Westworld Season 2 Review: 10 Spoiler-Free Reactions To The First Five Episodes

9. The Whole Production Is Stunning

Westworld Dolores Teddy
HBO

Given its huge budget and the involvement of HBO, Westworld should look good, and it more than delivers on that front. Like with last year there are some gorgeous Wild West vistas, but it feels even better directed and shot this time around (there are some beautiful shots in these first five episodes, and a few really cool camera angles and little editing tricks).

The labs, which felt a little too basic sci-fi last time, are much improved too thanks to the devastation wreaked at the end of Season 1. It means there's more ruin to them, and a chance to play around a bit more and invert what we've already seen, including a lush sequence in the fourth episode that evocatively uses the colour red.

There's more chances for creative character design here as well, with the Drone Hosts giving a more frightening take on the hosts, while ShogunWorld offers up some wonderful costume and make-up work. And, of course, the music - by Ramin Djawadi - is again incredible, because that man is surely a host created solely for giving TV shows brilliant scores.

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.