The show that has inspired countless fan theory discussions on Reddit is returning to HBO for its second season. Westworld, the brainchild of blockbuster producers Johnathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, has radically pushed not only television and digital streaming’s expectations, but has become one of the freshest shows to illicit one of the most devout fandoms in television history.
Originally conceived from Michael Crichton’s 1973 film, the series tells a futuristic tale of an android-filled Western-theme park that begins to experience troubling malfunctions from the robots themselves. Viewers begin to wonder…are the robots malfunctioning because of a technical glitch? Or are they developing a human consciousness?
Some of the show’s accolades include Emmy nominations for Outstanding Drama Series, Cinematography and Writing. Westworld’s overall picturesque look and feel comes from its high-concept camera shots, production design, and, of course, the talented ensemble cast.
With the first season’s overall budget of $100 million, the show focused its blockbuster film-like budget on the overall production design and expansive camera work to bring a glossy modern-age look to the old West. While made-for-TV content usually only requires a single-camera operation, Westworld on average uses three to six cameras daily on set. Nolan also brought on some of his previous Hollywood designers, set creators, and other personnel from The Dark Knight and Interstellar to transform some of HBO’s discarded sets into Westworld’s expansive setting.
Aside from the show’s high-dollar theatrical film look, Westworld delivers an extensive plot line full of unexpected twists and turns for fans to rave all across multiple digital media platforms to boost its hype in the overcrowded TV landscape. HBO alum Game of Thrones might be the reigning champ in the network’s viewership ratings at an estimated 23 million viewers per episode on live and recorded TV. But with an estimated 11 million live and digital streaming viewers tuning into Westworld’s weekly episodes, this freshman series might well become a contender to the mighty Game of Thrones fandom.
This entertaining high-concept show remains unapologetically brash toward its R-rated violence and nudity scenes, embracing the flawed and complex human beings and androids who continue to search for the greater meaning to their existence. Under the production banner of J.J Abram’s Bad Robot Productions, Jerry Weintraub Productions, Killer Films and in association with Warner Bros. Television, Westworld’s new season (premiering April 22) is expected to provide more heart-stopping action scenes and an exciting whirlwind of mysterious plot lines for viewers to overanalyze and interpret until the next new episode. Check out the official season two trailer below.
