Bad Robot/Jonathan Nolan Bringing "Westworld" to HBO

[DigificWriter]

Abrams may be an EP, but he's only an EP in that his production company is helping produce the series. Jonathan and Lisa are the ones in charge and the ones running the writer's room, and they've honestly been pretty straightforward thus far about what their narrative objectives are, so all these "theories" are, IMO, 'barking up the wrong tree' and seeing ambiguity and confusion when there isn't actually much present.

 

[harlequinade]

Abrams may be an EP, but he's only an EP in that his production company is helping produce the series. Jonathan and Lisa are the ones in charge and the ones running the writer's room, and they've honestly been pretty straightforward thus far about what their narrative objectives are, so all these "theories" are, IMO, 'barking up the wrong tree' and seeing ambiguity and confusion when there isn't actually much present.

There's plenty of ambiguity. Reading and coming up with those theories is almost as fun as watching the show itself and the fact that people do that is only a sign what a great story and mysteries they have in that show

 

[DigificWriter]

There's plenty of ambiguity.

There really isn't, actually. They've very clearly spelled out their central narratives for the season and the general conceits of the world; the only thing that is ambiguous at the moment is the 'whys' of everything we've been shown.

 

[harlequinade]

There really isn't, actually. They've very clearly spelled out their central narratives for the season and the general conceits of the world; the only thing that is ambiguous at the moment is the 'whys' of everything we've been shown.

We don't even know where the park is located

 

[DigificWriter]

We don't even know where the park is located

So?

There's a difference between keeping something ambiguous and slowly 'parsing' out information.

They're going to give us whatever information we don't currently have (such as the actual physical location of WestWorld, the Man in Black's history, etc.) before Season 1 is finished, and have, as noted, spelled out the things that they have told us pretty straightforwardly

 

[harlequinade]

So?

There's a difference between keeping something ambiguous and slowly 'parsing' out information.

They're going to give us whatever information we don't currently have (such as the actual physical location of WestWorld, the Man in Black's history, etc.) before Season 1 is finished, and have, as noted, spelled out the things that they have told us pretty straightforwardly

That's your assumption. And at the time since people don't know those things, they write fun theories. You don't think it's fun, well it's your business how you watch the show.

 

[DigificWriter]

That's your assumption.

It's not an assumption. Both Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy (Nolan) have flat-out said it in interviews.

 

[Man in the Suit]

I honestly feel like the concept will eventually be stretched too thin. It's evident there will be some sort of Host uprising, I'm just doubtful that can be sustained for anymore than one or two years. Lost was interesting for the first 2 seasons before it finally just became a chore to watch. I'm getting a similar vibe from this show already. I'll continue to watch it for now because it has some interesting concepts, but I'm not 100% sold that as a whole it has the legs to stand for 5 years.

Nolan had a show that ran for 5 years and had a perfect ending while still having plenty of story they could've told. I think he knows what he's doing.

 

[Marvolo]

Nolan had a show that ran for 5 years and had a perfect ending while still having plenty of story they could've told. I think he knows what he's doing.

To be fair POI had the benefit of being on CBS and partly a procedural. If they needed to they could throw in filler episodes (case of the week) if they needed to pad things out. Westworld is an HBO drama similar to GOT which are basically very long films broken into hour chunks.

That being said Im not worried. I dont think they will have a problem getting 5 seasons out of this.

 

[Kaleb]

I forgot Ed Brubaker was involved

.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

To be fair POI had the benefit of being on CBS and partly a procedural. If they needed to they could throw in filler episodes (case of the week) if they needed to pad things out. Westworld is an HBO drama similar to GOT which are basically very long films broken into hour chunks.

That being said Im not worried. I dont think they will have a problem getting 5 seasons out of this.

Marvolo, how in anyway is there a benefit to a show being on CBS as opposed to HBO from a creative standpoint? Padding out a 22-23 episode season has never been a problem on HBO.

 

[Sawyer]

Dat second episode.

 

[Teelie]

I think this can easily run five seasons. If you can't imagine the myriad of ways it is possible then you aren't being very imaginative.

 

[Kaleb]

Im fairly certain I read that the reason Westworld got put on hiatus during production was so that Nolan and Lisa Joy could plan all 5 seasons

 

[Bruce Malone]

I think this can easily run five seasons. If you can't imagine the myriad of ways it is possible then you aren't being very imaginative.

