A strong continuation that successfully kept me engaged and entertained. Maeve remains one of my favorite parts of the show and Thandiwe Newton is as great as always. Glad to see the real William is still alive, it's great to know that his character can still come in to play later. I'm very intrigued by where Christina's storyline is going, though it's hard to know exactly what it's trying to do just yet. Good episode, looking forward to seeing more.
27 Reviews
Improvement.
W011y4m54 July 2022
Much, much, MUCH better than the first episode of this season, it feels as though (hopefully!) Westworld might've found its mojo again.
Of course, we're not soaring at the same heights as we were before - when the show was at its peak - but after the recent stumbles (the disastrous S3 finale onwards), I'm just glad to have some semblance of consistency re-established. We can be glad of that at least.
Of course, we're not soaring at the same heights as we were before - when the show was at its peak - but after the recent stumbles (the disastrous S3 finale onwards), I'm just glad to have some semblance of consistency re-established. We can be glad of that at least.
Brings the mystery and surprises
tristan_194 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Well Enough Alone is a solid episode with great pacing and interesting little twists and turns. It moves the story along and keeps the mysterious tone.
Charlotte is scary as hell. Glad to see Clementine again. Caleb and Maeve are still a dynamic duo worth rooting for. And Christina sees dead people ? Can't wait to see what happens in this new park !
Overall, it's a cool and chill episode, and it builds the season effectively.
Charlotte is scary as hell. Glad to see Clementine again. Caleb and Maeve are still a dynamic duo worth rooting for. And Christina sees dead people ? Can't wait to see what happens in this new park !
Overall, it's a cool and chill episode, and it builds the season effectively.
It flew by! Great episode
xzioz4 July 2022
This episode was great, so good it actually felt short. Explained a lot of things, moved the plot forward and set the characters in very interesting storylines I'm eager to see unfold next week.
Wish this would've been the first episode of the season or 1 and 2 were somehow combined together, since I feel the show has restarted the engine with this episode, not the one prior... maybe that's why this season wasn't advertised a y HBO until this week.
Grab some popcorn, this should be fun 🔥
Wish this would've been the first episode of the season or 1 and 2 were somehow combined together, since I feel the show has restarted the engine with this episode, not the one prior... maybe that's why this season wasn't advertised a y HBO until this week.
Grab some popcorn, this should be fun 🔥
Getting better!🔥
cesarjaimesand4 July 2022
Vital signs?
devinburke12 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
A fairly empty episode with the reveal of a new host setting might hint at the show runners returning to their roots. However it's difficult to see this show can ever return to the level of the original season. Still lacks direction from the plot and characters.
The series is being destroyed.
A_lat4 July 2022
The series descended artistically starting from the third part
What made the series special was the mainly powerful story.
Visual effects, fantasia and the introduction of some actors like Aaron to win fans won't give a result.
And by the way, who makes these silly jokes during the conversation, a teenager who used to watch action movies?!
The first and second part was a masterpiece.
Visual effects, fantasia and the introduction of some actors like Aaron to win fans won't give a result.
And by the way, who makes these silly jokes during the conversation, a teenager who used to watch action movies?!
The first and second part was a masterpiece.
A much darker season of Westworld is in store, and it's brilliant
seaicanmexfood4 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
After last week's premiere, I was optimistic about season 4. The premier caught us up after long time gap between season 3 and 4, in which most of the episodes run time had been dedicated to catching up with some "new" and "old" characters. I feel that this episode, 'Well Enough Alone' is an episode that would've worked well as part of a double episode premier - to reintroduce fans who found themselves unimpressed with Westworld's third season to a much more dark future. This season, after only 2 episodes, seems to paint the much darker and more bleak future I think we'd envisioned after season 2 and I'm looking forward to seeing what season 4 has to offer.
With a fantastic soundtrack full of dark, droning, ambient futuristic IDM supporting this season's much bleaker tone, I feel we're truly starting to get that apocalypse that was hinted at in season 3. There's definitely a lot of unravel and I for one am just as excited for this season's mysteries as I was when watching season 1.
With a fantastic soundtrack full of dark, droning, ambient futuristic IDM supporting this season's much bleaker tone, I feel we're truly starting to get that apocalypse that was hinted at in season 3. There's definitely a lot of unravel and I for one am just as excited for this season's mysteries as I was when watching season 1.
