Westworld Season 2 Premiere: 7 Ups And 3 Downs From 'Journey Into Night'
A violent beginning.
Westworld is back online, the park is open again, and HBO's biggest TV show this side of Game of Thrones has returned.
The first season dropped what feels like a lifetime ago back in 2016, airing to strong reviews and even stronger hype, with those comparisons to Thrones - and the show's need to be the successor to that behemoth - instantaneous.
Luckily for HBO the show was a success, built upon a platform of plot twists, fan theories, high production values, and some great performances from the hugely talented ensemble. While fans guessed many of the turns it would take ahead of time, the superb season finale has blown the whole premise up, and 18 months later the show has now returned with bigger stakes and better storytelling.
Ford's dead, the robot uprising is beginning, and for both hosts and humans it's a whole new Westworld; shining, shimmering, splendid. This is well-evidenced by the Season 2 premiere, Journey Into Night, which - despite the odd glitch - puts us right back into the game.
Warning: this review contains spoilers. You can read a spoiler-free review of the first five episodes here.