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Overview
The medical community might just find themselves with a new health phenomenon to discuss – ATHBOS (Addiction to HBO Shows). The number of reported incidences of this all-consuming condition will likely spike this week following Monday's launch of the much-awaited series, Westworld. The latest creation to emerge from the HBO machine is a J.J. Abrams and Jonathon Nolan collaboration, and is exclusive to SoHo on SKY and available to stream on NEON.
The Setting
The world of the show is a bit of a babushka doll situation. While it appears to takes place across two very different worlds, one of these worlds actually exists within the other. The Westworld theme park and its robotic "hosts" are a creation of the show's real world and those who inhabit it. This real world has a near-future feel but its sterile, glass-enclosed environment gives it a post-apocalyptic barrenness. In dusty contrast, the theme park is the quintessential image of a chaotic, old-world Western town – complete with bandits breaking down saloon doors. The interconnectedness of these worlds seems unlikely on paper, but the show's high production values make them immersive and captivating.
The Storylines
Written by executive producer husband and wife team Jonathon Nolan and Lisa Joy, Westworld is based on a 70s cult film of the same name. The film's director, Michael Crichton, also wrote its screenplay collaborated with Nolan and Joy in writing the series. The first episode lays the foundations for an intricate web of storylines to emerge from. While nothing much is given away within the pilot, we see threads of secondary storylines developing around the main narrative and can only speculate excitedly as to how these will pan out.
The Themes
Don't be surprised if you find yourself gravitating towards your TV on Monday nights from now on. By taking on some highly topical themes, this is one show that will get the mind's cogs a-turning. The rise of artificial intelligence is no new concept, but Westworld's treatment of it from the smart technology's perspective makes it intriguing. To see these charismatic robots develop consciousness and challenge their creators is unnerving and thought-provoking. The show also explores our darkest desires and their consequences (and what happens when the latter doesn't exist).
The Cast
Westworld's cast is top notch. The names Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, Thandie Newton and Jeffrey Wright all pique interest individually. But their acting as an ensemble is a pleasure to watch and they communicate the sure-to-be-convoluted storylines well to the audience. It doesn't hurt that they make an attractive bunch of humans – and human-like robots – either. Regardless of whether you're inclined to the female or male physique, Westworld offers a selection of bad boys, feisty gals and classic heartbreakers to swoon over.
The Women
Or the kickass women to be more specific. In a show that doesn't shy away from sexual violence, it is reassuring to see strong female characters putting up a fight. In fact the show's protagonist is Dolores, a young female "host" who Anthony Hopkins' character implores the Westworld staff not to underestimate the capabilities of. But Dolores is not an isolated incident – Thandie Newton's "host" character makes it clear by the end of the pilot episode that she's not here to be a doormat, and Sidse Babett Knuden's character clearly has an agenda beyond cleaning up the messes made by Hopkins' role.
The Anticipation
Rather than dreading Mondays, it's likely you will find yourself spending the whole weekend eagerly awaiting their arrival. At the close of the pilot episode there is a definite sense of anticipation, and it sets high expectations for the rest of the nine episodes in the series. Just remember not to be too smug towards your colleagues on Tuesdays if your plot predictions are verified – or you might find yourself suddenly uninvited from the morning catch-ups at the coffee machine.
HBO have already proved to the world they know how to get us severely hooked on something, so don't say we didn't warn you.