7 Reasons Westworld Is Your Next TV Addiction
4. It's The Good Kind Of Remake
However, Westworld isn't actually the first of its kind... it is actually 43 years old! In 1973 author Michael Crichton took to the screens with his first feature-length directorial debut. You may have heard of him before, that's right, Crichton was the man behind Jurassic Park. The original Westworld became a cult hit, with Yul Brynner as the psychotic robot Gunslinger.
The original runs at a measly 88 minutes long, and feels over before it has begun. Clearly Crichton had a much bigger picture, but the film never truly explored the motives of its characters, whilst most are reduced to two-dimensional castaways.
The episodic structure, focussing on different characters each week, suits the HBO version much better. Just as Abrams's LOST had a "person of the week" formula, the first two episodes of Westworld seem to be going down that track. The second episode honed in on Thandie Newton's washed up brother madam Maeve, which is a relief, as she came across a little "stiff" in episode one.
Secondly, the cliffhanger endings of an hour a week ensure that you will come back for more. It looks like the writers aren't looking to give too much away, especially when it comes to Harris's M.I.B., so I would start preparing for a The Walking Dead-style finale that ends on a nail-biting cliffhanger...until next year.
Finally, the series is a spin on what came before it. Whereas the 1973 film focussed on the robots being evil, today's Westworld is largely from the view of the robots/hosts themselves. What makes a robot tick is more interesting than just another show that looks at humans and technology. With shows like Black Mirror and Mr. Robot getting us hooked, Westworld is unique clever take on modern society. In 2016, Westworld is perfectly timed for a comeback.