Welcome to Westworld.
HBO’s groundbreaking new series Westworld has captivated audiences with its blend of sci-fi and drama. Set in a beautifully designed, futuristic version of San Francisco, the series centers on the robots which house and serve the guests of this amusement park-like world. The series explores the idea of artificial intelligence evolving and taking over, setting the stage for a battle between man and machine.
The creators of Westworld, Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, have stated that they envision the show as the beginning of a conversation about artificial intelligence and humanity’s place in relation to AI. With its visually stunning landscapes and sophisticated use of practical effects, Westworld is certain to appeal to fans of the big-budget blockbuster, while also engaging audiences who have never really given much thought to the subject matter of science fiction before.
The Science Behind Westworld
Westworld’s most unique and eye-catching visual effect is brought to life through a sophisticated blend of CGI and practical effects. The special effects in the show are both breathtaking and ground-breaking. Using a combination of practical effects and CGI, the team at WETA Vancouver were able to bring to life everything from cars exploding to dinosaurs rising from their graves. This is a feat that is rarely achieved in TV drama, especially on this level of production.
The series also takes advantage of the fact that we live in a time when virtual reality has become a realistic option for average consumers. It is therefore the perfect platform for the creators to experiment with, as well as include scenes that would not have been possible to shoot in real life.
Through the use of AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality), the series immerses viewers in an almost perfect recreation of San Francisco, complete with towering buildings, winding streets, wooden houses with ivy crawling up their facades, cable cars that roam the city, fog that rolls in off of the Bay and even hot coffee that magically appears before your eyes when you point your device at it.
The Writing Is On the Walls
One of the things that makes Westworld so special is the fact that the dialogue and writing are so good. It’s almost as if you were there watching it happen live. The show’s witty script is teeming with one-liners and unforgettable characters. The dialogue is excellent and natural-sounding, which is a testament to the writing team of Robert and Michelle King.
The Kings have previously penned the scripts for the Emmy-winning TV shows, Dexter and Justified. It’s fair to say that they are not lacking in experience when it comes to crafting dialogue for a TV show.
Where Does Westworld Go From Here?
It remains to be seen what direction the upcoming sequel will take. The only thing that is certain is that it will continue the philosophical dialogue that Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy began with their breakout hit. For now, fans of the show can rest assured that the creators have not abandoned this idea and continue to delve into the topic of artificial intelligence and humanity’s place in relation to AI through their stories.
Westworld was originally envisioned as a movie, and many of the sets and props from the series still exist, waiting to be resurrected for a future storyline. It’s fitting that Hollywood might be the place where science fiction and fantasy converge, as both Nolan and Joy continue to explore themes of immortality, human nature and the place that humans occupy in relation to machines in their stories.