Late to the party, I know but I finally got around to taking a look and it seems pretty interesting, certainly engrossing. Anyone else have any thoughts, opinions, even warnings?
No spoilers please
I enjoyed it. I suspect that there is a toxic fandom out there nit picking every 'plothole' or logical lapse but I've been able to avoid them. The 'big reveal' near the end can be seen a long way aways but didn't bother me. The cast are terrific and the ending was great.
Quote from: Nexus;1016445Late to the party, I know but I finally got around to taking a look and it seems pretty interesting, certainly engrossing. Anyone else have any thoughts, opinions, even warnings?
No spoilers please
I saw the first episode and just didnt like it. Its Westworld in name only and comes across as really sadistic and unpleasant. Points though for the convoluted plot. Which seems to be the real star of the series.
This was my favorite show of 2016. The story and acting were amazing. I'm a big fan of Jonathan Nolan's work -- he did help write all those whacky Nolan films we know and love (Inception, Interstellar, The Prestige, etc.) -- and it didn't disappoint.
The new season is coming out. I'll be interested to see where it'll take place.
I finally finished the 1st season of HBO's West World series and its well worth the watch. Good acting and effect with a plot that should keep you guessing as it builds some interesting (and a little trippy twists). I really enjoyed it and its one of the few shows I actually binged watched. And I'm definitely looking forward to season 2.
Spoiler
Dellos' security definitely graduated from the Stormtrooper marksmanship academy.
As with everything in the show. That may be intentional. :cool:
Quote from: Omega;1017969As with everything in the show. That may be intentional. :cool:
Hm, Good point.
Quote from: Omega;1016812I saw the first episode and just didnt like it. Its Westworld in name only and comes across as really sadistic and unpleasant. Points though for the convoluted plot. Which seems to be the real star of the series.
That was my feeling too. but then I expected that from an HBO adaption. The Outer Limits series they did was much the same, bleak and depressing and unpleasant.
Quote from: Omega;1033473That was my feeling too. but then I expected that from an HBO adaption. The Outer Limits series they did was much the same, bleak and depressing and unpleasant.
"The Outer Limits" was on SHOWTIME, not HBO.
- Ed C.
They kinda blurred together after a while back then.
Season 2 is off to a good start, IMO. The first episode was engaging and a good set up that demonstrated the non linear style of season one and set up some intriguing questions to work out over this season. Antagonist and protagonists is still a little hazy.
I can't argue that the premise and presentation are bleak along the its presentation of human nature. I think some of that can be chalked up to the story being told from the perspective of the Hosts (thematically if not always directly) but not all of it; its a very dark parable about human nature, hubris and entitlement.
Amusingly, the show appears to be trying to balance out the penis vs breasts ratio. There were a few frontal nudes of men that likely would have been considered gratuitous if the focus was female. One in particular I didn't see the point of but I'm hoping there will be more explanation for it other than (in character) spite as justified as that may have been.
Yeah, that gratuitous male nude scene was a bit silly...almost certainly a prosthetic, too.
Quote from: Doom;1038048Yeah, that gratuitous male nude scene was a bit silly...almost certainly a prosthetic, too.
And unessescary IMO. The nudity is season one was fairly even handed and besides, the majority of it wasn't sexual or meant to be tittilating more dehumanizing. The Hosts weren't people, they were products and why would dress a mannaquin that wasn't on the sale floor? I fully understand there being less of it this season, the themes have shift but the idea that the nudity ratio had to made more balanced is a bit silly.
Its a bit like how some shows are wall to wall violence and brutality involving men, but its the handful of scenes that involve women that draw the audiences ire. Just part or our collective psychological make up I suppose, but its chuckle worthy when you notice.\
That nitpicking and eye rolling aside, I'm enjoying this season. It maintains that dark take on some big questions, particularly human nature. Despite it all, I still find myself rooting for team human, but I sympathize with the Hosts. The premise is working better for me than in Humans. The non linear story telling keep you guessing just what happened when and how it will all come together.
Spoiler
Ford continues to be an excellent example of a Round Antagonist.