Already?
AfricanBro4 July 2022
I am a bit conflicted after watching the latest episode. Usually when a show is set in one specific place for it's first season, it stays there until the writers have completely exhausted every possible story from it then find a new world or expand the small world it's based in. It's been done many times; Westworld did it in S3 where they opened up to the real world after shutting down the park, Snowpiercer did it with big Alice, TWD, wayward pines; the 100... they just expand.
When westworld did that in s3 and it became less about westworld and more about the world outside it,I was a bit unsure but it was fine because series have to evolve. My only hope was S4 doesn't become a conventional AI/robots versus humans sort of sci-fi with the world being taken over through just replacing people in power with machine. There's no main story yet, it feels like a first season of a completely new show and they're laying the foundation, introducing us to the show, especially with this change from Westworld to now "The Golden Age" in S04E02. It doesn't feel new or original because they already did it. They went to the real world in s3, I liked it even though it was met with mixed reviews. They only returned to the animatronic park a few times so I thought they had a place there wanted to take the show to in the future, storylines to explore outside but now it seems like they're going back to the beginning, to Westworld. I don't know if that's good or bad yet but I'm surprised they're deviating from the world S3 opened the hosts already.
I was really looking forward to this and it's not looking bad so far; it seems unimaginative so I hope they really have something up their sleeve to revive viewers to why they love the show. There's not much indication of something special or riveting happening this season for but it's already two episodes in so I remain hopeful.
When westworld did that in s3 and it became less about westworld and more about the world outside it,I was a bit unsure but it was fine because series have to evolve. My only hope was S4 doesn't become a conventional AI/robots versus humans sort of sci-fi with the world being taken over through just replacing people in power with machine. There's no main story yet, it feels like a first season of a completely new show and they're laying the foundation, introducing us to the show, especially with this change from Westworld to now "The Golden Age" in S04E02. It doesn't feel new or original because they already did it. They went to the real world in s3, I liked it even though it was met with mixed reviews. They only returned to the animatronic park a few times so I thought they had a place there wanted to take the show to in the future, storylines to explore outside but now it seems like they're going back to the beginning, to Westworld. I don't know if that's good or bad yet but I'm surprised they're deviating from the world S3 opened the hosts already.
I was really looking forward to this and it's not looking bad so far; it seems unimaginative so I hope they really have something up their sleeve to revive viewers to why they love the show. There's not much indication of something special or riveting happening this season for but it's already two episodes in so I remain hopeful.
Never thought golfing could be so terrifying
Longtimexfilesfan5 July 2022
What a stunning, beautifully crafted episode.
From start to finish this episode is just captivating, with intriguing and terrifying scenes between. Also there is a great sequence that takes us back to the greatness of the beloved season 1.
From start to finish this episode is just captivating, with intriguing and terrifying scenes between. Also there is a great sequence that takes us back to the greatness of the beloved season 1.
Way Better and More Interestinger Than the First One
MamadNobari974 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
So I've already accepted that this show can never go to the levels of season 1 and the writers' creativity and (good) ideas ran out with season 1, but that doesn't mean I can't still criticize the show's problems. The biggest problem is, please end it? Why not end it in season 3? Why not end it with this season and be done with it? Because clearly, they don't know how to end the story. Every major character keeps dying and coming back, time passes in this season like we missed a season before it, and characters keep forgetting about their past and have to go on a season-length journey to find wtf they've been doing in the past 3 seasons and who they actually are. Like what, is Maeve gonna forget who she was in season 5 and Tessa Thompson comes back again after dying in this season's finale?
Anyway, I thought this episode was way more interesting and better-paced than episode one. Of course, it still has the amateurish fight action scenes and choreography it had and it's a given at this point, but the plot lines are getting more clear and with the finale scene we hopefully spend less in that boring generic sci-fi "future" world they've been showing.
