Westworld - Pilot - Advance Preview: The Original

10 or so years ago if you asked a group of critics where the best and most exciting TV was being made, they’d probably almost unanimously tell you that it was HBO. In the years since, we’ve seen an unprecedented boom in not just the amount of television being made, but also the quality. These days, it’d be easy to argue that FX, Netflix, or even Showtime are delivering the highest quality television: but you can never count out HBO.

In recent years, the network has struggled to find a hit the size of Game of Thrones. With high-profile misses like Vinyl and the second season of True Detective, as well as critical darlings like The Leftovers failing to make as much of an impression on audiences, you get the feeling that execs have been itching to find a crossover success, championed by both viewers and critics. With Westworld, they may have done just that.

That’s not to say that things have gone off without a hitch, though. Back in January, production was shut down temporarily to allow executive producers Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy to finalize some scripts – some wondered whether that spelled trouble for the series. The good news is that, based on the pilot episode, it absolutely did not.

Westworld weaves an intricate tale that proves absurdly fun to watch – it’s also beautifully shot, with breath-taking cinematography and incredible sets and wardrobe. At the heart of it, though, is the story. Truth be told, I didn’t know a whole lot going into the pilot, other than how incredible the cast was (Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, and James Marsden lead the heavy-weight troupe of actors). I had a good enough understanding of the premise, but I purposefully tried to avoid trailers or reading too much beforehand: it paid off.

The pilot episode is full of fanciful layers that slowly pull themselves back to reveal a dark heart; from within the Westworld theme park to outside where everything is controlled – until it isn’t anymore. The pilot sets up a series that could go any number of ways, and it’s been a long time since I could say that I so thoroughly enjoyed the first episode of a drama series. Nolan and Joy set up a world that offers both titillating fantasy and terrifying glimpses into reality – the things we crave, the dreams we wish were realities, and truths we try hard to avoid.

Particularly exciting, for me, was Ed Harris as Gunslinger. We learn virtually nothing about the character in the pilot, but Harris’ performance is chilling and enigmatic. While Gunslinger exists inside Westworld, Anthony Hopkins portrays Dr. Robert Ford, the creative director outside of the ‘park’, struggling to uncover what’s causing the Westworld “hosts” to malfunction.

Beyond that, I think the pilot episode will be best discovered on your own – knowing too much would take away the thrill of the reveals. The episode builds a universe that offers endless possibilities, anchored by characters whom we’re sure to become deeply invested in (most notably Evan Rachel Wood’s Dolores Abernathy, who uncovers a terrifying truth about her world as the pilot winds down).

Alongside the continued cultural and critical dominance of Game of Thrones and the emergence of Veep as TV’s comedic MVP, Westworld finds itself a worthy member of HBO’s most exciting roster in years.

Westworld premieres this Sunday at 9pm EST on HBO. Hit the comments to let us know what you’re most excited to see in the pilot. For more on Westworld and other series, feel free to follow me on Twitter.