HBO's "Westworld", starring Anthony Hopkins/produced by J.J. Abrams

[Shawnster]

Sure, but the video called them "deviations" so that's what I called them,

But deviation from what? Can't be timeline since future events haven't happened yet. Are they deviations in computer behavior? AI behavior? Humans?

 

[Anwar]

I suppose if one's standard of reference is

Anything else that isn't high on it's own pretentiousness.

the notion that a story might be about something or involve some thinking to appreciate is kind of an alien one.

It was pretty darn easy to figure out that the first season took place in 2 timelines, and what it was about...was something quite banal and suffering from delusions of eloquence. And plenty of lame characterization, to say nothing of how 1-Dimensional every other human was aside from Ford.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I suppose if one's standard of reference is the MCU the notion that a story might be about something or involve some thinking to appreciate is kind of an alien one.

Ah, yes, the classic "slag off another franchise in order to defend this franchise" defense. I'm not saying which side I agree with about the simplicity or complexity of Westworld characters, I'm just so sick of this line of defense. Especially since no one other than you, Sevreaux, brought up the MCU.

 

[Awesome Possum]

And which is discarded or overwritten without a second thought based upon the exigencies of production. Show content evolves,* and no one holds a project with a budget in the tens of millions hostage to some promotional text generated to attract attention.

*Unless it's Babylon 5.

It depends on if it's from the same creator. Mr. Robot has a book and VR episode that is canon with the series, the book is actually Elliot's notebook journal in season 2 and was written by Sam Esmail who writes and directs the show. The VR episode is a bit of fluff, but gives an extra moment with a character who the audience didn't get that much time. Given the finale, it may have a different context now.

 

[Awesome Possum]

Which shows how banal it really was that they had to rely on that gimmick.



Oh, it was dreadfully simple. Right down to how 1-Dimensional the Humans in WW all are because the writers can't be bothered to give a crap. William goes from being a nice gentle guy to some psychopath willing to destroy his brother in law because he spent a few days with what was basically a big blow up doll and we're meant to see it as some epic character saga.

The humans being like that is one of the themes of the show. Humans are shockingly simple compared to the Hosts, defined by their regret and their pasts. Their incapable of growth and evolution, unlike the Hosts who are limitless in what they can become. It's all Ford talks about and gets expanded on in season 2.

 

[Mudd]

The intriguing thing about the first year was that the writers were putting forth an argument about the sources and nature of consciousness. It's an old one and not real persuasive (IMO) but to see a TV series build a narrative on this kind of idea rather than, oh, a ticking-clock catastrophe or the outcome of romantic pursuit is remarkable.

 

[Anwar]

The humans being like that is one of the themes of the show. Humans are shockingly simple compared to the Hosts, defined by their regret and their pasts. Their incapable of growth and evolution, unlike the Hosts who are limitless in what they can become. It's all Ford talks about and gets expanded on in season 2.

It's also utter BS because it's accomplished by making the humans all a bunch of dicks with little to no nuance in the first place. Cheap writing tactic.

The intriguing thing about the first year was that the writers were putting forth an argument about the sources and nature of consciousness.

Delusions of Eloquence, more than anything.

It's an old one and not real persuasive (IMO) but to see a TV series build a narrative on this kind of idea rather than, oh, a ticking-clock catastrophe or the outcome of romantic pursuit is remarkable.

Not really, it just makes it pretentious. Especially the way they went about doing it by making the humans so 1-Dimensional.

 

[1987SpaceGuy]

Must have been quite an experience... HBO hosted a Westworld dinner party at CES.
https://io9.gizmodo.com/hbo-invited-us-to-a-westworld-dinner-party-where-we-we-1840975766

 

[JD]

Which shows how banal it really was that they had to rely on that gimmick.



Oh, it was dreadfully simple. Right down to how 1-Dimensional the Humans in WW all are because the writers can't be bothered to give a crap. William goes from being a nice gentle guy to some psychopath willing to destroy his brother in law because he spent a few days with what was basically a big blow up doll and we're meant to see it as some epic character saga.

It's really not that simple, there is a lot going on the below the surface.
Did you actually watch the show? Because I really don't understand how someone can watch the show and say stuff like this.

 

[Mudd]

It's really not that simple...I really don't understand how someone can watch the show and say stuff like this.

Because the show rewards attention and thought. It's not like a superhero movie.

 

[crookeddy]

It's really not that simple, there is a lot going on the below the surface.
Did you actually watch the show? Because I really don't understand how someone can watch the show and say stuff like this.

First time talking to this guy?

 

[Anwar]

It's really not that simple, there is a lot going on the below the surface

Just a typical Robot Rebellion plot. And with how S2 turned out, it would've been better off ending with S1. A Maxi-Series.

Did you actually watch the show? Because I really don't understand how someone can watch the show and say stuff like this.

I have, I saw the twists coming after a little while and I knew I was in for seriously pretentious fluff once I saw the Nolan's were involved.

Because the show rewards attention and thought. It's not like a superhero movie.

Nah, it rewards folks with half a brain cell. Which is why it got away with its 1-Dimensional characterization of all the Human characters because it thought it was making some profound point when it was ignoring the concept of nuance because otherwise the whole show falls apart.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I’m surprised how much you care that other people like a thing you don’t like.

You use the word “Pretentious” so broadly it’s clearly just your standby word for “Thing I don’t like and you aren’t allowed to either”.

I will agree that the complexity of the narrative goes beyond the tipping point of diminishing marginal gain. It’s still overall a good show.

Any word on release date? Considering starting a rewatch soon.

 

[DigificWriter]

Any word on release date?

March 15th.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

March 15th.

So it runs concurrent with Better Call Saul. Nice.

 

[Awesome Possum]

It's also utter BS because it's accomplished by making the humans all a bunch of dicks with little to no nuance in the first place. Cheap writing tactic.



Delusions of Eloquence, more than anything.



Not really, it just makes it pretentious. Especially the way they went about doing it by making the humans so 1-Dimensional.

Then don't watch it and leave those who do in peace.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

The second time through, the double timeline thing is way more obvious when you’re looking for it.

 

[theenglish]

It's also utter BS because it's accomplished by making the humans all a bunch of dicks with little to no nuance in the first place. Cheap writing tactic.

But it is also based on psychology. People vote along party lines for generations without really considering why. They tend to stay with the same religion. They believe that their own cultural norms are the norms of the world. And they go to great lengths to intellectualize why they do those things in order to justify themselves and continue to believe that they are beings of "free will".

 

[Anwar]

But it is also based on psychology. People vote along party lines for generations without really considering why. They tend to stay with the same religion. They believe that their own cultural norms are the norms of the world. And they go to great lengths to intellectualize why they do those things in order to justify themselves and continue to believe that they are beings of "free will".

Not all humans, though. Unlike Westworld where they're all dicks.

 

[Mudd]

Marvel superhero movies are based entirely on characters with no more nuance than, well, cartoon characters, divided neatly into superheroes and superdicks. "Cheap writing tactics" nearly define the franchise.