Since Westworld is not (yet?) massively widespread and a cultural phenomenon like Game of Thrones, I resisted watching it when it was airing, and watched it all in a row (one episode per day.... that's a binge for me).
Well.... right now I have a gigantic WTF about the season. I guess a rewatch after some reddit explanations is due, I'm still not sure if it's just me who didn't get it, or the show itself that turned a bit into a clusterfuck.
Season 1 was messy with the timelines too, but it paid off nicely; you kinda realize in retrospect how young William was never to be seen in the present and how it suddenly all became clear. That's how twists are supposed to be... "d'uh, of course Bruce Willis was dead, no one was talking to him!!!", not "...the hell I've just seen?"
It'll take me a long time to figure out the proper timeline for the action in the Mesa, when the Charlotte switch happened, and the post credit scene. Also, why Dolores cannot die (because she turned off her mortality sensors) until the point where she can? all it takes is an headshot even for hosts who "awakened" and therefore shrugged off wounds in other parts of the body?
Some random thoughts:
- Not sure how much William is actually a good character and how much Ed Harris sells the magnificent hell about it ("You talk so much about death and you didn't recognize it was sitting across from you the whole time" is a badass line)
- Maeve kicked all kind of asses and his story was poignant
- Best "filler" episode in the history of television: the Akecheta one
- Nice and pleasant surprise to have Anthony Hopkins back (not sure how much it was publicized, I was sure to have read he signed on for only one season)