One thing that is irritating me is the CGI this season. Especially with the green screens. Watch the first scene with the government guy getting out of the drone, it's awful and looks like low-budget fan-made stuff. So where did all the budget go? Did they decrease the budget or something? Because I don't remember much from the previous seasons but I feel like they had way better special effects, especially the first two seasons. The color grading, which might be intentional, makes the show looks really bland and I'm not a fan of that. I really like atmospheric or depressing-looking movies with gray color grading, but this is none of them and it's just bland and unappealing for the sake of it. I remember being so stoked for the real futuristic outside world after finishing season 2, but imagine my surprise/disappointment when I watched season 3. So them going back to another park is gonna be surprisingly refreshing for this show, even though the majority of the next episodes are gonna remain in the boring and bland real world.
I think the majority of people suspected that William is a host when he threw the first golf ball, but I thought William himself made many of himself for his protection, but him being a prisoner of Tessa Thompson makes so much more sense, and the confusion of the first episode about why MIB was doing what he was doing is cleared up. (Edit: Apparently he died in the finale of last season haha. It was so long ago that I completely forgot about what happened in underwhelming finale or the whole season, so ignore this first.)
The plot line with Dolores is going way too slow and it's too uninteresting. What happened to Teddy and why didn't he come back to her in this episode? I think we all knew what the Peter guy's relation with Dolores' video game writings was, so it didn't need these long and dragged scenes of her discovering what he meant. I'm not saying she should've guessed right away, but she literally had two scenes in this episode and they were pointless because the only thing that happened was her finding a wing of the center dedicated to Peter. At least tease us with something or anything.
They already revealed who's behind MIB because they kinda have to, they only have 8 episodes, so why not go a little quicker with Dolores' storyline too? This kinda tells me that they have little materials for her story and have to drag this most boring story line out of the three so they move the other two further faster and they catch up later.
I also don't know what the point of Tessa Thompson talking to the real William for 2 minutes was other than an audience reveal. Because it doesn't make sense for her to keep him alive other than probably the clichéd villain trope, and it doesn't make sense that she would wake him up from cryo to tell him her plan for 2 minutes and put him in cryo again.
I also don't get what her plan with the new "40s world" or something is if she wants revenge against humans. Maybe this time the hosts hunt down and abuse the real humans from the train? That would be an interesting concept but I'm sure not that interesting to see since the looks of this show, with the action choreography, CGI, color grading and production seem low budget.
Anyway, I thought this episode was way more interesting and better-paced than episode one. Of course, it still has the amateurish fight action scenes and choreography it had and it's a given at this point, but the plot lines are getting more clear and with the finale scene we hopefully spend less in that boring generic sci-fi "future" world they've been showing.
One thing that is irritating me is the CGI this season. Especially with the green screens. Watch the first scene with the government guy getting out of the drone, it's awful and looks like low-budget fan-made stuff. So where did all the budget go? Did they decrease the budget or something? Because I don't remember much from the previous seasons but I feel like they had way better special effects, especially the first two seasons. The color grading, which might be intentional, makes the show looks really bland and I'm not a fan of that. I really like atmospheric or depressing-looking movies with gray color grading, but this is none of them and it's just bland and unappealing for the sake of it. I remember being so stoked for the real futuristic outside world after finishing season 2, but imagine my surprise/disappointment when I watched season 3. So them going back to another park is gonna be surprisingly refreshing for this show, even though the majority of the next episodes are gonna remain in the boring and bland real world.
I think the majority of people suspected that William is a host when he threw the first golf ball, but I thought William himself made many of himself for his protection, but him being a prisoner of Tessa Thompson makes so much more sense, and the confusion of the first episode about why MIB was doing what he was doing is cleared up. (Edit: Apparently he died in the finale of last season haha. It was so long ago that I completely forgot about what happened in underwhelming finale or the whole season, so ignore this first.)
The plot line with Dolores is going way too slow and it's too uninteresting. What happened to Teddy and why didn't he come back to her in this episode? I think we all knew what the Peter guy's relation with Dolores' video game writings was, so it didn't need these long and dragged scenes of her discovering what he meant. I'm not saying she should've guessed right away, but she literally had two scenes in this episode and they were pointless because the only thing that happened was her finding a wing of the center dedicated to Peter. At least tease us with something or anything.
They already revealed who's behind MIB because they kinda have to, they only have 8 episodes, so why not go a little quicker with Dolores' storyline too? This kinda tells me that they have little materials for her story and have to drag this most boring story line out of the three so they move the other two further faster and they catch up later.
