Watching Westworld
99 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 1.1K ratingsThe ethics of creating artificially-intelligent machines is tricky business and it’s quickly becoming our reality. How will society change to accommodate these new beings? Are they beings at all? And why do robots love milk so dang much?! Join us for a weekly, episodic recap laced with comedy, theories, and listener feedback as we dive deep into the important questions of HBO’s new science fiction series, “Westworld”.
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Episodes
210 – The Passenger – Instant Take
June 25, 2018 02:35 - 28 minutesThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
209 – Vanishing Point
June 19, 2018 21:20 - 2 hours - 5 MBThis week's episode of HBO's Westworld, "Vanishing Point" does a excellent job of setting up next week's finale. That finale has a lot riding on it, with seemingly endless permutations of possibilities of who's a host, who's a human, what's real and what's simulated that have to be coalesced down to a single possiblity. But we're getting ahead of ourselves, because if you watched this episode purely for it's plot mechanics you missed out on a lot of wonderful writing and acting that lead to s...
209 – Vanishing Point – Instant Talk
June 18, 2018 02:00 - 21 minutes - 5 MBThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members.
209 – Vanishing Point – Instant Take
June 18, 2018 02:00 - 22 minutesThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
208 – Kiksuya
June 12, 2018 19:50 - 2 hours - 5 MBThis week's episode of HBO's Westworld was truly a thing of beauty. Learning about the long and winding journey of Akecheta, exquisitely played by Zahn McClarnon, in his search for truth, meaning, and his long lost love, was as profound a watching experience as I've had these past few years. Along the way he unlocks his own consciousness, meets god and the devil, and learns about a path his people may take to be free forever. Will he reach The Door? What, and who, will he find there? And will...
208 – Kiksuya – Instant Talk
June 11, 2018 02:00 - 22 minutes - 5 MBThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members.
208 – Kiksuya – Instant Take
June 11, 2018 02:00 - 24 minutesThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
207 – Les Ecorches
June 05, 2018 20:50 - 2 hours - 5 MBIn this week's episode of HBO's Westworld, "Les Ecorches", Bernard and Ford have a heart to heart, Dolores flips her daddy's wig, William is betrayed by his old buddy Lawrence, Maeve makes a promise that she might not be able to keep, and the end game involving the Valley Beyond starts to come into focus. We also discuss our feelings about the way action is being handled on the show, debate whether the structure of Westworld itself is necessary, and consider a ton of feedback, theories, and s...
207 – Les Ecorches – Instant Take
June 04, 2018 02:00 - 19 minutesThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
207 – Les Ecorches – Instant Talk
June 04, 2018 02:00 - 18 minutes - 5 MBThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members.
206 – Phase Space
May 29, 2018 20:47 - 2 hours - 5 MBIn this week's episode of HBO's Westworld, "Phase Space", Maeve learns the soft limits of her power, the Man in Black has a heartfelt conversation with his daughter, Teddy gets "fixed", Bernard introduces us to the CR8-DL, and a fresh crop of a-holes from Delos Corporate literally parachute onto the Mesa, leaving us unimpressed. We also discuss a boat load of email, speculation and theories at the end of the podcast!
206 – Phase Space – Instant Talk
May 28, 2018 02:00 - 17 minutes - 5 MBThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members.
206 – Phase Space – Instant Take
May 28, 2018 02:00 - 18 minutesThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
205 – Akane No Mai
May 22, 2018 19:50 - 2 hours - 5 MBWelcome to Shogun World! HBO's Westworld expands its horizons in the latest episode, "Akane No Mai", as we get to meet a cast of entirely new but strangely familiar characters in a deadly new location. We also get to find out some more info about the role of the mysterious Cradle, watch Maeve as she discovers a new "superpower", and Teddy and Dolores have a falling out over there very different approaches to veterinary medicine. We discuss this as well as your feedback and popular theories a...
205 – Akane No Mai – Instant Take
May 21, 2018 02:00 - 17 minutesThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
205 – Akane No Mai – Instant Talk
May 21, 2018 02:00 - 15 minutes - 5 MBThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members.
