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

[RJDiogenes]

Well, it's interesting to get some flashbacks to the development of Westworld, but I can't say that this season is as interesting as the first. There's the mystery of the "true purpose" of the project, but that's just kind of laying there without any need to know it, aside from curiosity. In the first season, there was the dramatic scenario of the hosts being self aware and nobody knowing about it, except Ford, and realizing that they were suffering for it. This season, we have killer robots who are slaughtering mass amounts of innocent people who never realized they were doing any harm. Not quite as engaging.

 

[crookeddy]

The theme of this season is basically how the park is basically Google and Facebook...

 

[Owain Taggart]

Yeah, there's not much a narrative as a bunch of randomness. At this point, it feels like something is missing. I hope it picks up.

 

[RJDiogenes]

The theme of this season is basically how the park is basically Google and Facebook...

Only in the abstract-- so far-- and in the sense of gathering data. It would be more interesting if they explored the idea of how lack of constraint can turn an otherwise civilized person into an asshole. Again, it's been touched upon, but only in the abstract.

 

[Cyrus]

Interesting story about how the actress playing William's wife was hired:

https://www.inverse.com/article/44359-westworld-season-2-theory-erik-von-weber-stock-photo

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Eh, sounds like a whole lot of nothing.

 

[Forbin]

It doesn't look like anything to me.

 

[Cyrus]

This is probably common knowledge but I didn't know they had titles for each season. First season: The Maze, second season: The Door.

 

[Cyrus]

Fantastic cold open in tonight's episode. I didn't expect to get a follow up to the stray Bengal tiger so soon.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Even with the appearance of the Bengal tiger in the first episode, I didn't expect to see a British Raj World. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that some people would have an interest in reliving British imperial rule, but it's still gross. Looks like we'll be seeing plenty of Grace because Katja Herbers was included in the opening credits.

I'm glad both Felix and Armistice are back (less thrilled about Felix's asshole coworker) and reunited with Maeve and Hector. And now they've stumbled right into Shōgun World!

I'm curious to see where Clementine is dragging poor Bernard off to. She definitely seemed to have a singular determination in capturing him.

Dolores/Wyatt is becoming colder and crueler, including towards other Hosts. Losing her father again after just getting back won't be helping her temperament any and I have a feeling she and Teddy are face off each other sooner than later.

Only a brief glimpse of the forward most point in the time frame, but it feels like the 11-day gap is quickly being closed up. I wouldn't be surprised if it's caught within the next three episodes.

 

[DigificWriter]

Just when I think WestWorld can't get any better, the writers and producers prove me wrong. Virtu e Fortuna (Virtue and Fortune) was, IMO, the best episode of the series to date, and dropped some pretty great reveals and surprises on us.

A few bullet-point thoughts and observations:
* Park 6's official name is The Raj, and I would love to go there if it existed in real life

* People apparently don't pay attention to news items for this show, because I've seen some confusion out there regarding the two characters we saw in the cold open despite the fact that they were identified in casting announcements as Nicholas (Neil Jackson) and Grace (Katja Herbers) and explicitly described as Guests

* I had been wondering last week what happened to Charlotte Hale in the 11-day span between Ford's death and when Karl Strand and his military unit arrived on WestWorld's shores

 

[Cyrus]

Was this the first time that William (old or young) didn't appear?

Virtu e Fortuna (Virtue and Fortune) was, IMO, the best episode of the series to date,

Agreed, my favotite too.

 

[Mudd]

I actually found it the least involving and interesting of the series. It was mainly simple point-a-to-b plot, the portrayals of the hosts and their interactions were very conventional. The unique voices of the characters were rather muted in order to get the damned battle scenes set up and done and the brewing conflict between Delores and Teddy moved forward a square.

Still by far the best thing I watched on TV this week.

 

[Captain Shaw]

The last place I would want to go is British India world. But I suppose it would be something the UKIP crowd would enjoy.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I just read an interesting theory regarding the Ghost Nation: They're actually trying to protect the guests, hence why they wanted to get Lee from Maeve, how Stubbs survived, and why they wanted to capture Grace. To take the theory further, perhaps Elsie reprogrammed them with this function?

The last place I would want to go is British India world. But I suppose it would be something the UKIP crowd would enjoy.

I'm glad I'm not the only person who is disturbed by that world.

 

[Mudd]

I just read an interesting theory regarding the Ghost Nation: They're actually trying to protect the guests, hence why they wanted to get Lee from Maeve, how Stubbs survived, and why they wanted to capture Grace. To take the theory further, perhaps Elsie reprogrammed them with this function?

I'll be surprised if Grace doesn't come face to face with Elsie real soon, yeah.

I'm glad I'm not the only person who is disturbed by that world.

I'm not sure that it's a disillusionment to find Guests coming to the other parks to enter times and places enabling them to lord it over, use and torment the Hosts. The myth of the American West is itself as distanced and self-serving a fantasy for the ruling ethnicity and class in America as RajWorld or whatever they want to call it.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I'll be surprised if Grace doesn't come face to face with Elsie real soon, yeah.

I had the same thought when she was captured by Ghost Nation, even before I read this theory. Something about her reminds me of Elsie.

I'm not sure that it's a disillusionment to find Guests coming to the other parks to enter times and places enabling them to lord it over, use and torment the Hosts. The myth of the American West is itself as distanced and self-serving a fantasy for the ruling ethnicity and class in America as RajWorld or whatever they want to call it.

I certainly agree with that and within the context of the show, its inclusion makes sense. I can see why it would appeal to white rich people of privilege, which is actually what most of Westworld's clientèle are. It's more problematic for anyone in the real world to express interest in it.

 

[Mudd]

"Just words in my head..."

I certainly agree with that and within the context of the show, its inclusion makes sense. I can see why it would appeal to white rich people of privilege, which is actually what most of Westworld's clientèle are. It's more problematic for anyone in the real world to express interest in it.

Well, I assume we're expected to respond to RajWorld with the same sense of appalled fascination at the awfulness of the humans that we do WestWorld - I mean, is there anyone faithfully watching the show who isn't essentially on the side of the Hosts and identifying with them?

Which makes me curious as to what ShogunWorld will turn out to be like next week.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Liked this one much better than the first two. Felt more focused and less random.

 

[DigificWriter]

Which makes me curious as to what ShogunWorld will turn out to be like next week.

I don't think it's wise to assume that we're going to dive directly into Shogun World next week given the way this series operates.