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Westworld - Live in Your World, Play in Ours - Sundays on HBO

ZOONAMI

Junior Member
Why assume it is on a planet at all? It could be a space station linked to an orbital elevator.

It would have to be a giant space station. I feel building on on the moon would be more practical. At least you have a solid foundation to start with. Building in space you don't even have a ground to start with.

Im thinking will be like a terraformed dome on the moon or on mars.
 
Where did he say that?

Then yeah definitely it's not on earth.
I think it was one of the EW articles.

That doesn't necessarily mean "not on Earth". He might not have been using the term literally, and was simply using it to describe that it was a large scale terrain reforming project.
 

ZOONAMI

Junior Member
The argument against it being on Earth is that the HQ looks like it is built into a rock formation but goes down over 83 floors deep, and the basement level looks like the company's original entrance lobby. So they built everything around stuff which is really old, but somehow couldn't just demolish and build a new building instead. Very curious. Almost like it is part of essential infrastructure.

It could just be a building with like a fake rock formations built around it. It may be they used to allow guests into their hq building but don't anymore. 83rd level may have been like a mall / gift shop area at one point.
 
Why assume it is on a planet at all? It could be a space station linked to an orbital elevator.
The Discover West World site mentions needing to be work with your local port authority to chart a course to the park after booking your stay

Which implies an island or somewhere off world (i.e. charting a course through waters or through space)
 

Budi

Member
We see the fly land on the sheriff and it malfunctions, in front of a couple guests.
The development team investigates for hours but they can't figure out the "BUG" that caused the issue.
Why did the sheriff malfunction at that point in time? It was going through an internal struggle to swat the fly, to kill a living creature.
A fly landing on a person is such a small event that went completely unnoticed to the guests and investigators, but it is a blaring signal to the audience that the AI is fighting against its programming.

Interesting take. I really didn't think the flies would also be a cause to the malfunction. I thought they were there only to highlight how the hosts dont wave them away or squash them. Until they do. The woman quest was even seen waving away flies herself in the same scene that the sheriff malfunctions.
 

Palmer_v1

Member
The Discover West World site mentions needing to be work with your local port authority to chart a course to the park after booking your stay

Which implies an island or somewhere off world (i.e. charting a course through waters or through space)

Considering how rich the guests need to be, and how futuristic it is otherwise, this definitely makes me think space, cause if it was on Earth, people would be flying to it, not taking a ship.

Edit: Unless it's somehow underwater, but it's probably easier to terraform mars than it is to build something this huge under the ocean.
 
I really enjoyed it but the excessive nudity and swearing is weird, it comes across as forced.

But I'm optimistic from the first episode, very intriguing stuff so far.
 
I really enjoyed it but the excessive nudity and swearing is weird, it comes across as forced.

But I'm optimistic from the first episode, very intriguing stuff so far.
I dunno, the nudity has almost completely felt pretty "clinical" so far (granted, that'll definitely change). Hasn't really distracted me, it's just kind of there. The first conversation between Theresa and Lee was pretty forced with its constant f-bombs though.
 

UrokeJoe

Member
I dunno, the nudity has almost completely felt pretty "clinical" so far (granted, that'll definitely change). Hasn't really distracted me, it's just kind of there. The first conversation between Theresa and Lee was pretty forced with its constant f-bombs though.

Agree on it being clinical.
 

Grizzlyjin

Supersonic, idiotic, disconnecting, not respecting, who would really ever wanna go and top that
I think the nudity is pretty essential here. The people running Westworld have no reason to respect the nonexistent modesty of the hosts. It's supposed to make you feel a little uneasy.

Edit: whoops
 

MoeDabs

Member
I really enjoyed it but the excessive nudity and swearing is weird, it comes across as forced.

But I'm optimistic from the first episode, very intriguing stuff so far.

I think a lot of the awkward swearing is deliberate due to how shit the scenario writer is at dialogue. You can see when it's his line versus a natural reaction/Host AI.
 
Nudity is great tho

It is but in situations where it makes sense.

I dunno, the nudity has almost completely felt pretty "clinical" so far (granted, that'll definitely change). Hasn't really distracted me, it's just kind of there. The first conversation between Theresa and Lee was pretty forced with its constant f-bombs though.

I suppose, I just though it was odd that they are identical to humans in every way and in a professional environment these workers would probably be uncomfortable with nude "people" just hanging about everywhere, just seemed like a way to shoehorn the nudity quota to me but I may be wrong and over thinking it.
 

Zabka

Member
So, does no one realize what Ed Harris is doing? Do they not notice the card dealer missing/dead whatever?

I'm sure it isn't the first time someone kept a host as an overnight guest. They probably thought "That creep's out in the desert torturing someone, as per usual".
 
They fly was incredible symbolism.

Obviously there's the whole "They can't even hurt a fly."
And throughout the episode we see the AI show no reaction to a fly landing on them.
Why not? They are programmed not to hurt a living thing, there's nothing they can do about the situation.

