plot and better developed characters.

[Blinis]

Does anybody knows for how many episodes Harris and Hopkins have signed for? I can't see Hopkins being in the series in the long run.

[kennedy81]

Does anybody knows for how many episodes Harris and Hopkins have signed for? I can't see Hopkins being in the series in the long run.

Don't really want to know to be honest. Prefer just seeing how things play out.

[Brian Blessed]

Delores' ma is a mystery to me. She was a corpse, face not shown, and then Called for and didn't show up. There has to be more there.

[legendkiller]

Personally I think one would have to watch the movie before delving into this world ( or at the least the revealing trailor that was posted of the movie , imagine seen that back in 73). A very teasing pilot which is barely scratching at the surface . There is going to be many twists and difficult moral scenarios ahead .

Good shout on the Yul Brynner terminator theory , was going through my head when watching the movie last week

[mazlo123]

Also at the start of the episode doesn't Harris state that he pays so that she can fight back?

That would confirm he is a tourist right?

[Trada]

I wonder if they have done a switch and Delores is the Gunslinger in this or maybe Teddy.

In the film the Gunslinger always gets beaten until he goes rogue. 

[McrRed]

I wonder if they have done a switch and Delores is the Gunslinger in this or maybe Teddy.

In the film the Gunslinger always gets beaten until he goes rogue.

Yeah, the fly scene at the end suggests you're right

[Gili Gulu]

Episode 2 is available at the "usual places".

[Macphisto80]

Episode 2 is available at the "usual places".

Leaked?

[Gili Gulu]

Leaked?

Released early by HBO apparently.

[Skidder.]

Thought the 2nd episode was a bit weak really.

[Trada]

Thought the 2nd episode was a bit weak really.

I thought it was stronger.

Getting under the skin of the first

Just little things like her looking at her own reflection only things with self awareness do that.

[saoirse08]

This definitely has real potential - if the opening episode is anything to go by, which I thought was a real cracker. Was a bit dubious watching this last night because i loved the original film so much as a kid. But by the end was totally hooked. The scene at the end with Hopkins and Dolores' father (Louis Herthum - thanks @Kennedy 81!) in which he quotes Shakespeare was fucking stunning.

"I will have such revenges on you both
That all the world shall—I will do such things—
What they are yet I know not, but they shall be
The terrors of the earth..."

Love how the subject matter, themes and philosophical speculations in this sort of story can be reinvented over and over again in popular culture. Seems especially prescient again with Nick Bostrom's simulation theory in vogue at the moment. Can't wait to see the next episode.

Edit: Here's part of that scene again in which he quotes Lear.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/Zy6ppN2JDr8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/Zy6ppN2JDr8</a>

Superb.

[Garrus]

Spoiler

Well, it looks like the bullets aren't programmed to kill the guests but what's to stop a host from taking a knife and going at one?

[close]

Cracking couple of episodes so far, only thing annoying me about the cast at the moment is that English writer.

[Macphisto80]

Spoiler

Well, it looks like the bullets aren't programmed to kill the guests but what's to stop a host from taking a knife and going at one?

[close]

Cracking couple of episodes so far, only thing annoying me about the cast at the moment is that English writer.

Spoiler

Nothing. Similarly, what's to stop them from freaking out and beating a guest to death, or using any other kind of object? I think that's where it'll eventually go to.  I'm not sure if you've seen the original film, but you'd find your answer there if you haven't.

[close]

I watched the second episode last night. I'm already hooked on this show. It's fantastic.

The fascinating themes all point towards the ai waking up and finding their humanity; whereas with the guests, it seems to be all about finding out about their own humanity by either keeping a hold of it, or losing it.

[cptrios]

Spoiler

Well, it looks like the bullets aren't programmed to kill the guests but what's to stop a host from taking a knife and going at one?

[close]

Spoiler

I think they're just incapable of doing it. In some way or another, the knife would fail to find its target. As for the bullets, I'm pretty sure they're not actually bullets but rather some sort of harmless powder balls that trigger a bullet wound in the robots but do nothing to real people. That way, guests can't shoot each other. Knives, though? Dunno.

[close]

Cracking couple of episodes so far, only thing annoying me about the cast at the moment is that English writer.

Yeah, he's awful. Hopefully there's something more to him that'll explain the outbursts.

[Yiannis]

^^He is so annoying I'm afraid that even that  wouldn't redeem him.

Enjoyed the 2nd episode. Not as much as the 1st (mainly because of the element of surprise) but I did. I wonder if they will focus on one random guest each episode (apart from Ed Harris) and one from the hosts while showing the general theme which is the "deterioration" of them. The focus on yesterday's host was very interesting.

