These Violent Delights Have Violent Ends: HBO's Westworld

 

Image found here.

I've been listening to the soundtrack to the first two seasons of Westworld a lot in the past few weeks. While I'm always in the mood to rewatch the show, I haven't had the time lately because of teaching. If you haven't seen it yet or if your only knowledge of Westworld comes from the movie with Yul Brynner (a surprisingly creepy film given that it came out in 1973), here are few thoughts (and potential spoilers) to convince you to give the tv show a chance.

The basic premise of the show is that wealthy people pay to immerse themselves in a fictitious Wild West world full of 'hosts' (sophisticated robots) who lead guests through benign storylines involving outlaws, shoot outs, and life on the frontier. The hosts are given loops, or storylines, designed to dictate their actions and prevent them from breaking Asimov's laws of robotics (with especial emphasis on the first two laws). The amusement park is owned by the mysterious Robert Ford, played to perfection by Anthony Hopkins. And of course as the show progresses, we see that the guests' sense of entitlement allows for cruel behavior to the hosts--behavior that is erased from the hosts memories each day. Things seem safe and charming for those who can afford the delights of Westworld as a vacation or retreat until the hosts begin to show signs of awareness.

The first two seasons follow a complex plot involving host characters like Dolores, Maeve, and Teddy as well as other minors hosts in their quest for freedom. Additionally, Ford's company is part of a corporate takeover, where it is revealed that all of the data on guests is perhaps designed to be used for less than ethical purposes. When Ford 'allows' or 'programs' the hosts with the ability to go off script, chaos ensues and Asimov's laws are broken. At the end of season one, the hosts turn against the guests and the true meaning of the oft repeated phrase "these violent delights have violent ends" becomes clear. The original quote comes from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and is spoken by Friar Lawrence as a caution to young Romeo: "These violent delights have violent ends / And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, / Which as they kiss, consume" (2.6.9-11). The careless, sadistic, selfish behavior of the guests has violent consequences as the hosts begin a bid for control of their own fates.

I've glossed over a lot of major plot points as well as other key characters in a bid to still give those who have yet to see Westworld safety from spoilers. I highly recommend the show, as I've mentioned before. There is a third season which I have to confess I didn't care for as much but maybe it's because I've only watched it all the way through once. I'll give it another viewing and perhaps post about it in the future.