I also don't know what the point of Tessa Thompson talking to the real William for 2 minutes was other than an audience reveal. Because it doesn't make sense for her to keep him alive other than probably the clichéd villain trope, and it doesn't make sense that she would wake him up from cryo to tell him her plan for 2 minutes and put him in cryo again.
I also don't get what her plan with the new "40s world" or something is if she wants revenge against humans. Maybe this time the hosts hunt down and abuse the real humans from the train? That would be an interesting concept but I'm sure not that interesting to see since the looks of this show, with the action choreography, CGI, color grading and production seem low budget.
Well...enough...is enough
skay_baltimore4 July 2022
For a faint, fleeting glimpse it seemed as if this episode might just be starting to click, especially compared to the first episode. But alas....it was only fool's gold. Westworld isn't even gold plated. Or silver plated. Or a copper penny. It's just a hollow tin can, being mercilessly kicked down a dirty rat-infested alley. FORE!!!!!
And maybe it's just me...but it seems that ever since David Lynch and Twin Peaks/Mulholland Drive, etc., exploded on the scene, every writer/directer wants to pen the newest, latest greatest most obtuse/non-linear story line(s) of all time, thinking it will somehow make the film/TV show more "artistic" and "brilliant". Sadly, this has been the worst thing to ever happen to films/movies, IMO. The net result is almost always lazy, weak writing, forcing the viewers to "fill in the gaps", fly back and forth through time, etc., while being fed little bread crumbs along the way to maintain the "drama", rather than simply telling a good, moving, inspiring story.
The first season of Westworld had much better story telling -- maybe because it adhered more closely to the original Westworld movie. However, since then it's become little more than a slick, shiny rehash of the same old theme -- over and over and over again.
So YES, we get it -- the puppet masters manipulate us through mind control and enslave the human race. And yes, most likely, there are cloned replacements in high government positions in one form or another. And YES -- we are living in a matrix holographic 3-D prison world, currently being run by obscenely wealthy dark demonic forces/entities.
Therefore, while the message of Westworld probably still has relevance, unless or until they find a way to get the message across in a better medium than they seem to be able to have found lately, it's just so much fly crap.
And maybe it's just me...but it seems that ever since David Lynch and Twin Peaks/Mulholland Drive, etc., exploded on the scene, every writer/directer wants to pen the newest, latest greatest most obtuse/non-linear story line(s) of all time, thinking it will somehow make the film/TV show more "artistic" and "brilliant". Sadly, this has been the worst thing to ever happen to films/movies, IMO. The net result is almost always lazy, weak writing, forcing the viewers to "fill in the gaps", fly back and forth through time, etc., while being fed little bread crumbs along the way to maintain the "drama", rather than simply telling a good, moving, inspiring story.
The first season of Westworld had much better story telling -- maybe because it adhered more closely to the original Westworld movie. However, since then it's become little more than a slick, shiny rehash of the same old theme -- over and over and over again.
So YES, we get it -- the puppet masters manipulate us through mind control and enslave the human race. And yes, most likely, there are cloned replacements in high government positions in one form or another. And YES -- we are living in a matrix holographic 3-D prison world, currently being run by obscenely wealthy dark demonic forces/entities.
Therefore, while the message of Westworld probably still has relevance, unless or until they find a way to get the message across in a better medium than they seem to be able to have found lately, it's just so much fly crap.
We are getting somewhere
essamgouda8 July 2022
Honestly after watching season 1 of the show and the masterpiece it was I simply can't stop watching westworld. The people who are capable of making a masterpiece in season 1 mudt have something else up rheir pockets. I hated s2 but loved s3. Didn't like episode 1 s4 but loved that one, because it shows you the potential this show has. I am really optimistic about the show's future and I hope I am not disappointed.
And finally, the stakes are raising...
rishabhmankale6 July 2022
After the rushed and abysmal season 3, I had very low hopes for season 4. After a sedate premiere, the second episode FINALLY raises the stakes, creates a good, investing story, and gives a glimpse of the big picture planned for the rest of the season, especially the ending ( might relate to the post credit scene in s2).
Mind you, this show is still a far cry from the glory days of season 2, let alone even touching the near perfect s1, but it's still good to see the rise.
