The HBO series Westworld's best episodes, yet it took a downward spiral following the first season.

Taking place in a futuristic world with advanced AI technology, Westworld centers on an adult theme park that allows people to live out their Wild West fantasies. The park is made up of hosts, or androids, that are placed in a series of fictional narratives. Yet none of the hosts realize what they really are, and they are at the whim of their human guests’ often dark desires. Sadly, the show’s compelling premise devolved into a disaster that ended in HBO canceling Westworld.

Westworld Season 1 Is A Television Masterpiece

The First Season Is A Perfect Combination of Sci-Fi, Western, And Psychological Thriller

Westworld season 1 begins with the introduction of Dolores Abernathy (Evan Rachel Wood), a woman living with her father on a farm in the American West during the 1800s. It is soon revealed that Dolores is actually a host, programmed as a character in the Westworld theme park. Dr. Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins) is the mastermind behind the park, along with his partner, Arnold, who is no longer living when the series starts.

While the executives in charge of the park seek to oust Ford from the project, they are completely ignorant of the clandestine series of events that Ford has set in motion. When the hosts begin to gain sentience, they are forced to choose whether to use violence to break free from their human masters or be led by their sense of morality. These polar options are represented by Dolores and another host, Bernard, the latter of whom didn't realize he was a host until mid-way through the season.

Critics raved about Westworld’s first season, which earned an 87% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately, following the explosive season 1 finale, the show ultimately went downhill from there.

What Went Wrong With Westworld After Season 1

The Show's Quality Went Downhill Starting With Season 2

There’s a reason why season 1 of Westworld was such a critical hit. The existential themes from the first season were a huge part of the show’s appeal, as well as the inclusion of unexpected twists. The discovery that Bernard was a host and not a human was a shocking revelation, as was the reveal of the Man in Black’s identity as William in the present day. The host rebellion started off with a bang when Dolores shot and killed Ford in the finale, which was a huge turning point that promised even more compelling events to come.

Unfortunately, season 2 failed to hold up the promise of its predecessor. While the twist of two timelines happening simultaneously in season 1 was a stroke of genius, the multiple timelines in the second season only served to complicate the plot. Season 3 of Westworld divided critics even further when the show’s setting changed to a dystopian future, along with a new park set in World War II Italy.

Not only did the seasons that followed lose sight of Westworld season 1’s brilliant existentialist themes, but it seemed to lose focus altogether. The declining reviews for season 4 inevitably ended in the show’s cancellation.

Westworld Was Cancelled Without A Proper Ending

Westworld Season 4 Was The Final Season, And Didn't Have A Satisfying Conclusion

By the time Westworld season 4 came out in 2022, the show had veered so far off course that it was almost unrecognizable. The final season has two jumps in time, as various characters attempt to save sentient life, both human and host, from extinction. The show ends on a cliffhanger, with the discovery that Dolores was reprogrammed as a host called Christina. In the final episode, she intends to create a new world within a data program called the Sublime to save all sentient beings.

Despite talks of a fifth and final season, Westworld was canceled shortly thereafter, leaving us with an inconclusive ending. It was probably for the best, however, since season 4 has the lowest score on Rotten Tomatoes. While many critics continued to praise the performances of the cast, the mostly shared consensus was that the maze of questions set up at the start of the season ended in a disappointing and unsatisfying climax.

It's A Shame Westworld Went Downhill So Fast

It Stopped Being Good After Season 1

When Westworld first landed on HBO in 2016, it was a revolution of the dark sci-fi genre. Developers Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy had a vision to adapt the excitement and adventure of Michael Crichton's ambitious sci-fi novel while adding compelling characters and an in-depth exploration of humanity. Unfortunately, the change in direction Westworld took in later seasons ultimately led it to spiral out of control, becoming a convoluted mess.

Westworld began with an intriguing premise and themes that had me hooked at the start, yet sadly went into steady decline as the show went on.

While some argue that the show started going downhill in season 3, I would argue that Westworld lost that special something in the second season. As Dolores began her glorious revolution to free the hosts and destroy their human masters, it was an intriguing question whether it was her free will made manifest or the merger with Wyatt's programming that led her to such violence. However, the other storylines in season 2 didn't feel quite as genuine, instead relying on entangled timelines that created a complex web of confusion.

Like other shows that started out strong but later ruined their stories, Westworld began with an intriguing premise and themes that had me hooked at the start, yet sadly went into steady decline as the show went on. I had hoped that the three-year gap between seasons 3 and 4 would have given the creatives a chance to return the show to what it used to be, but I was sorely disappointed. And thanks to the show’s cancellation, it looks like there will be no more opportunities for Westworld to get the ending it deserves.