Another HBO series The Leftovers had an essential reboot between the first and second season. Changing the setting location and much of the supporting cast.

It's quite possible the Western motif of the park could be switched out to another location at some point. It probably will have to as the Western setting will probably grow stale a bit over more than a couple seasons.

 

[Marvolo]

Marvolo, how in anyway is there a benefit to a show being on CBS as opposed to HBO from a creative standpoint? Padding out a 22-23 episode season has never been a problem on HBO.

I meant it seems like it would be easier to drag out a cbs procedural than an HBO show like GOT or Westworld. So Nolan making POI last 5 seasons isnt really indicaive of his ability to make this last five seasons.

 

[Marvolo]

Another HBO series The Leftovers had an essential reboot between the first and second season. Changing the setting location and much of the supporting cast.

It's quite possible the Western motif of the park could be switched out to another location at some point. It probably will have to as the Western setting will probably grow stale a bit over more than a couple seasons.

Theyve said they want to introduce other parks in future seasons. So its a definitel possibility. We could see RomanWorld, Medieval-EuropeWorld, FutureWorld or pretty much anything they can imagine. Simething like Fuedel-JapanWorld, Ancient- GreeceWorld, Colonial-AmericaWorld (Imagine a park where you can actually live the founding of America.) etc. Its one of the great things about this whole concept.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I meant it seems like it would be easier to drag out a cbs procedural than an HBO show like GOT or Westworld. So Nolan making POI last 5 seasons isnt really indicaive of his ability to make this last five seasons.

I have been watching through POI for the first time over the last few months. I am at the end of season 3. Even with each season being 22-23 episodes, there has been a good 15 episodes worth of meat each season easily so far. And as it has gone on, it is has lost a lot of the "procedural" nature. So unless something dramatically fell off in the final 35 episodes, the show would have easily filled five 10 episode seasons. Well more imo.

If POI has taught me anything about the other Nolan, it is that he understands how to evolve a show to keep it fresh. He took a two man procedural, and turned into a long form story featuring an ensemble. After the majority of season one, who would have saw Root, Shaw, and Samaritan coming?

 

[harlequinade]

Theyve said they want to introduce other parks in future seasons. So its a definitel possibility. We could see RomanWorld, Medieval-EuropeWorld, FutureWorld or pretty much anything they can imagine. Simething like Fuedel-JapanWorld, Ancient- GreeceWorld, Colonial-AmericaWorld (Imagine a park where you can actually live the founding of America.) etc. Its one of the great things about this whole concept.

I really hope the cast stays. With the idea that Ford created all of this it would be weird if we saw other parks without his involvement...the show also isn't something like True Detective where you can just tell a different story in second season. It would also be fun seeing all those actors who play robots acting out their parts in totally different setting but still being very much the same character

Of course the title of the show itself poses a bit of problem to show a different world

 

[elgaz]

I really hope the cast stays. With the idea that Ford created all of this it would be weird if we saw other parks without his involvement...the show also isn't something like True Detective where you can just tell a different story in second season. It would also be fun seeing all those actors who play robots acting out their parts in totally different setting but still being very much the same character

Of course the title of the show itself poses a bit of problem to show a different world

There's ways and means to bring the other parks into Westworld, as such. Assuming they're run by the same company, using the same technologies and using the same train system as means of entry - all of which makes sense given that it's essentially a massive theme park - then it's plausible that if one of the main robot characters managed to escape, they could easily find themselves in another area of theme park rather than having escaped into our 'real life'. Dolores could find herself in feudal Japan, or medieval England, believing that she has escaped to the real world only to find it's yet another level.

It has great parallels with many ideas relating not only to virtual reality but also to philosophy and spirituality, and this idea that there are many levels and dimensions above that which we reside in. We think of one as the 'real one, but is there such a thing? Aren't they all real to us in their own way?

On a related note, I have a theory that ....

Spoiler

Westworld is not on Earth

.......... that I'm finding hard to shake because it makes so much sense.