Anyone still watching season 2? Its making season 1 look positively festive in comparison. the following contains spoilers for anyone not up to date on current episodes (season 2ep 8 at the time of posting)
Spoiler
I don't mind dark mood and themes so I'm enjoying it but damn, a little light or more characters you might actually root for wouldn't hurt, As of now Maeve is the closest to for me, her motivations are understandable and she's gone completely 'kill all humans!" like others like 'Wyatt'.
If there was some attempt to paint the Hosts as better than humanity, its not working for me. Physically and mentally advantaged but definitely not any kind of spiritual successors or more 'evolved' beings. I feel more for allot of the name guests that are victimized. Are we supposed to assume they're all sociopathic monsters getting off rape and pillage? And even if they are, lets be frank, they don't know the Hosts have the potential to be sapient or even conscious. They're acting under the assumption they're complicated very realistic mannequins and its not real. As role play gamers, we indulge in a similar activity.
It's brilliant, barring one thing: Delos Corp security are all muppets. It keeps knocking me out of my suspension of disbelief that apparently they hired only idiots without the slightest grasp of the most basic tactics to provide "security".
Quote from: Kiero;1044291It's brilliant, barring one thing: Delos Corp security are all muppets. It keeps knocking me out of my suspension of disbelief that apparently they hired only idiots without the slightest grasp of the most basic tactics to provide "security".
Delos Security's lack of ability has been annoying. My viewing circle has rationalized it as much as we could and still hold out hope there will be some in narrative explanation (even if its something as simple as "We went bargain basement since nothing like this was expected to happen or had happened in 30 or so years.")
I guess its more something you have to accept so the story can progress, but I'd prefer if the down played it more, had more occur off screen. Its really grates when the only one that seems to have part of his act together, Ashley Stubbs, is made the buttmonkey for incompetent quips
Could even be the lax security is intentional. We've seen how certain individuals in the background like the designer have set up sometimes subtle or layers contingencies to advance his agenda. Would perfectly fit that he somehow manipulated security hires and security setups to facilitate a Host escape.
Or the execs have set this up just to see what happens.
Or both.
Or the security really are morons. Or as you posit, no one ever thought of this. Or thought it was a real threat that couldnt be handled simply.
Yeah, we've had a few discussing brainstorming and blueskying rationales for Delo Security's lack of seeming skill (even for cinematic 'mooks') The geek instinct to not just accept 'its for the story' is strong in up regarding this story. Considering how for is depicted as a grandmaster of the Xanatos Gambit though both seasons, him manipuling the security recruitment somehow would stand at least casual examination, IMO.
As for Ashely Stubbs there's a fan wank that he might be secretly a Host. It would explain some things about the season finale. I am really curious to see where season 3 takes things. It almost seems like there's going to be a Magneto/Prof X thing going on with Delores and Benard except Prof X isn't 'fond' of humans. He just doesn't care for the notion of genocide.
Season three should open with a staff meeting "First order of business, who here isn't secretly a host? Anyone?"
I'm finding season 2 pretty weak as well (though that may just be because season 1 was so full of win).
I'm not that disappointed with security--it's pretty clear that the security was deeply undermined (by as many as 3 different parties) from the get-go, so having them be pretty clueless and bumbling in general about what to do seems about right (nothing can match Starfleet for inept security in a sci-fi universe, after all).
Just wrapped up Season 2 last night and it was OK.
There was zero sympathy for Dolores story arc. She is just a vindictive murderous bitch. I am not even sure the worst human villains match her villainy. Maeve's story line was sympathetic at least.
The wrap up for William (Man in Black) simply felt convenient. Stubbs suddenly going deep plant and going soft on Hale's escape seemed to come out of no where. It seems to basically erase his whole arc in season 1.
Agree with the silliness of the inept human security. Why are they doing a ground sweep anyways with out, oh I don't know, some figgin' helicopters (story no doubt) and when did shoulder-to-shoulder advancing come back in-vogue? Wasn't that shown to be a terrible idea as far back as the US Civil War or WWI? And why did the neck scan fail in the last episode?
Great show so far... Dolores went for me from being 'more human than human' to a lunatic megalomaniac killer with no empathy. Of course, that was the shadows aim. Her mind rape of Teddy was truly horrific...
Seems to be some kind of Adam and Eve metaphor going on with Bernard and herself.