Westworld (NO SPOILERS)

Author
Discussion

Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Guvernator said:
I just spotted a few danger signs in episode 3 and it looks like I'm not the only one. I've just found an article that puts it into better words then I could.

http://www.vox.com/culture/2016/9/30/13117110/west...

I really really hope that they don't go down this path as the show has great potential and I'm really enjoying it so far apart from the Lost-ish bits. HBO please don't mess this up!
Nice article, I could have written it. biggrin
It points pout what I said a while back, the overriding arc needs to exist, and we need to know it, otherwise it may meander. The film was a small arc told in a brilliant 120 minutes, that cannot be replicated.
I actually started to consider who I would think of as the focal point, the protagonist, this morning as I watched ep3, before I read the article, it has to be DOlores, with Hopkins as a secondary one. But she is given too little....at the moment.
I think where the article is a bit incorrect is the ensemble nature of HBO's output...all of their output in ensemble. The Sopranos had Tony, and Boardwalk Empire had Nucky, but they soon became first among equals of a large stellar cast.

walm

10,609 posts

201 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Guvernator said:
The other female guest with Ted seemed genuinely scared, not really a nice experience for someone whose paid a lot of money to be there, I'd be wanting my money back.
Never been on a rollercoaster??
When she started screaming, I thought the opposite... "Wow! Value for money... she's crapping herself!!" (Even though surely she knows the bullets can't hurt her...)

However, then I realised the terrorists were human and thought maybe she was right to be screaming!!

gregs656

10,816 posts

180 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
I wonder if the hosts are only pulled in and reset if they are not adopted by a guest, or if they reach the end of an arc.

Padding out some of the functional details would help a lot I think. We got some of this from Episode 2 but seems to have been abandoned in 3.


Guvernator said:
Intrigued to see where this will lead but at the moment it seems a little off. The other female guest with Ted seemed genuinely scared, not really a nice experience for someone whose paid a lot of money to be there, I'd be wanting my money back. At what point are the actions of other guests deemed unacceptable and the park keepers have to step in and call time?
That is what you pay for, to be immersed in a world. To reiterate a problem with the show is that although she was genuinely scared, I wasn't scared for her because currently the guests haven't been at any genuine risk. I really hope this changes, and not just because the park looses control.

Guvernator

13,103 posts

164 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
walm said:
Never been on a rollercoaster??
When she started screaming, I thought the opposite... "Wow! Value for money... she's crapping herself!!" (Even though surely she knows the bullets can't hurt her...)

However, then I realised the terrorists were human and thought maybe she was right to be screaming!!
Rollercoasters yep, I've been on loads. Most I've thoroughly enjoyed but I was once stupidly talked into going on a ride in a foreign country where I discovered a bit too late that there H&S concerns where a lot less than you'd expect them to be, basically there was no restraint bar holding you in and it was a horrible experience as we nearly fell out the damn thing several times.

I reckon the female guest would have felt the same way, a little controlled danger is one thing to get the adrenaline pumping, getting attacked by a bunch of people in masks with knives is quite something else, especially when you realise the gun in your hand is no use at all.

Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Indeed. One wants a bit of excitement, but getting the sweet spot in a real life simulation would have to be heavily monitored, there's no big red button like in G-Loc.

As the slimeball raper guest said in ep3, 'I want something easier'.

ben5575

6,213 posts

220 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
There's clearly a back story to the whole Westworld venture. The TV show is playing with the 'present' time, what with all the Groundhog Day stuff, and blending in the different guest/host arcs in a 'present' timeline which I'm not convinced is entirely linear or at the very least speeds up/down as the 'present' story requires (from the viewers' perspective).

There are however continual snippets of 'a previous time'. Some hosts presently recalling moments from 'previous' westworld entertainment stories. The fact that the hostess is 'one of the oldest hosts here'. The fact that Hopkins has a couple of 'older' hosts seemingly randomly sat in his office drinking and playing the piano - there is no way this is 'just because' - this is hiding in plain sight or at least a big clue...

There just seems to be a big gap in the timeline between Hopkins/'Arnold' (A.R.N.O.L.D?) and that flashback robot making scene to the present now with a completely fresh staff of scientists. Why is Hopkins the only 'original' there? Surely there would be other staff he worked with there as well? (or have I missed something?)

Are we sure the humans are actually humans or do we only know that because Westworld has said so? The whole show is very contained in one location (Lost anyone?). We haven't seen scientist dude with dead son going back to his empty house for example. He's always at work, as is Hopkins.

I might be over thinking this biggrin

Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Something that I find interesting, outside of the story, the bodies.
I've noticed two shoulder dislocations, probably bike accidents in two of the actors.

walm

10,609 posts

201 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Halb said:
Something that I find interesting, outside of the story, the bodies.
I think we all find them interesting.
Although it wasn't the shoulders I was looking at, to be honest.

Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
walm said:
I think we all find them interesting.
Although it wasn't the shoulders I was looking at, to be honest.
The feet?

Flip Martian

19,500 posts

189 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
ben5575 said:
There's clearly a back story to the whole Westworld venture. The TV show is playing with the 'present' time, what with all the Groundhog Day stuff, and blending in the different guest/host arcs in a 'present' timeline which I'm not convinced is entirely linear or at the very least speeds up/down as the 'present' story requires (from the viewers' perspective).

There are however continual snippets of 'a previous time'. Some hosts presently recalling moments from 'previous' westworld entertainment stories. The fact that the hostess is 'one of the oldest hosts here'. The fact that Hopkins has a couple of 'older' hosts seemingly randomly sat in his office drinking and playing the piano - there is no way this is 'just because' - this is hiding in plain sight or at least a big clue...