But there's more to it than that.
We see the fly land on the sheriff and it malfunctions, in front of a couple guests.
The development team investigates for hours but they can't figure out the "BUG" that caused the issue.
Why did the sheriff malfunction at that point in time? It was going through an internal struggle to swat the fly, to kill a living creature.
A fly landing on a person is such a small event that went completely unnoticed to the guests and investigators, but it is a blaring signal to the audience that the AI is fighting against its programming.

Then there is the wonderful interview between Dolores and the security guard.
He straight up asks her "Would you hurt a living creature?" And she responds "No".
And in the next scene we see her casually, and instinctually, kill the fly.

The symbolism is that no matter how closely monitored the robots are, humans aren't able to catch the small signs that the AI is evolving against its programming.
giphy.gif
 
I suppose, I just though it was odd that they are identical to humans in every way and in a professional environment these workers would probably be uncomfortable with nude "people" just hanging about everywhere, just seemed like a way to shoehorn the nudity quota to me but I may be wrong and over thinking it.
There's a lot of deliberate symbolism, imagery, and subtext in the hosts being permanently in the nude while in HQ. It's dehumanizing and shows that staff has no regard for them as beings (they view them as mindless robots, glorified mannequins, though obviously there's more to them). It also establishes ideas of subservience and inferiority. There's also a bit of irony in the pure human form setting them aside as nonhuman.
 
It is but in situations where it makes sense.



I suppose, I just though it was odd that they are identical to humans in every way and in a professional environment these workers would probably be uncomfortable with nude "people" just hanging about everywhere, just seemed like a way to shoehorn the nudity quota to me but I may be wrong and over thinking it.
I imagine factory workers don't feel uncomfortable around unclothed mannequins

And either way, the people have been working with and on hosts for decades. It's just an animatronic. It wouldn't be uncomfortable anymore.
 

Sean C

Member
I will say, this feels like a show that will be radically, radically different from how it is now by Season 2, if the storylines are going to advance at all. Much like Crichton's other park-themed sci fi project, it doesn't seem like the park can continue to operate as it is much longer.
 
There's a lot of deliberate symbolism, imagery, and subtext in the hosts being permanently in the nude while in HQ. It's dehumanizing and shows that staff has no regard for them as beings (they view them as mindless robots, glorified mannequins, though obviously there's more to them). It also establishes ideas of subservience and inferiority. There's also a bit of irony in the pure human form sets them aside as nonhuman.

I imagine factory workers don't feel uncomfortable around unclothed mannequins

And either way, the people have been working with and on hosts for decades. It's just an animatronic. It wouldn't be uncomfortable anymore.

I didn't think about it that way and this changes my opinion on the whole thing.
I shouldn't have rushed to judgement so fast,thanks.
 

Brakke

Banned
I appreciated the nudity. After all the Game of Thrones "sexposition" jokes, it was refreshing to have a show using nudity but in a way that wasn't really titillating at all.
 

Apoc29

Member
So, does no one realize what Ed Harris is doing? Do they not notice the card dealer missing/dead whatever?

Even if they did notice, the premise is that he's paid lots of money to indulge in his fantasies no matter how cruel or unusual, so they just let it happen. That's my assumption anyway; of course, it could turn out that what he's doing is against the rules and no one has picked up on it yet.
 

Budi

Member
I really enjoyed it but the excessive nudity and swearing is weird, it comes across as forced.

But I'm optimistic from the first episode, very intriguing stuff so far.

Was there really excessive swearing? I remember hearing bitch once, but not much else. Though I admit I might just be so used to swearing in TV-shows since most shows I watch are for mature audiences only, so there is usually swearing involved. I think i'd be more bothered by no swearing at this point.

There was a lot of nudity though, i'll give you that. But as others have said, it made sense and was very clinical.

Interesting that you didn't bring up violence. The guy getting his face blown off was really brutal for example.
 

DopeyFish

Not bitter, just unsweetened
Was there really excessive swearing? I remember hearing bitch once, but not much else. Though I admit I might just be so used to swearing in TV-shows since most shows I watch are for mature audiences only, so there is usually swearing involved. I think i'd be more bothered by no swearing at this point.

There was a lot of nudity though, i'll give you that. But as others have said, it made sense and was very clinical.

The scenes between the manager girl and the writer have a lot of swearing
 

Fjordson

Member
So, does no one realize what Ed Harris is doing? Do they not notice the card dealer missing/dead whatever?
They probably notice but I'm guessing they just don't care. Part of the deal as a customer is that you can do whatever you want to the hosts.
 
Was there really excessive swearing? I remember hearing bitch once, but not much else. Though I admit I might just be so used to swearing in TV-shows since most shows I watch are for mature audiences only, so there is usually swearing involved. I think i'd be more bothered by no swearing at this point.

There was a lot of nudity though, i'll give you that. But as others have said, it made sense and was very clinical.

Interesting that you didn't bring up violence. The guy getting his face blown off was really brutal for example.

My original and now wrong view was that the other stuff seemed out of place, while the violence was part of an aggressive robbery so I was fine with it, if there was nudity during a romantic part of the show I wouldn't have complained too.
 