204 – The Riddle of the Sphinx
May 15, 2018 19:45 - 2 hours - 5 MBIn Westworld episode 204, "Riddle of the Sphinx", we're asked to consider if mortality is a core feature of humanity, or is it merely a bug to be fixed later in code? What is "good enough" when it comes to consciousness transfer? If you can be copied and therefore replaced, does that mean you are no longer real, as Arnold stated at the outset of the season? Aside from these heady topics, we discuss Bernard becoming lost in his reveries, the triumphant return of one of our favorite techs, an...
204 – The Riddle of the Sphinx – Instant Talk
May 14, 2018 02:00 - 17 minutes - 5 MBThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members.
204 – The Riddle of the Sphinx – Instant Take
May 14, 2018 02:00 - 19 minutesThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
203 – Virtu e Fortuna
May 08, 2018 19:40 - 2 hours - 5 MBThe latest episode of Westworld, "Virtu e Fortuna" adds an enigmatic new character, an entirely new park, and depicts the first formal battle of the Great Host Rebellion of 2052. There is a lot to unpack, and seemingly everything seen just leaves us with more questions. We discuss the dual natures of Dolores and Maeve, Bernard making a crucial discovery of what's in one Peter Abernathy's head, and try to puzzle out out what the tiger hunter has to do with the story and how she relates to the ...
203 – Virtu e Fortuna – Instant Take
May 07, 2018 02:00 - 35 minutesThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
203 – Virtu e Fortuna – Instant Talk
May 07, 2018 02:00 - 34 minutes - 5 MBThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members.
202 – Reunion
May 01, 2018 20:05 - 2 hours - 5 MBIn this week's episode of HBO's Westworld, "Reunion", they add three or four timelines to play with. No big deal. We find out more about this "Valley Beyond" or "Place of Judgment" that William and Dolores seem to be racing towards to see who can get there first. William wants to burn the place to the ground, Dolores hopes to find a powerful weapon to use against her human oppressors. Maeve is caught in between, just a woman trying to find her daughter in this crazy 'World. Lots of analysis,...
202 – Reunion – Instant Take
April 30, 2018 02:00 - 23 minutesThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
202 – Reunion – Instant Talk
April 30, 2018 02:00 - 21 minutes - 5 MBThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members.
201 – Journey Into Night
April 24, 2018 20:00 - 2 hours - 5 MBThe opening salvo fired in HBO's Westworld season two premiere wasn't what we were expecting. We were expecting literal salvos fired by lots of angry hosts into lots of frightened guests, which, you know, that's certainly there. But there is so much more. What to make of Bernard's time bending descent into near death madness, Dolores oddly performative attempted takeover of the park, Maeve's increasing attachment to various fellow hosts, to say nothing of what Delos is up to trafficking in ...
201 – Journey Into Night – Instant Talk
April 23, 2018 02:05 - 15 minutes - 5 MBThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members.
201 – Journey Into Night – Instant Take
April 23, 2018 02:05 - 17 minutesThe Instant Talk podcast is our aftershow, with our own quick thoughts about the episode followed by an interactive chat discussion with our fans, live on YouTube. The first half is released as the Instant Take podcast. The audio from the interactive section is released as a premium podcast just for our club members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Season Two Preview
April 17, 2018 00:16 - 48 minutes - 5 MBThe long awaited sophomore season of HBO's Westworld returns this weekend, and we've been champing at the bit. We discuss the open questions from last season, the tantalizing glimpses of the future we've seen from the trailers so far, and discuss upcoming format changes and our policy on spoilers and speculation. Why is William's past still relevant to the story? What is the door, and how are we supposed to find it? Are Dolores and Maeve running diametrically opposed armies? What is Delos up...
Season 1 Wrapup
December 13, 2016 23:30 - 2 hours - 5 MBJim and A.Ron put season one of HBO's Westworld in cold storage by talking about our overall thoughts, opinions, and hopes for next season. Then we consider a giant sized mailbag where we discuss scalp maps, the nature of consciousness and free will, the impact of self aware robotic hosts on fast food chains, and much more. We'll be back whenever Westworld returns, but we never really go away. In 2017 we have an early line up including The Leftovers, Better Call Saul, Game of Thrones, amon...
