“Westworld saddles up with loaded six-shooters – A worthy contender to dislodge GOT as o

Westworld is a terrific genre movie. With shades of white and black thrown into the ring. So, raise a robotic hand if you liked Yul Brynner, famed as much for his completely bald head as for his performances (tooting, six-gunning shindig, I sure did). He gave us a memorable performance as a robotic cowboy in this amusing 1973 sci-fi/western hybrid.

Now, Westworld the TV series saddles up with guns blazing and stirrups jangling. So, raise a robotic hand or two for Ed Harris as he rides in to town as the ‘Man in Black.’ The new HBO series is an updated take on Yul Brynner’s android Gunslinger from the original feature film that inspired the series.

We have had recent tastes from the many clips released, as Harris’ character went full Terminator on the theme park’s human and androids. But it looks like we were served a curveball ladies and gentleman, which suggest that the Man in Black isn’t quite who we thought he was.

Our natural assumption that Harris’ character was a vengeful android has turned out to be wrong. The Man in Black is not only a human, he’s also a “frequent visitor to the park.” However, his murderous agenda is far from clear from the first episode and (I cannot wait to see how it plays out!).

“He’s got a much more specific intention than just having a good time,” said Harris in an interview. And as you can see in one of the newly revealed photos, his character appears to be familiar with Evan Rachel Wood‘s Dolores.

Ed’s performance is captivating; a true genius on TV and film, and a worthy ‘Man in Black’. Equal parts smart, funny and dead-serious ‘i’ take no prisoners kind-of-way. He’s also a guy you don’t want to mess with. In this world or in the real world (Just kidding, Ed is a terrific, well-managed and a very likeable bloke – he’ll bring you round a sunday lunch, “Potatoes! Anyone?”).

Right from the start, the showrunners made the right call; a conscious choice to start the series through the point of view of Dolores. “Have you ever questioned the nature… of your reality?” I believe that I’m there with her believing the reality and the familial connections she had.

And after establishing that empathy, we start to broaden the new world. A sweeping scale of the old West; steam engines, frontier towns, cowboys – what more could you want? No guidebook – for the imagination (hey, yeah, I want a guide book if I’m venturing into unchartered territory!)

“In this world, you can be whoever you want,”Thandie Newton’s character ‘Maeve Millay’ says.

Oh, and what a world we have! We expose the dark underbelly of the Fantasy Island dream, and it’s a show set to engage with some troubling issues. It’s a show that delves into the crime and establishing the crime off violence and sexual violence. Unfortunately, as you guys know – our own human history is steeped in this! Sad, but true. And the show delves deep into the torment of the characters within the story.

Westworld Season 1, Episode 3 Air Date 10/23/16 Pictured: Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Robert Ford

“Loosen your colourful corset’s folks,” Westworld boasts a massive cast that includes… Sir Anthony Hopkins, who’s often cast as a control freak, but it’s a role he has no desire to play in his own life.

“I don’t know why they cast me in these parts,” says the 78-year-old Welsh actor. “I’m the last person who wants any control.” Apparently, Sir Anthony gets these parts because ‘he’ looks so serious. But I guess he’s got a wicked sense of humour, and a teasing mind.

But not that his latest incarnation could be described as a laugh-a-minute. As you know, Hopkins plays Dr Robert Ford, as the enigmatic founder of the park, and the man in charge of the fantasy-fuelled park, in which, for a price, guests can act out their wildest dreams (dreams, dreams, dreams…) – good, bad and sometimes sexually violent. Disneyland might have to up their game a little?

But, and there’s always a but! The parks robotic staff start malfunctioning and developing murderous minds of their own, and the future looks far from bright for the human visitors and park operators (just imagine Jurassic Park/World, and you’ll know what I mean!).

It’s Hopkins’ first major TV role and he claims he took the part because, “they offered it to me and I heard stories about how television is the big deal now”.

And I think you were right to accept the role ‘Sir Anthony Hopkins’, as you have not disappointed your viewers. A delightful display of menacing authority over the park, and a twinkle of devilish charm simmers in ‘those’ eyes of yours.

The HBO series, which also stars a wealth of acting talent. James Marsden, Evan Rachel, Rodrigo Santoro, Thandie Newton, Ben Barnes, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal – just to name a few, and they gives solid performances throughout the first episode, and will continue to delight us throughout the series. Marsden is likable, honest, and down to earth gritty cowboy ‘Teddy Flood’ (liking the slacks – James!).

Evan Rachel Wood ‘Dolores Abernathy’ and Thandie Newton’s ‘Maeve Millay’ pulls the audience in with superbly written performances from the actresses, as lifelike ‘hosts’, 3D-printed robots repeating preprogrammed actions so human guests can enjoy and abuse their company.

A notable mention goes to Jeffrey Wright’ character who plays a technician more interested in hosts than in people. (Quite possibly the most underrated and underexposed actor of his caliber and generation) aka ‘Bernard Lowe.’

He can continue to astonish his critics, colleagues and fans alike with the intensity of his skill and character-driven performances, and I hope ‘Jeffrey’s’ character will bag more screen time in later episodes.

IMAGES BY: HBO

There’s a moment early in the show, where a guest is asked to complete his cowboy outfit by choosing a hat. The choice, obviously, is between a white hat and a black one. That’s one of the major themes running through the heavyweight drama. If you can do anything you want, what do you do?

Big questions about artificial intelligence, free will and consciousness are fired off like bullets from a six-shooter, and plays out like “Deadwood” mixed with “Blade Runner”.

Right from the piano playing Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” in the saloon was pretty damn cool, all the way through to the end. But the show seems to be a setting up for a slow burn rather than instant gratification,no different from many other tv series (you here me shout!) but, character development is a big part of the process.

The show also works when it’s throwing in plot twists that keep you guessing, particularly when we’re following the machinations of the chilling Harris and Hopkins. The rest of the time the series has a flaw: we know the hosts are robots (DAMN YOU, SPOILERS!).

But whenever the pace slows or the subplots meander, I find myself wondering when the robots are going to get on with it (Just start murdering people already, pardners).

In general, a great, solid start, folks, and the show (I hope) will be another ‘hit’ in the making. I’m now gonna have to watch the first one again, though. Lots of talent. Lots of visuals to feast my eyes upon.

Let me know what you think? Share the blog with other like-minded culturedemandsgeeks worldwide, and put on your stirrups and do up your fancy corsets – Westworld is going to be one jumpy, thrill-seeking ride for the imagination.

Westworld is written and executive produced by Nolan (Person of Interest, The Dark Knight) and Lisa Joy (Pushing Daisies, Burn Notice), and provides a fresh take on Michael Crichton’s 1973 film of the same name.

Westworld debuts on SoHo at 2pm New Zealand time (simulcast with the US) on Monday. October 3 and encores at 8.30pm that night.