Mind you, this show is still a far cry from the glory days of season 2, let alone even touching the near perfect s1, but it's still good to see the rise.
not enough but yes
higuain_514 July 2022
Jazz song playing on the bar scene
ivanpstygaii15 July 2022
Best sci fi show HBO has made
moviesfilmsreviewsinc15 August 2022
One of the biggest strengths of the first season of Westworld was its massive ensemble cast. Some of them were known performers taking on new characters, with established actors like Ed Harris as the mysterious Man in Black and Anthony Hopkins adding a little class to the story of a very adult theme park full of robots just waiting to go kill-crazy. However, the performers who weren't as well-known stood out because they all had very distinctive looks, and few characters in Westworld stood out quite like Angela Sarafyan. With her striking, wide-set hazel eyes, Sarafyan's Clementine Pennyfeather was undoubtedly a favorite of guests of the park, if only because of her kind heart and assigned profession. The "hooker with a heart of gold" trope brought to life. Clementine always had a dreamy sort of innocence, if only because she kept routinely malfunctioning due to customer abuse. No surprise that she drifts through life hiding out from William's assassins in Mexico, and no surprise to find her overwhelmed by the Man in Black almost immediately and given a death just as cruel as any she received during her time in Westworld. If there's one thing William can't stand, it's a rogue host. The ones working for him, however, not only get a pass, but get an upgrade, new Clementine variants included. As it turns out, William isn't simply trying to wipe out the remnants of his past, he's trying to create a new future with assistance from people like the returning Charlotte Hale (Tessa Thompson) AKA the Dolores that turned on the other Dolores in Season 3. Delos will be opening a new theme park, and this time it's going to be on American soil, with upgraded hosts and a brand-new experience that gets back to the roots of Westworld without the pesky travel time. The only problem is pretty much everyone in authority knows this is a terrible idea after the massacre, and even William's bottomless coffers can't buy high level support. Good thing he's got Clementine around to kill for him, and Charlotte around to conduct creepy mystery experiments on the humans who have been replaced by Hosts. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, yet again. Maeve spent her time out of the park either chasing a killer or trying to avoid them, and now she's back in the same old loop. No wonder she tried to disappear off the face of the earth. Caleb might have made a noteworthy attempt at moving on with his life, but given the way his life looked prior to the revolution, Maeve is correct when she says that improvement is a low bar to hurdle. Caleb is tired of war, but clearly war isn't tired of him.
Pacing is so much better.
giacomo_1014 July 2022
I'm so hopeful for this season, I don't want the same story as season 1 like many other people who seem to hate westworld by default, I want it to have the same pacing and nuisances. These little reveries ;) in each of S4 ep so far are cohesive to that of S1 and 2 and yet it's so different. This is ep was dark and creepy at times and clems dead pan face is terrifying!
It's a masterpiece, just pay attention
center_of_the_sun5 July 2022
Took me a while to realize what was happening... but when I did, I wanted to clap. You'll see what "Halores", a Dolores deviation, has in plan for humanity. It's getting more and more interesting. And the music, camera work, pacing, dialogue is just beautifully done. It's quite a complicated show that doesn't stick to just season 1's limitations, like most want. The show is evolving, just like the hosts, and this is why it's so great.
Cant...Stay...Awake!
garabedian1235 July 2022
I really really tried. I wasnt even tired. But the last thing i remember is Man in Black hitting 3 hole in ones.
This season has no stakes. No time reference. It could and probably is 100 years later reset to this moment. Meaning all humans are already machines that think they are human. And they are being replaced by machines subservant to man in black...who was clearly remembered as just a bit too evil by whomever re-created him.
And Sorry...Just because you put on a tuxedo does not mean you stll dont look like a homeless person.
This season has no stakes. No time reference. It could and probably is 100 years later reset to this moment. Meaning all humans are already machines that think they are human. And they are being replaced by machines subservant to man in black...who was clearly remembered as just a bit too evil by whomever re-created him.
And Sorry...Just because you put on a tuxedo does not mean you stll dont look like a homeless person.
