Westworld Season 2 - How It Fails Its Characters (Review) 

I feel as Westworld was only planned to be a single season and season 2 was just an afterthought.

"Bit of a mess" - How polite and gentle of you :)

I see how people dont like how Dolores changed but at the same time it mirrors Williams character development. They both start out pure and innocent but their morals and views get totally warped while both of them are discovering themselves in Westworld and through another.

season 2 ruined dolores, and I don't buy the "oh, bernard was made by dolores not by ford. we swear, it has always been like that" thing, that sounds like a retcon to me, I think it was clear in season 1 ford made bernard. also I'm still angry about elsie, I liked her, I rooted for her!. I wish for season 3 they stop the "multiple timelines" thing and do it in chronological order, it was a nice trick for season 1 but it's getting tiresome, and it retroactively makes the past confusing. I also don't like how they handled william, he deserved something better.

"The story never stops to get inside her head..." That's what Teddy should have been for. Hes Wyatt's ex partner and Dolores's lover and out of anyone he would be the one to crack Dolores open like an egg, if only they gave him more moments that felt like his suicide scene or the one with Peter Abernathy and Dolores.

Dolores and Daenerys had the same problem.

Oooh the point about how the best episodes were also the most superfluous to the plot is SUCH a good point. Episode 5 was so good because it shows so well how Maeve and Dolores understand their situation: We see Maeve help out her double even though it’s “just code,” meanwhile we see Dolores reprogram Teddy. And both of them are back at the Mariposa, Maeve at the Shogun world version, Dolores at the post-masacre real version. This episode sets up Maeve and Dolores for ideological conflict- Then they never see eachother again in the season! Episode 8 was great, Aketcha is a great character and I love the idea that hosts have been aware long before season 1. But these characters should have had a role to play prior. These episodes feel somisolated from the overal plot.

season 3: hold my beer

Absolutely wonderful analysis! I agreed with practically everything that you pointed out and it made me realise some things that I didn't get, like the Shogun World espisode being practically a filler to the season and how Dolores, as a character, sadly lost it's relevance and the characteristics that made her a fan favorite on season one. This season was hollow, confusing and rushed. Your video was right to the point from the beginning to the end and, opposite to the show, it was not underwhelming in any moment. You definitely deserve more views!

This is spot on; perfectly articulates most of what I felt watching this season. Season 1 was one of my favorite works of cinema of all time, especially as someone who's deeply fascinated by the mystery of consciousness, human behavior, and the possible futures of AI. Season 2 is mostly a convoluted, contrived, underwhelming mess.

Maeve's powers became so broken, my wife and I were calling her Lady Jesus by the end of the season.

Wonderful video. It sums up exactly how I felt about it as compared to season one. And this is a perfect example of constructive criticism -- being respectful of the material while pointing out what worked, what didn't work, and what could have been done differently to make it work. Well, based upon this video alone you have a new sub. I'm looking forward to checking out your other videos now :)

how does your video not have more views? good stuff!

I liked S2 less than S1 but The Riddle of the Sphinx is my favourite episode. My only beef with that one was burning the cell with the Delos host dying an agonising death in it after system breakdown. What? That's gratuitous. Yes yes, he's in a hell of his own making, we get it. Logically, if a unit you are working on has a glitch you switch it off, not burn it and its room!

15:08 I know I'm years late, but you missed the worst thing about Maeve. She gains these nearly limitless powers that quite literally can control any hosts nearby and demonstrates this with her fight with William...... but for no reason at all is unable to use those same powers when the one thing she's been searching for (her daughter) is in danger by attacking hosts. She just lets the scene play out right in front of her

I loved Season 1, hated Season 2, won't watch Season 3.

Every scene Dolores was present in was complete shit in season 2.

What made the first seasons of GOT so compelling was the originality of the writing. George R.R Martin had no qualms when it came to killing off his main characters, the story was what was of utmost importance to him. This is something the writers of Westworld can't bring themselves to do, resulting in main characters getting riddled with bullets only to make miraculous recoveries. Its an unwritten rule in movies and tv shows, and its boring. Westwords characters also seem very familiar, basically cut and paste from any other show with the same formatted writing.

This is petty, but it also drove me crazy how Dolores was so made up in so many scenes. She's on the road! She's a homicidal maniac now!! Why is she wearing lipstick and a Bumpit???

I thought Stubbs wasn't actually saying he was a host, but that his job and role mean that there's not much difference between them.

At least Bernard had an awesome one-liner. Worth it!