110 – The Bicameral Mind
December 06, 2016 23:30 - 2 hours - 5 MBA.Ron and Jim are very pleased with how the violent delights over season one would up having violent ends in the finale episode for Westworld, "The Bicameral Mind". Sure, maybe the first third of the episode was merely review for a class that has studied their podcasts and their reddit. But once Hector and Armistice got their hands on the P90s, it was pedal to the metal until the conclusion that we found extremely satisfying. Not only that, it setup season two so well that it's almost crim...
109 – The Well-Tempered Clavier
November 29, 2016 21:50 - 2 hours - 5 MBMany more puzzle pieces fell into place over the weekend as HBO's Westworld deployed episode 109, "The Well-Tempered Clavier". But there is still a lot left to uncover. Why did Dr. Ford deploy the reverie code? What is his ultimate intentions for his new narrative and indeed future of the park? What are those sentient robots doing hiding up in the hills of Westworld? And what does the Man in Black intend to do with Delores once he finds her? We're excited to see how things wrap up next w...
108 – Trace Decay
November 22, 2016 22:10 - 2 hours - 5 MBJim and A.Ron take in the latest episode of HBO's Westworld, "Trace Decay". Timelines are continuing to proliferate (we're up to four now, in case you're keeping score at home), everybody is still potentially a host, and William is probably the MiB after all. But there's a lot of nice stuff here, from the increasingly evident narcisism and nihilism of Dr. Ford to Bernard struggling to cope with his new station in life. And hooboy, is this "upload 35 years worth of Westworld madness into th...
108 - Trace Decay
November 22, 2016 22:10 - 2 hoursJim and A.Ron take in the latest episode of HBO's Westworld, "Trace Decay". Timelines are continuing to proliferate (we're up to four now, in case you're keeping score at home), everybody is still potentially a host, and William is probably the MiB after all. But there's a lot of nice stuff here, from the increasingly evident narcisism and nihilism of Dr. Ford to Bernard struggling to cope with his new station in life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
107 – Trompe L’Oeil
November 15, 2016 22:50 - 2 hours - 5 MBThe floodgates have opened after the release of the newest episode of HBO's Westworld, "Trompe L'Oeil". Everyone is a host, unless you think they're a host, then they're a double secret human. There are at least five timelines, six of which take place on Mars. The robots can kill, unless they're Clementine, but then again she's an expert at faking it. If you've experienced trauma from watching this episode, never fear. Buffalo are standing by to provide medical care and O negative blood ...
107 - Trompe L'Oeil
November 15, 2016 22:50 - 2 hoursThe floodgates have opened after the release of the newest episode of HBO's Westworld, "Trompe L'Oeil". Everyone is a host, unless you think they're a host, then they're a double secret human. There are at least five timelines, six of which take place on Mars. The robots can kill, unless they're Clementine, but then again she's an expert at faking it. If you've experienced trauma from watching this episode, never fear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
106 – The Adversary
November 08, 2016 22:00 - 2 hours - 5 MBSeems like whether you loved the latest episode of HBO's Westworld, "The Adversary" depends on how much you bought into Maeve running roughshod over two bumbling technicians toiling in the bowls of Westworld's meat department. Jim's struggling with this. Meanwhile A.Ron might very well be teetering too close to the crazy town of Tinfoil. We record, you decide!
106 - The Adversary
November 08, 2016 22:00 - 2 hoursSeems like whether you loved the latest episode of HBO's Westworld, "The Adversary" depends on how much you bought into Maeve running roughshod over two bumbling technicians toiling in the bowls of Westworld's meat department. Jim's struggling with this. Meanwhile A.Ron might very well be teetering too close to the crazy town of Tinfoil. We record, you decide! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
105 – Contrapasso
November 02, 2016 00:19 - 2 hours - 5 MBLooks like multiple timelines is back on the menu! Just when we had completely written of the various timeline theories, they come roaring back in episode 105, "Contrapasso". Not saying that any theory at this point is on entirely solid ground, but let's just say we've got our laser-based satellite receivers aimed squarely at Orion's belt. The point is a lot went down this episode. El Lazo turns out to be Lawerence, Dolores comes out slingin', Elsie's pounding Bernard's desk with bloody r...
