Westworld season 1

Westworld season two will soon be coming TV and if you missed it first time around, hopefully this will suggest whether this unusual show is for you. Mixing together the rotting genre that is the western with sci-fi elements was likely to raise a few eyebrows, and news of a troubled production, that was even halted at one point, would indicate that this might be one to skip but for me it was too intriguing to miss.

I was so interested in seeing what this would become that even watched (and reviewed!) the original 1970s film which was very enjoyable. The HBO series neither confirms whether this is a reboot or a sequel, adding to the many questions raised at the start and I did see people dropping off early on due to the odd concept. Westworld is best described as an open world without consequences where visitors are transported back to the old west and are free to explore however they wish but the host robots start to malfunction raising questions that only creator Anthony Hopkins might have the answers to.

Typical of HBO, the show does have its fair share of bloody violence, sex scenes and language but it is also a smart and rewarding series that gets better with each episode. It is also boosted by a terrific cast that includes Evan Rachel Wood, Ed Harris, Thandie Newton, James Marsden, Luke Hemsworth, Ben Barnes and Jeffrey Wright. That's a lot of money on screen for a show as ambitious as this so it's no wonder there were problems with going over budget but the end result was worth the wait and it looks fantastic.

I really hope that season two continues to impress following such a strong conclusion that didn't disappoint. If you're looking for a show where an episode ends and you're left debating whether you can fit one more in, Westworld definitely delivers on that. A slow burner but a great experience through and through.