There just seems to be a big gap in the timeline between Hopkins/'Arnold' (A.R.N.O.L.D?) and that flashback robot making scene to the present now with a completely fresh staff of scientists. Why is Hopkins the only 'original' there? Surely there would be other staff he worked with there as well? (or have I missed something?)

Are we sure the humans are actually humans or do we only know that because Westworld has said so? The whole show is very contained in one location (Lost anyone?). We haven't seen scientist dude with dead son going back to his empty house for example. He's always at work, as is Hopkins.

I might be over thinking this biggrin
Timeline: Ep 1 established Westworld hadn't had a major malfunction in "over 30 years" - which would indicate that manufacturing was some years before that. Hopkins is clearly far older now - those from the time start will have retired. He is clearly the head and main driving force behind WW, albeit now he answers to "the board".

Scientist dude: some of the websites/articles written about the series said that the staff there work at WW for periods at a time before getting leave - they work on site and have accommodation there. In Ep 2, shouty mardy woman came to his accommodation and shagged him - all accommodation is on site. Whether some of them ever take leave though might be another thing...

ben5575

6,213 posts

220 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Flip Martian said:
shouty mardy woman came to his accommodation and shagged him.
Ah yes, so she did!

Nuclearsquash

1,329 posts

261 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Just a thought...

Teddy and Delores now have the opportunity to leave the park...

Delores was questioning Teddy why he always says someday they'll leave, much to Delores dissatisfaction...however. It was then latterly explained that Teddy had no backstory so couldn't ever finish off those things he had to do, because they just didn't exist. However now Teddy has his backstory and just has to kill the evil Sgt character and his gang, once that is done he will be "free" to leave anytime with Delores. So we just need white hat good guy to team up with Teddy and go off and kill the evil Sgt and gang, so Teddy and Delores can escape off into the sunset and out of WW. Now as to whether the gang are human or not, my suspicion is that they are wearing armour (see Ned Kelly) but are hosts.

On a separate note, I wonder if when guests die in WW, whether they are recreated as hosts but given Arnold's code then allowed to go free into the wider "real" world.

Just my two pence.

Silver Smudger

3,292 posts

166 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Beati Dogu said:



Angela, the woman who meets them off the train at the start is played by Talulah Riley. Formerly Mrs Elon Musk.

In fact they've been married and divorced to/from each other twice.
"Some of the future episodes of Westworld feature my ex. Talulah does a great job of playing a deadly sexbotsmile";

Elon Musk (@elonmusk) https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/78264004459915...

130R

6,807 posts

205 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Silver Smudger said:
"Some of the future episodes of Westworld feature my ex. Talulah does a great job of playing a deadly sexbotsmile";

Elon Musk (@elonmusk) https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/78264004459915...
The funny thing is that if anyone were to really create the robots seen in Westworld it would probably be him.

Flip Martian

19,500 posts

189 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Silver Smudger said:
"Some of the future episodes of Westworld feature my ex. Talulah does a great job of playing a deadly sexbotsmile";

Elon Musk (@elonmusk) https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/78264004459915...
I can't work out whether he's being complimentary or saying "my bh ex wife makes a good deadly sex bot" laugh

Actually, has he let the cat out of the bag? We've not seen her being deadly yet, although she did offer herself to White Hat (and i still can't quite believe he turned her down).

FourWheelDrift

88,375 posts

283 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Flip Martian said:
I can't work out whether he's being complimentary or saying "my bh ex wife makes a good deadly sex bot" laugh
The most amicable of divorces - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3723263/El...

Flip Martian

19,500 posts

189 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Nuclearsquash said:
Just a thought...

Teddy and Delores now have the opportunity to leave the park...

Delores was questioning Teddy why he always says someday they'll leave, much to Delores dissatisfaction...however. It was then latterly explained that Teddy had no backstory so couldn't ever finish off those things he had to do, because they just didn't exist. However now Teddy has his backstory and just has to kill the evil Sgt character and his gang, once that is done he will be "free" to leave anytime with Delores. So we just need white hat good guy to team up with Teddy and go off and kill the evil Sgt and gang, so Teddy and Delores can escape off into the sunset and out of WW. Now as to whether the gang are human or not, my suspicion is that they are wearing armour (see Ned Kelly) but are hosts.

On a separate note, I wonder if when guests die in WW, whether they are recreated as hosts but given Arnold's code then allowed to go free into the wider "real" world.

Just my two pence.
Can't see Teddy leaving the park - he's shown no signs of "awakening" and only been a bot with a limited range - "take people to hookers shootouts or be gun fodder". His "I heard of a place where the mountains meet the sea" line was just script I think. As Hopkins said said to him - his job is to keep Dolores there in WW.

walm

10,609 posts

201 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
FourWheelDrift said:
So good, they did it twice!

walm

10,609 posts

201 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Flip Martian said:
Actually, has he let the cat out of the bag? We've not seen her being deadly yet, although she did offer herself to White Hat (and i still can't quite believe he turned her down).
Yes - definite spoiler.
Although in fairness, if the fembots hadn't gone on a murderous rampage at some point then I would have been sorely disappointed.

Flip Martian

19,500 posts

189 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
FourWheelDrift said:
So she was a 22 year old virgin when she met him. She got married and walked away with 16m quid once. Then got him back and then divorced him a second time. And yet they "love each other and are best friends".

Hmmm....not entirely sure I believe all of that. Call me cynical...!