I enjoyed Season 1 but not Season 2. You were dead on. S.1 was character driven but S.2 ...

A few issues I'd add in addition. -Quite a few episodes had moments where they were plagued with audio balancing issues or characters not delivering their lines clear enough. Not sure if anyone else had noticed it but I took it as a precursor. -The constant timeline shuffling was messy af. Are we in the present? the past? another world? Arnold's memory? I know you went over this but my gripe is that No audio or visual cues were given that a cut scene was about to take place and jump us to another timeline. At least with Lost, they had audio or visual cues that handled it. -Main plot delivery was subpar. Quite a few times I was left thinking "wait did they just deliver a main plot line, and why don't I care?" -Fords character is becoming dull and predictable. Probably in part by not getting enough air time and also being knocked off in season 1. Also Anthony Hopkins acting is becoming stale and monotone probably from not having any good scenes. In general though, most of the main character's have become uninteresting to watch. I have a feeling season 2 was all about character assassination and less to due with advancing the main plot line. Things are probably just being set up for season 3.

Couldn't agree more. Fantastic review!

Agreed with everything. You perfectly verbalized my issues with season 2

I noticed after watching this that every character from the first season had there role flipped on its head in the second season.

Really sad how bad it got. S1 was so good, s2 is a convoluted, pretentious mess.

Man you hit the nail on the head on the point about Man in Black at the end

Well done. Yours is one of the few objective critiques of season II. Season II was weak because the plot was poorly developed, overly complicated as you mentioned, and poorly written. With a tight plot, you have more room for character development. Season II could have had more character-driven episodes, but they would have been incongruous to the arc. If they had stuck with a similar core of writers, this season would have been far better.

Great analysis, thank you. Despite all the issues with season 2, I'm still keen on watching season 3. Anyone know if it's worth it

Season 1 was so good, I cried. I finished season 2 today, and was exhausted. There were so many flashbacks, I had whiplash. I laughed at the "Delores rides up on William like: "S'up?"" line.😂 Great review. Subbed!

If only Sizemore had not phoned in for back up and allowed Lawrence to get revenge upon MIB whilst also allowing Maeve to reunite with her daughter and allowing the hosts to happily go to greener pastures in the season finale. It would have been a more satisfying way, for me, to wrap up the series and give closure to MIB's character.

They went far too ambitiously with Westworld. At times it was glorious but they aimed too high and missed the basket. Too many repetitive still talking scenes that grated against its own sense till there was nothing left. Season 1 was slow, repetitive and was guilty of being boring at times but had better delivery and tighter focus. Season 2 started off amazing but was killed by horrible pacing and teleporting characters. It also gave me the real instinctive impression that the script writers had no idea what they were taking about, and by the final episode I was sure they didn't.

Very accurate analysis.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on seasons 3 and 4!

i didnt feel like watching season 2 because the first was all i needed to see; but i did wonder what direction they took it to...

Basically it was ass and it ruined all the characters it did such a hood job of setting up in season 1.

I started watching Westworld with my mother, today we saw the episode in season 2 with the doppelgangers and we both decided to stop watching. Season 1 was such a masterpiece, we could not bear the change of direction in season 2. It's a shame, but I am still very glad I watched season 1.

Great analysis , really puts the nail on why the first season was so memorable and why season 2 really didn't work for me either... Would be curious for a video about Season 3... Although I feel it's really hard to find anyhting positive to say about it... It's a shame really that they took what was arguably one of the best first season of a show ever and turned it into the convoluted mess of empty unrelatable , dead inside robots moving between plot twists to create surprise that generate no emotion or impact whatsoever.

At all the Dolores complaint, it's obvious she's completely different due to the merging of Wyatt personality. Of course she's a different person now.

I’m sorry but this is all subjective because there are people that I talk to loved season 2 and thought it was much more exciting than the 1st season. I love both seasons and am excited for the future.

Almost every episode has a different writer and director, they pretended it’s Black Mirror or something. Just a mess, couldnt finish it.

Just finished season 2 and this video sums up my thoughts perfectly. But even though I was mainly disappointed I will give season 3 a chance. Hopefully they can bring the show back in focus.

I never knew there was a post-credits scene. I just turned it off when the credits started because I was too frustrated to care if there were any surprises.

Thank you. I agree.

Do season 3! That was a dumpster fire. The only thing it has in common with seasons 1 and 2 is some of the actors. Doesn't even feel like the same series

lostworld?

Season 1 Episode 1 -- Teddy Flood is the Jesus figure...brilliant.

All I can say is, wait for season 3...