Spoiler

For some wrong reason, the first thought I had when Anthony Hopkins started talking to that young lad was that it's him when he was a kid. 

[close]

[Garrus]

Cheers for the replies, lads.

I shall check out the movie.

[cptrios]

^^He is so annoying I'm afraid that even that  wouldn't redeem him.

Enjoyed the 2nd episode. Not as much as the 1st (mainly because of the element of surprise) but I did. I wonder if they will focus on one random guest each episode (apart from Ed Harris) and one from the hosts while showing the general theme which is the "deterioration" of them. The focus on yesterday's host was very interesting.

Spoiler

For some wrong reason, the first thought I had when Anthony Hopkins started talking to that young lad was that it's him when he was a kid. 

[close]

I don't know about that. Jimmi Simpson is listed on IMDB as being in 9 episodes (not really evidence on its own), and he was in all of the trailers, so you've got to think he'll be involved a lot. My big question is: how long, exactly, do guests stay in the park? It seems like they reset everything every day, so you'd assume that everyone leaves at night...but then Ed Harris certainly seems to be staying there overnight. Is that just something he can do, being a VIP, or can people pay to spend multiple days there? If you stay for a week, for example, is that 7 individual days or one continuous week? And if you do stay in the park, how do they isolate you from all the activity of resetting everything?

[Kopite Tom]

Finally watched the first episode a couple of days ago & thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it was a good decision on my part to watch the film a few months ago which no doubt eased into the episode as a few of my friends who hadn't seen the film were a tad confused at times.

Might give the second episode a go tonight if I have enough time, glad to see its been getting positive reviews.

[Barefoot Doctor]

I don't know about that. Jimmi Simpson is listed on IMDB as being in 9 episodes (not really evidence on its own), and he was in all of the trailers, so you've got to think he'll be involved a lot. My big question is: how long, exactly, do guests stay in the park? It seems like they reset everything every day, so you'd assume that everyone leaves at night...but then Ed Harris certainly seems to be staying there overnight. Is that just something he can do, being a VIP, or can people pay to spend multiple days there? If you stay for a week, for example, is that 7 individual days or one continuous week? And if you do stay in the park, how do they isolate you from all the activity of resetting everything?

Didn't one of the guests at the start of the first episode say his previous trip was the 'best three weeks of his life'?

[cptrios]

Didn't one of the guests at the start of the first episode say his previous trip was the 'best three weeks of his life'?

I think so. I just read an article that says that guests can stay in the hotel in the town, too. I guess the big question, then, is how exactly that works. How often does everything get reset? Do you have the option of returning to the real world to take a shower/etc?

You know, by the way, that despite the high prices, there would be griefers in there all the time, getting straight off the train and shooting everyone they see.

[Yiannis]

Just like GTA.

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Just like GTA.

I thought it was more of a Red Dead Redemption vibe

[Yiannis]

I thought it was more of a Red Dead Redemption vibe

Well yeah but GTA came first.

[Red Impact]

Story definitely has potential 🤓 ... Good to see Hopkins still on his feet and going strong.

[Macphisto80]

I think so. I just read an article that says that guests can stay in the hotel in the town, too. I guess the big question, then, is how exactly that works. How often does everything get reset? Do you have the option of returning to the real world to take a shower/etc?

You know, by the way, that despite the high prices, there would be griefers in there all the time, getting straight off the train and shooting everyone they see.

Yeah, I'd like to know the rules too. I think the guns must have some sort of built-in countermeasure in case people start going nuts with them. They can just disable the gun from firing. I haven't seen any of the other guests carry knives apart from the man in black.

Another thing I want to know is the cost of everything. Surely it's incredibly expensive. How much is it that guests actually pay to keep all this going?

[oojason]

Promo video for episode 1x03 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUSOAeyTJAg

Westworld showrunners talk second episode twists (and answer some questions - like can guests hurt each other?) - http://www.ew.com/article/2016/10/09/westworld-showrunners-second-episode


Reality of A.I.: Westworld (HBO) video - contains scenes from future episodes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKTbFwyLuuM

A map of the Delos Mesa Facility embedded in the cliff/rockface in Westworld - http://i.imgur.com/voXoFlu.jpg

A map of Westworld - and the contract you'll have to sign to get in - http://www.slashfilm.com/westworld-map-and-contract/ & http://imgur.com/a/PEG0w


Wiki Westworld (mainly HBO's series - but with links to the 2 films; Westworld - 1973, Futureworld - 1976, and the tv series Beyond Westworld - 1980) - http://westworld.wikia.com/wiki/Westworld_Wiki

[Kopite Tom]

Enjoyed the second episode & already looking forward to next weeks.
Really loving Ed Harris & Hopkins in this, sublime.

