Entertainment

This 'Westworld' Trailer Reveals a Full-Blown Robot Rebellion 

Shades of Michael  Crichton's original film, with dash of 'Battlestar Galactica' and 'Blade Runner'

HBO

In the most revealing trailer for HBO’s Westworld yet, Old West robots brandish their six-shooters for a high-noon showdown with their human masters.

Though the exact nature of these synthetic humanoids isn’t 100 percent clear yet, the trailer clearly reveals at least one robotic hand, while another android chugs milk as it pours out of a (presumably bullet) hole in his abdomen. It’s all very reminiscent of the kinds of artificial life seen in the Alien franchise and other creepy part-robot, part-human designs onscreen. Essentially, Westworld looks to have the visual aesthetics of Deadwood with the plot of Blade Runner.

Early in the trailer, Dr. Ford (Anthony Hopkins) asserts that Delores (Evan Rachel Wood) is existing in a “dream” which he created. The entire construct of Westworld appears to be both an immersive simulation for regular humans and also like the original Michael Crichton film — a physical theme park constructed artificially. Centering mostly on the plight of Delores to discover her true nature, the trailer also introduces a revolt lead by Ed Harris’s “Man in Black” character.

What is the nature of the original relationship between Delores and Dr. Ford? Like the Battlestar Galactica spinoff Caprica, could she be created in the image of his daughter? And what do we make of Jeffrey Wright’s Bernard Lowe? In this new trailer, he seems to be sympathetic to the plight of the people living in Westworld. Conflicts between sentient robots and humans always get juicer when there’s some human sympathies on the side of the robots.

With plenty of intrigue and beautiful production design, Westworld is looking pretty damn sharp. And now, this new intense trailer means we officially can’t wait for its October 2 debut.

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