It’s almost cliché to call HBO's new futuristic sci-fi series Westworld a study in backwards human behavior, but even “basic rednecks” have standards. The first thing the show does is throw out those silly morals for what every rich person secretly desires: murder and endless sex.
Westworld follows an artificial world where wealthy people, called “guests,” can pay to live out their fantasies with the help of advanced humanoid robots, called “hosts,” in a giant amusement park resembling the Wild West. Each day, the hosts follow a pre-programmed story while the guests can play hero or villain around them without any consequences. Each night, the hosts' memories and bodies are reset so they can go through the same thing again the next morning, like a western Groundhog Day. However, one day, a host malfunctions by remembering its past histories, beginning to understand a world beyond its programming.
For what it’s worth, I’m rooting for the robots’ revolt since Westworld is a holistic nightmare of violence, nudity, and general immorality. Each day, the lives of hosts Teddy (James Marsden) and Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) replay with the two returning to her father’s house only to find him shot by bandits who kill Teddy and drag Dolores to be raped. Additional acts throughout the town include daily shoot outs between hosts and guests as well as sexual exploitation.
The worst part is that this is the way Westworld is supposed to be, straight from the word of creator Dr. Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins). In one scene, he even explains to a fully-nude Teddy that his entire function is to be killed again and again only for the guest to play the hero and “have [their] way” with Dolores. Because, apparently, the world run solely by human beings is just one big show for an MA-audience.
One particular scene in the episode "The Stray" stands out when an employee actually has the decency to cover up a naked host only to be chastised by Ford himself since the host can’t feel anything. You see, those normal feelings of indecency and guilt don’t apply when the “host” doesn’t feel it.
Bernard: I was hoping to run something by you.Robert: Apologies. I was chasing inspiration. ( Chuckles ) It's a tricky thing-- weaving the old into the new. Give me one moment, Bernard. Good afternoon, sir. Why is this host covered?
Man: I-I just...
Robert: Perhaps you didn't want him to feel cold. Or ashamed. You wanted to cover his modesty. Was that it? It doesn't get cold, doesn't feel ashamed... Doesn't feel a solitary thing that we haven't told it to. You understand? What can I do for you, Bernard?
Bernard: I thought it best that we speak in private, sir.
Robert: Yeah
I guess this is the show’s excuse for showing these various lewd behaviors. After all, if they aren’t real why should that matter? In fact, they’re only catering to guests such as Logan (Ben Barnes) or the Man in Black (Ed Helms) who gladly pay for murder, rape, torture, and bisexual orgies without consequences. If anything, they’re apparently just playing into a crooked society’s hands.
Unfortunately, in the universe of HBO, this is considered good television. Big actors clamor for these roles while critics laud the programming for its “complexity,” as if the basest human behaviors are something to celebrate. They will hide behind the story’s "need" for these things, as if an audience is crying out for more rape or more death, and then bemoan society for condoning more rape and more death. I only wonder how deep the rabbit hole will go.