Great, actually
Trey_Trebuchet11 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I verbally oh'd out loud when the credits started. This episode flew by surprisingly fast. It was really well paced, directed and acted. This season is already picking up steam just two episodes in... I'll take that as a good sign. Hopefully the writers stick the landing with whatever they're building up to.
Maeve and Caleb make a pretty entertaining duo. Their entering of the 1920s park at the very end has me pretty excited.
I'm also glad William isn't dead... I was genuinely bummed out in the S3 finale when I got shot and presumably died so quickly. If he comes into play later, I'll be so happy.
I'm also really invested in the Cristina arc now. Evan is such a great actress and I'm genuinely intrigued by what's to come for her this season.
Solid sophomore episode overall.
Maeve and Caleb make a pretty entertaining duo. Their entering of the 1920s park at the very end has me pretty excited.
I'm also glad William isn't dead... I was genuinely bummed out in the S3 finale when I got shot and presumably died so quickly. If he comes into play later, I'll be so happy.
I'm also really invested in the Cristina arc now. Evan is such a great actress and I'm genuinely intrigued by what's to come for her this season.
Solid sophomore episode overall.
Very disappointing
m-t-arndt4 July 2022
In the meantime this show feels like the xerox of a xerox of a xerox. There's not a lot left from the originality and quality of the great first season.
And btw: Why is Aaron Paul in this show and what exactly is he doing there? Was he just hired because he once was Jesse Pinkman?
And btw: Why is Aaron Paul in this show and what exactly is he doing there? Was he just hired because he once was Jesse Pinkman?
Bullet Through The Head
Rob-O-Cop4 July 2022
I'm sorry, I just don't think I can be bothered with this.
They've got nothing to say, it's just walking through tired old tropes that audiences have long since grown out of.
Gratuitous violence and gore substituting for anything resembling worthy content.
Prime example is when horse lady is shot in the head cos maeve thinks shes too far gone, what with her 10 years of experience as a GP and all that. Shot in the head then we see a lingering close up of blood oozing out of her gaping head wound. Why? In what way is this anything to do with the intelligence of the first season. This is just nonsensical images on a screen pretending to be a tv show.
It's upsetting to see great actors like Thandie slumming it for a Pay cheque.
Someone needs to put this lame horse down.
They've got nothing to say, it's just walking through tired old tropes that audiences have long since grown out of.
Gratuitous violence and gore substituting for anything resembling worthy content.
Prime example is when horse lady is shot in the head cos maeve thinks shes too far gone, what with her 10 years of experience as a GP and all that. Shot in the head then we see a lingering close up of blood oozing out of her gaping head wound. Why? In what way is this anything to do with the intelligence of the first season. This is just nonsensical images on a screen pretending to be a tv show.
It's upsetting to see great actors like Thandie slumming it for a Pay cheque.
Someone needs to put this lame horse down.
I hate when characters have "superpowers" and there is no consistancy
Polanco5 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
SO:
1. William fights A ROBOT with his bare hands and he is stronger than her and even ties her hands behind her back. That old man is stronger than a robot.
2. Fast forward and the SAME robot is so strong that it kills the entire FBI trained security force protecting the vice president of the USA. All by herself with her bare hands against highly trained and highly armed elite army men. But she was no match for 80yo William!
That alone is enough to stop watching. Then there are things like a robot driving with Aaron Paul, who knows she is a robot, and drinking wine from a bottle, as if she were human. Or Dolores stretching and waking up every morning, as if she were human. Or having, apparently, Dolores the killing machine with the strength of 50 men, no strength whatsoever all of a sudden.
Come on. Lazy, lazy writing. It is pathetic.
1. William fights A ROBOT with his bare hands and he is stronger than her and even ties her hands behind her back. That old man is stronger than a robot.
2. Fast forward and the SAME robot is so strong that it kills the entire FBI trained security force protecting the vice president of the USA. All by herself with her bare hands against highly trained and highly armed elite army men. But she was no match for 80yo William!
That alone is enough to stop watching. Then there are things like a robot driving with Aaron Paul, who knows she is a robot, and drinking wine from a bottle, as if she were human. Or Dolores stretching and waking up every morning, as if she were human. Or having, apparently, Dolores the killing machine with the strength of 50 men, no strength whatsoever all of a sudden.
Come on. Lazy, lazy writing. It is pathetic.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