Budi

Member
The scenes between the manager girl and the writer have a lot of swearing

True, when they are inspecting the malfunctioned sheriff there's quite a few F-bombs. Though they are having an argument in a stressful situation. So it feels pretty natural to me. But yeah I'm mostly so used to it that I don't really notice, had to go back and check the scenes.

Also it matters who swears and how, I mean if Hopkins or Wright suddenly start dropping constant F-bombs. I might question if it fits their character. That lady is confirmed as a potty mouth since the first episode now.
 

Purkake4

Banned
I'm in.

Couldn't imagine having all the hosts naked all the time if it was in the real world though. Does a good job dehumanizing them I guess.
 

Budi

Member
I'm in.

Couldn't imagine having all the hosts naked all the time if it was in the real world though. Does a good job dehumanizing them I guess.

There's plenty of people in our real world that work around nude bodies all the time. And I don't mean strippers or pornstars either. Maybe this shunning of nudity is an american thing. As a Finn nudity is very natural. Though i'm personally really reserved about my own body. Nudity doesn't even really raise movie age ratings in here.
 

Sou Da

Member
How badly would GAF edgelord it up in Westworld?

Like I know at least one of you jerks would try and sneak anime in.
 
I really enjoyed it but the excessive nudity and swearing is weird, it comes across as forced.

But I'm optimistic from the first episode, very intriguing stuff so far.

Welcome to HBO, home of unnecessary sex scenes.

Also, until otherwise stated, I'm choosing to believe that Westworld is on a terraformed Mars because that would be awesome.
 

The Mule

Member
They fly was incredible symbolism.

Obviously there's the whole "They can't even hurt a fly."
And throughout the episode we see the AI show no reaction to a fly landing on them.
Why not? They are programmed not to hurt a living thing, there's nothing they can do about the situation.

But there's more to it than that.
We see the fly land on the sheriff and it malfunctions, in front of a couple guests.
The development team investigates for hours but they can't figure out the "BUG" that caused the issue.
Why did the sheriff malfunction at that point in time? It was going through an internal struggle to swat the fly, to kill a living creature.
A fly landing on a person is such a small event that went completely unnoticed to the guests and investigators, but it is a blaring signal to the audience that the AI is fighting against its programming.

Then there is the wonderful interview between Dolores and the security guard.
He straight up asks her "Would you hurt a living creature?" And she responds "No".
And in the next scene we see her casually, and instinctually, kill the fly.

The symbolism is that no matter how closely monitored the robots are, humans aren't able to catch the small signs that the AI is evolving against its programming.
Yeah, you'll notice that for any of the updated hosts that glitch, some element of 'violence' is involved.

* Fly landing on sheriff's face and apparent conflict between swatting it and leaving it
* Father becoming aggressive towards his 'maker'
* Milk guy killing all those hosts (and saying to the guests that they can't have any)

HitFix/Warming Glow compiled some thoughts about this: Do We Know For Sure That ‘Westworld’ Takes Place On Earth?Much more via the link.
Huh... I wonder if the author of that is reading this thread. Mentions many of the same things already discussed here. Or are the conclusions so obvious that anyone would make them?
 

Toothless

Member
One thing I really love about the fly motif is it really is reminiscent of old Sergio Leone and other westerns where you can frequently see flies crawling on the actors' faces and them ignoring it. There's my one creative observation about the show.
 
While Westworld being on Mars or some such otherworldly location is possible, I'm not sure it's the case. If it is, I don't expect it to be something they dwell on. If anything I expect them to keep it vague and undefined. Maybe more hints here and there, but I think outright revealing it to be on Mars or a space station or anything like that, especially if they make it a major detail/plotpoint, muddies the context and overly expands the scope of the show. The average viewer is just going to be more confused ("wait, it's Utah in the Matrix on the moon? I don't get it, that sounds dumb") and I don't think it really adds anything beyond being yet another detail for lore hounds to dissect in a show full of all kinds of details. Subtle hints with no absolutely confirmed location would work just as well if not better.
 

ZOONAMI

Junior Member
While Westworld being on Mars or some such otherworldly location is possible, I'm not sure it's the case. If it is, I don't expect it to be something they dwell on. If anything I expect them to keep it vague and undefined. Maybe more hints here and there, but I think outright revealing it to be on Mars or a space station or anything like that, especially if they make it a major detail/plotpoint, muddies the context and overly expands the scope of the show. The average viewer is just going to be more confused ("wait, it's Utah in the Matrix on the moon? I don't get it, that sounds dumb") and I don't think it really adds anything beyond being yet another detail for lore hounds to dissect in a show full of all kinds of details. Subtle hints with no absolutely confirmed location would work just as well if not better.

It would make it more of a sci-fi show which it obviously already is, so I don't see why it's a problem. People understand movies with mars or the moon as the setting so yeah...

If you tune into a random episode it might be confusing, but I don't think with hbo the intention is to tune into a random episode. That's why there's hbo go, now, and dvrs.

People who randomly tune into got would be confused on the same level. Like wait is this like historical or on earth or just complete fantasy? It's the latter. It's ok for people to have questions, and that honestly functions as a bit of a hook to invest in the series and find out more.
 
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