Why you need to check out the epic conclusion to Westworld

HBO has been one of, if not the premier television studio for the better part of three decades. From crime dramas such as ‘The Wire’, ‘The Sopranos’ and ‘True Detective’, to the world of Westeros with ‘Game of Thrones’, the team at HBO seem to always know to create captivating drama for the small screen and maintain that level of quality for seasons on end. This is exemplified by their stunning show ‘Westworld’ which has just finished its 4-season run. The show is a loose adaptation of Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park) classic 1973 novel, showing the pitfalls of technology and artificial intelligence. The show follows the same premise, but with a modern spin, expanding upon these ideas and expands the world to further heights. To celebrate the show's finality and Season 4 releasing on DVD, Blu-Ray and 4K UHD, I will be breaking down why you need to check out the epic conclusion of Westworld. So, let’s go!

What could possibly go wrong? – The Plot –

The idea of technology overtaking our world isn’t too far away from reality. Not to the extent that robots are running amuck, but the idea that we become a slave to our laptops, phones, the internet is oh too real. ‘Westworld’ blends these ideas well, grounding the story in reality, but serving as a warning of the perils of technology. The show's general plot creates a moral grey area and exploits the audiences’ sympathies with the AI characters, in a way that works. Season 4 moves the story along nicely, bringing the previous seasons to a head in a satisfying way.

There be Robots – The cast –

One of the best elements of Westworld during its epic 4 season run, has been its impressive cast. We have seen actors such as: Sir Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Wright, Aaron Paul, Tessa Thompson, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel-Wood, Ben Barnes, Thandie Newton, James Marsden, Luke Hemsworth, Jimmi Simpson, Rorigo Santoro and many, many more. The show has always struck a great balance between choosing big-named stars, without it ever feeling like stunt casting. Each of these actors play their role superbly, showcasing their talents whilst also helping the story along and giving their characters the right amount of depth. After 6 years, it will be sad to see these characters go, but great to know I can go back and watch them at any time!

Is it really over? The finale –

Unfortunately, in October 2022, HBO announced that Season 4 of one of their tentpole shows ‘Westworld’, would be its last. The show suffered during COVID, delaying the release of season 3 and delaying the production of season 4. Its never an ideal situation when a show is cancelled before its intended end, but thankfully showrunner Jonathan Nolan, was able to conclude this chapter in the Westworld saga in an immensely satisfying way, that still leaves the door open for future adventures in this world, if the opportunity for a reboot presents itself. Without getting into spoilers, Season 4’s chapter simply titled ‘The Choice’, concludes the arc of this particular chapter, but also addresses loose ends from previous chapters as well. Our characters all reach arcs that wrap things up nicely. A worthy conclusion to one of my favourite shows of the modern era.

Westworld has remained captivating through its 4-season run. From amazing visuals, memorable characters and its impressive cast of characters, the show has remained top tier for over 6 years. It’s a shame the show didn’t get to finish on its own terms, but I’m glad that it had a satisfying conclusion. Westworld Season 4 is available November 30 on DVD, Blu-Ray and 4K UHD. Head on over to your local Sanity or online to secure your copy today, you won’t want to miss this one.

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Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here