A.I. is the New Human

To everyone who's into science fiction and thriller, if you want to indulge in some top class existential crisis, Westworld is the series for you. HBO is deservedly back in our screens with this extended adaptation of the 1973 film of the same name and hopes to stay in our thoughts and online banters with its engaging and clever narrative.

Westworld is set in a futuristic world where mankind has fully mastered the mechanisms of artificial intelligence. Their technology has enabled them to create human automatons with mannerism and physicality so close to that of a real man that one can hardly distinguish them. 

So what do they do with this extraordinary leap of science and technology? They make a wild-west themed park for the rich folk. Sounds a bit silly but we can assume that the automatons are vastly used in the outside world as well since we're not shown anything other than the park and the headquarters of Delos, the organization that runs it.

The park's rules are simple. There are different storylines distributed throughout the many towns and outskirts of the vast landscape of Westworld. Each storyline has designated hosts (the automatons). Hosts are programmed to live according to the storyline as an actual human being. They cannot kill or brutally hurt guests (the real humans who visit). After the end of each storyline the hosts are taken back at HQ where they're mended, revamped and their memories are erased for the new storyline.

Problems arise as hosts begin to malfunction for unknown reasons and start to remember fragments of their past storylines. Newer mysteries are added as the plot progresses and the presence of unknown hostile forces within the park come to light. But the problem with stacking up too many mysteries is that they rely too much on the execution of the finale. And that tends to ruin the show with unresolved mysteries and plot holes, too many red herrings and disappointing endings. But then again, fan theories are always fun to ponder with and the internet is full of Westworld theories right now.

Other than the excellent cinematography and an amazing ensemble of cast members, the show excels mostly at storytelling. With Jonathan Nolan writing the show (the guy who has worked on Memento, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, Interstellar, and Person of Interest), you are confirmed to have a story that tests your intelligence. Unless you up your concentration to the max you'll probably get lost in the multiple plots progressing in parallel, each with its set of character developments, complex dialogues and undecipherable mysteries.

Also, you can relate to the hosts and suspect the legitimacy of your own existence.

Fatiul Huq Sujoy is a tired soul (mostly because of his frail body) who's patiently waiting for Hagrid to appear and tell him, "Ye're a saiyan, lord commander." Suggest him places to travel and food-ventures to take at fb.com/SyedSujoy