 

[harlequinade]

There's ways and means to bring the other parks into Westworld, as such. Assuming they're run by the same company, using the same technologies and using the same train system as means of entry - all of which makes sense given that it's essentially a massive theme park - then it's plausible that if one of the main robot characters managed to escape, they could easily find themselves in another area of theme park rather than having escaped into our 'real life'. Dolores could find herself in feudal Japan, or medieval England, believing that she has escaped to the real world only to find it's yet another level.

It has great parallels with many ideas relating not only to virtual reality but also to philosophy and spirituality, and this idea that there are many levels and dimensions above that which we reside in. We think of one as the 'real one, but is there such a thing? Aren't they all real to us in their own way?

On a related note, I have a theory that ....

Spoiler

Westworld is not on Earth

.......... that I'm finding hard to shake because it makes so much sense.

Yeah it is extremely possible it is located on another planet. Hell, we haven't even seen the outside World yet, who knows it's not some dystopian scenario or there was some sort of disaster etc. I saw people theorizing that the park is underwater due to the note of decompression in the contract with the company (one of the cool things on the show's website) but I think it has to do with mental "decompression"

 

[elgaz]

Yeah it is extremely possible it is located on another planet. Hell, we haven't even seen the outside World yet, who knows it's not some dystopian scenario or there was some sort of disaster etc. I saw people theorizing that the park is underwater due to the note of decompression in the contract with the company (one of the cool things on the show's website) but I think it has to do with mental "decompression"

Spoiler

Decompression would also be used for space travel.

In addition:

- How could any corporation lay claim to so much vast land for recreational use? Especially if there's other parks besides Westworld?
- Nolan has referenced 'terraforming' being used to form the landscape in the park
- In the pilot one of the characters mentions 'when do you get to rotate home again?' and another talks about getting leave, as if this isn't a workplace you can simply walk in and out of.
- If set off Earth, the park is free from a myriad of legal and ethical restrictions relating to treatment of AIs
- The name WestWorld takes on an entire new meaning. It literally is another world.

Not to mention this globe in the park sublevels. Those don't look like Earth continents.

 

[harlequinade]

Spoiler

Decompression would also be used for space travel.

In addition:

- How could any corporation lay claim to so much vast land for recreational use? Especially if there's other parks besides Westworld?
- Nolan has referenced 'terraforming' being used to form the landscape in the park
- In the pilot one of the characters mentions 'when do you get to rotate home again?' and another talks about getting leave, as if this isn't a workplace you can simply walk in and out of.
- If set off Earth, the park is free from a myriad of legal and ethical restrictions relating to treatment of AIs
- The name WestWorld takes on an entire new meaning. It literally is another world.

Not to mention this globe in the park sublevels. Those don't look like Earth continents.

Woah this is a really cool theory and awesome points! I think you may be right. I did find 'rotate' line to be quite odd and wondered why on the map of the company there are all those living headquarters

 

[elgaz]

Woah this is a really cool theory and awesome points! I think you may be right. I did find 'rotate' line to be quite odd and wondered why on the map of the company there are all those living headquarters

The name on the globe, Delos also has meaning. Delos is a greek Island which in mythology was the birthplace of the gods Apollo and Artemis.

Spoiler

"Delos, if you would be willing to be the abode of my son Phoebus Apollo and make him a rich temple –; for no other will touch you, as you will find: and I think you will never be rich in oxen and sheep, nor bear vintage nor yet produce plants abundantly. But if you have the temple of far-shooting Apollo, all men will bring you hecatombs and gather here, and incessant savour of rich sacrifice will always arise, and you will feed those who dwell in you from the hand of strangers; for truly your own soil is not rich."

All of that relating to a barren island could related to a barren planet just as easily, one which needs terraformed and becomes a place of sacrifice (the AIs sacrifice themselves daily for the humans' enjoyment). It could be that somewhere like Mars was found to be too lacking in minerals to become somewhere to farm or colonise as a second home for humanity, but perfect for terraforming as a Western desert-style theme park

 

[elgaz]

Now I'm even more convinced

Spoiler

India sent an orbiter to Mars recently and the first few photos were just released in the last week. I was looking at them on a space site and noticed this one :

Turn it round, make it negative to enhance the edges of the continental areas ........... and notice any similarities to the Delos globe in the show? Granted they're at slightly different angles to each other, but I still think it's a significant similarity.