Are you the same dude from Up From the Depth? If not your voice is identical.

Its like a video game. Only the original is what we remember

Akecheta is the best part of Westworld season 2

By the end, I wondered if the head writer also worked on Battlestar Galactica’s “who’s a Cylon?” stupidity Maeve was horrid in that her “psychic powers” were a lazy ex machina and her story seemed to purposely drag its heels Delores was boring because her Bond villain monologuing was heavier handed than The Matrix sequel’s faux philosophy. Her lack of emotion compared to season one (Bender’s KILL ALL HUMANS joke from Futurama was more nuanced), and most of the time she was shown in cuts of her pursuing someone or thing. It was played to create tension, but fell flat Ford suddenly being a good-ish guy instead of the megalomaniac he saw him as in season 1 was a disappointment. The Forge was pointless. Its creation was more of a Maguffin than anything. Even if they made it to “the valley beyond”, they aren’t safe. It can be deleted or the power could be switched off, thereby killing all inside. A park closure from, oh I dunno, a murderous cyborg revolt can make that happen. Even the name bothered me... “FORGE”. Way to go with the forced allusion. However, forges are for creation. They don’t store. If it was a play on the room number, maybe “4-G3” I’d hate it slightly less I felt that the way suspense was created this season was purposely leaving out crucial information by chalking it up to outlandish causes, such as relying on Bernard’s POV for the majority of the season... but guess what kids! He has memory loss! Now everything is needlessly obtuse and without context. That isn’t a clever narrative device. It’s lazy storytelling indicative of the writing staff lacking ideas. I hoped for more from Shogun World. Sizemore’s redemption was one of the more compelling corners of the season. However, his death was just another instance of the wayward soul disdained and laughed at in the beginning who manages to redeem himself by opening his eyes to the hero’s truth, then sacrifices himself for the cause. It’s a tired trope. Teddy was a wasted resource. MIB’s daughter was tedious, and her confrontational behavior was a large Chekhov’s gun she’d be shot and killed.

when you get confused enough , that by the first 4 episodes, you want every main ccharakter to die and finally STAY dead--- you got a problem with the story -telling... unfortunately nobody you want to get rid of, actually dies and you would have to bear with them in a third season-- no thank you sir....

I'll only describe season 2 with one word : convoluted.

I think Wyatt is amazing, u have to remember it’s not really just Dolores anymore

Well..just got done with Season 3 and it made season 2 look like a masterpiece.

I loved the blonde lady. Then felt sad about aging that has occurred to the riddick lady did not fit role any longer perhaps 7 years ago...but ending was so confusing i did not understand anything.

I really think Jeffrey Wright's confusion should've been traded or interchanged periodically by pure fear. Fear for his life because he's a host in humanity's eyes and too human in the hosts' eyes. That would be much more relatable

How do I double like this video.

This is well done. I like how you think.

I think William's story was meant to be entirely wrapped up, and the post-credits scene was supposed to be a sort of karmic hell for him, having become a host after everything he did to Delos and the inhabitants of the park. I didn't get the feeling that it really gave any decent closure to his story though. I was also dissatisfied with how his story played out this season. There were clear signs as soon as he met his daughter that he might eventually kill her, thinking she was a host. I'm not entirely opposed to that happening (or at least him attempting it), but the execution and aftermath just felt really hollow. After days of being grievously wounded and shot numerous times, including shortly before the rescue team arrives, he manages to overpower a trained guard, steal his weapon, and kill everyone else. If a character basically ends up being an untouchable demigod, and avoids any major consequences, physical and mental, then it's hard to really care what happens with his story. Ever since the rebellion started he's been literally shrugging off bullets, and it's hard to feel like he's actually a human in a dangerous situation. His daughter stresses that he's a vulnerable human in danger (both from the park and himself), but in the end none of that actually ends up mattering, or at least it's not depicted. The most emotional damage we see is him contemplating suicide for a little bit, then he just goes on to travel with Dolores. The most physical damage is him losing some fingers when Dolores sabotages his gun. We get a line at the end of the season basically saying justice isn't always served, and the evil often get away with little consequence, but it's still not compelling for the story.

Hell yeah, the plot is too complicated and it's mindfuck! Too much timelines and I was forced to check out on internet recaps of a few episodes to understand several points. And I don't appreciate what they did to Dolores and William... I don't think that's a good idea to keep going on this show (to make a season 3)

Loved a few episodes but overall was so let down after the masterpiece of season one comparatively speaking. Still one of my favorite shows in years but holy moly what negligence in developing characters and plots

Thank you season 1! At least setting the pace for a 5k run.

