Season 3 of the robo-cowboy show has no robo-cowboys.
EW’s critics ponder what’s left.
Read on to find out if the shows bold new narrative will break their arguments repetitive loop.
John P. Johnson/HBO
Freeze all motor functions, Kristen, becauseWestworldis back with a whole new look.
Can you blame me for mixing my metaphors?
We find Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) in a country-hopping espionage plotline, gradually orbiting Pauls new protagonist.
I enjoy a few aspects of this new season, Kristen.
I know you liked season 2 way more than I did.
What do you think of this massive reboot?
One non-host character even goes so far to insist, Were living in a simulation!
Granted, that guy is high… but maybe he had the right idea.
If you thought the second half of season 2 was dense, these new episodes are practically solid.
DespiteNolan and Joy’s promises, the narrative complexity is almost comical.
Theres a moment in episode 2 where Maeve disables the code controlling her environment by overtaxing the system.
The rest is just big-budget action set pieces featuring fake Nazis and drawn-out fist fights.
That place looked kind of fun!
As anyAliasfan can tell you,big, ominous-looking orbsrarely result in good story.
What do you think of the pairing, Darren?
And what do you hope to see more of in the second half of season 3?
DARREN: A more nihilistic Sydney Bristowe!
I love that description, Kristen.
My own comparisons are meaner: Sub-Atomic Blonde and Hack Widow.
Season 1 had a lot of fun with the nasty rich on their cowboy-themed vacation getaways.
Now that were out in the larger world, the one-percenters all come off like bland nefarious handsomes.
And dont get me wrong: Im all for lusciously filmed socialist philosophy in our Mature Content bang-bangs.
Just something written in your code… your nature etched in ones and zeroes.
Etch my nature in eyerolls, yo.
The show has admirably bent over backward to keepTessa Thompsonaround.
Though Thompsons subplot does involve a lot of murdery-flirty chatter about the hostile takeover of her tech conglomerate.
Nolan and Joy have an overall deal that will take them to the digital heaven inthe valley beyond cable.
Are you more optimistic about the widening scope of this season, Kristen?
All sex is commerce!
If a cage doesnt exist, how can it be a cage?
Whoa, dude pass the blunt.
(We havent seen much ofLena WaitheorMichael Ealyyet, though.)
KRISTEN’S GRADE: B-
DARREN’S GRADE: C
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