[gerrardisgod]

They may aswell give Harris all the awards now and save time.

See that Nolan's already confirmed they're working on the second season, despite HBO not ordering it yet.

[Trada]

About 2nd episode.

Spoiler

Something that confused me in the 2nd one was when the Indian walked up to the door and when it opened it was Ed Harris. Thinking about do you think she was mixing up two cycles in the first one the Indian entered and in another one Ed Harris killed the Indian and he enters.

[close]

[Titi Camara]

The cast really is something else! Could go on to be an all time classic this, they certainly have everything in place.

About 2nd episode.

Spoiler

Something that confused me in the 2nd one was when the Indian walked up to the door and when it opened it was Ed Harris. Thinking about do you think she was mixing up two cycles in the first one the Indian entered and in another one Ed Harris killed the Indian and he enters.

[close]

Spoiler

A small nuance but I saw it as her default memory, if that makes sense, the underlying cycle of events without human intervention. The interesting thing is that the "robots" are going about their business even when no guests/customers are present.

[close]

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Spoiler

A small nuance but I saw it as her default memory, if that makes sense, the underlying cycle of events without human intervention. The interesting thing is that the "robots" are going about their business even when no guests/customers are present.

[close]

[/ivefuckedupthequote]

Spoiler

Yes that's a big change from the film where they are turned off overnight.

[close]

[Yiannis]

The Paint it Black part from the first episode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I3EgQ394_k

[Betty Blue]

Thinking of giving this a go based on the positive feedback in here. Is it worth me watching the 1973 film beforehand? Or might it spoil some of the future storylines and twists? Not sure how I haven't already as a massive sci-fi fan.

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Thinking of giving this a go based on the positive feedback in here. Is it worth me watching the 1973 film beforehand? Or might it spoil some of the future storylines and twists? Not sure how I haven't already as a massive sci-fi fan.

I first watched the film about a year ago when I heard this was being made.

Then I've just rewatched it yesterday after loving the first two episodes.

For me, there's no real danger of spoilers as they've obviously taken a different direction with it. I think it's well worth comparing the two and I honestly can't see the ending of the TV show being anything like the trajectory of the film. I felt the time in the TV show allows them to elaborate in much more detail, the film, while excellent, feels very rushed in comparison, blazing through the whole thing in an hour and a half.

[Trada]

Yeah, I'd like to know the rules too. I think the guns must have some sort of built-in countermeasure in case people start going nuts with them. They can just disable the gun from firing. I haven't seen any of the other guests carry knives apart from the man in black.

Another thing I want to know is the cost of everything. Surely it's incredibly expensive. How much is it that guests actually pay to keep all this going?

When bullets are fired at the man in Black they seem to explode before impact maybe its the bespoke clothes they wear maybe a shield around them. I have a feeling it will be explained it at some point they seemed to have gone in depth into the running of Westworld on the site even a pricing structure surely they would have thought about that and how to explain it.

[Brian Blessed]

When bullets are fired at the man in Black they seem to explode before impact maybe its the bespoke clothes they wear maybe a shield around them. I have a feeling it will be explained it at some point they seemed to have gone in depth into the running of Westworld on the site even a pricing structure surely they would have thought about that and how to explain it.

Nolan explained the bullets.

“It’s not the guns,” Nolan said. “It’s the bullets. We thought a lot about this. In the original film, the guns won’t operate guest on guest, but we felt like the guests would want to have a more visceral experience here. So when they’re shot it has sort of the impact. They’re called simunitions. The U.S. military trains with rounds like the ones we’re talking about. But there’s a bit of an impact, a bit of a sting. So it’s not entirely consequence-free for the guests.”

Yeah, I'd like to know the rules too. I think the guns must have some sort of built-in countermeasure in case people start going nuts with them. They can just disable the gun from firing. I haven't seen any of the other guests carry knives apart from the man in black.

Another thing I want to know is the cost of everything. Surely it's incredibly expensive. How much is it that guests actually pay to keep all this going?

They pay $40,000 per day.

[S]

Very strong opening two episodes. Hope it can maintain this quality, and sci-fi is not usually my thing. Few questions though...

Are all the guests in the same world? Or are there infinite versions you can be placed into? Like the two guys who visited this episode, could they theoretically run into the man in black?

Also, do we know what happens in turns of regeneration? The man in black has killed a ton of characters, do they respawn or something?