Needlessly complicated !!!! sums it all

You changed your channel name!

Completely agree…..But this is the curse of all series now….from Lost, Homeland, TWD, GOT.....They all turned bad…..from great to disappointing……...

The only thing I didn't like about Season 2 is how "Samurai World" was shoe-horned in and Maeve being OP.

am sure ssn 1 and 2 were written by two different teams

We all know why they made Dolores the terminator, it is to degrade and destroy every great established male character for the sake of femme empowerment

I agree that this season had it's moments, but overall I was totally disappointed. The plot twist not only were void of emotional connection, they often made no logical or psychological sense. Having Deloris in control of her conversations with Bernard, and designing him, undermined Season 1. Maeve was veering too close to Neo in the Matrix, which makes you less concerned about her safety. Why did Teddy need to be re-programmed, didn't he just participate in a 2nd massacre, at Deloris' will, without guilt? Even such forced character development fell flat, he's still old Teddy, this time with less backbone... I am very conflicted about Episode 8, being the most memorable and at time cringe. It made no sense that meeting Logan would cause such a diversion from programming, Logan not exactly representing Dr Phil! Kidnapping someone else's wife, taking her at knife point into the desert, we would have a hard time romanticizing if this were done by the bartender to Deloris. I didn't buy him protecting Maeve and her daughter, at least not in the past, it seems like an afterthought and contradicting plot twist. At the same time, I really liked these characters, their curiosity in figuring out the park, emotional relationship to each other, and arch by the end. I'm left wishing they had been given 2-3 episodes, to further explore and develop.

I entirely stopped giving a shit after the 1st 15 minuted of episode 10

I put off seeing westworld season 2 for over 2 years. Kind of because: I didn't want to ruin the experience that season 1 gave me.

Again, you need to more videos. Please.

Zombie polar bears

Season 2 wasn't as great as season 1 for sure...but I would say Westworld was S1 and S2. S3 didn't exist imo and we should pretend it never happened. I would like for them to basically kill off season 3 entirely, and just rewind time, showing medievalworld or whatever for season 4, showing maybe a few of them waking up. The story of sentience is a fascinating one, far more than the determinism vs freedom stuff they are pushing

Season 2 is like a completely unnecessary autopsy of season 1.

I stoped watching after episode 2

Episode 5 was easily the worst

Season 2 was not good as season 1 because William and bernard was more complex characters not flat and their stories had to be great,,especially mib deserved better.

Struggled with S2 episode 1 but I just couldn’t get through the second episode and abandoned the whole series.

Dolores is worst character I've ever seen in television history

Damn.

Absolutely 100% right across the board from start to finish here. I felt like they had 2 seasons plotted out from the beginning, and ended up putting one and a half of them in season 1 making it densely layered in a way people struggled with, but paid off amazingly well. Season 2 felt like the orher half both stretched out to get from the opening to the finale to set up the next season, and yet rushed so they just had big random information dumps just drop off via clunky exposition scenes, and a lot of the "mysyeries" weren't hidden truths now, they were just unfinished thoughts people could have explained by asking eachother stuff, like "Oh there's lots of parks? What are the other ones?" Or, "Hey do you work here?"

So do you have to be some kind of shogun nerd to enjoy episode 4 because it felt very generic like a toddler watched some anime and wrote a story about it

I love season one. It blew my mind. It's sad that I didn't feel that much about season 2 although I can't tell what exactly it was.

It's terrible. Season three totally massacres the characters.

The dialogue is garbage in season 2!

They have ruined an outstanding thing.

Agree about 2x04, great episode, but 2x05 is the worst episode of the series and 2x08 is overrated. And there is a LOT of bad acting in Season 2.

So you found season 8 of GoT good and somehow this is a mess... your opinion is kinda worthless

Samuraiworld was really weak part.....so boring :(

Nah i like the critical drinkers review on westworld much better he tells it like it is

season 2 is pretty annoying !!! storytelling is way to confusing and also way to complex ... ok some twists are very cool and also some episodes are brillant, but overall the brilliance of the first season is gone ...

Bro I endlessly agree with you. It was an SJW fk fest of trash. I loved loved loved season one! But season 2 was dog shhhhh!t. Literally ruined my year.

Can't believe you didn't like the show because the bad guy did bad things. Maeve is and always has been the hero of the story.

I was more lost watching Season 2 than Bernards character!

they should have ended in season 1

Lol I’m the only one who didn’t like episode 8 huh