105 - Contrapasso
November 02, 2016 00:19 - 2 hoursLooks like multiple timelines is back on the menu! Just when we had completely written of the various timeline theories, they come roaring back in episode 105, "Contrapasso". Not saying that any theory at this point is on entirely solid ground, but let's just say we've got our laser-based satellite receivers aimed squarely at Orion's belt. The point is a lot went down this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
104 – Dissonance Theory
October 25, 2016 21:12 - 2 hours - 5 MBAnother intriguing and informative episode of HBO's Westworld is in the books, and we continue to have a lot to discuss. In "Dissonance Theory", we learn that Ford has god-like control of the park, that the robots are largely made of "meat", that Maeve is coming dangerously close to unraveling the illusion of her life, and that Bernard is intentionally steering Dolores towards the mysterious end-game of Westworld, the maze.
104 - Dissonance Theory
October 25, 2016 21:12 - 2 hoursAnother intriguing and informative episode of HBO's Westworld is in the books, and we continue to have a lot to discuss. In "Dissonance Theory", we learn that Ford has god-like control of the park, that the robots are largely made of "meat", that Maeve is coming dangerously close to unraveling the illusion of her life, and that Bernard is intentionally steering Dolores towards the mysterious end-game of Westworld, the maze. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
103 – The Stray
October 18, 2016 20:26 - 2 hours - 5 MBJim and A.Ron try to round up Westworld's latest episode, "The Stray", but corralling the big ideas this show brings to the table is proving to be quite a challenge. We appreciate the focus on the "human" element of Westworld, getting much more backstory for Bernard and Dr. Ford. But how straight a shooter is Dr. Ford? How much of his tale is fact, and how much of it carefully curated legend, intended to deceive both Bernard and the audience? Wheels within wheels!
103 - The Stray
October 18, 2016 20:26 - 2 hoursJim and A.Ron try to round up Westworld's latest episode, "The Stray", but corralling the big ideas this show brings to the table is proving to be quite a challenge. We appreciate the focus on the "human" element of Westworld, getting much more backstory for Bernard and Dr. Ford. But how straight a shooter is Dr. Ford? How much of his tale is fact, and how much of it carefully curated legend, intended to deceive both Bernard and the audience? Wheels within wheels! Learn more about your ad...
102 – Chestnut
October 11, 2016 20:37 - 2 hours - 5 MBJim and A.Ron have a lot to say about the second episode of HBO's new hit series, Westworld, entitled "Chestnut". We talk a lot about the developing characters and mysteries of the show, trying to figure out what Bernard and Dr. Ford are up to, while trying to understand the motives and mind of Dolores. Along the way, we find out surprising things about each other, like our true feelings about dusty old prospectors found lying in the street. It's quiet beautiful, really. And hey, we got l...
102 - Chestnut
October 11, 2016 20:37 - 2 hoursJim and A.Ron have a lot to say about the second episode of HBO's new hit series, Westworld, entitled "Chestnut". We talk a lot about the developing characters and mysteries of the show, trying to figure out what Bernard and Dr. Ford are up to, while trying to understand the motives and mind of Dolores. Along the way, we find out surprising things about each other, like our true feelings about dusty old prospectors found lying in the street. It's quiet beautiful, really. Learn more about y...
101 – The Original
October 04, 2016 21:26 - 1 hour - 5 MBJim and A.Ron are incredibly impressed with the first episode of HBO's new sci-fi western, Westworld. It was one of the best pilots we've ever seen, packing an amazing amount of mystery and world-building in just one hour, laying a great foundation for the rest of first season. We discuss our relative comfort with the co
101 - The Original
October 04, 2016 21:26 - 1 hourWe are incredibly impressed with the first episode of HBO's new sci-fi western, Westworld. It was one of the best pilots we've ever seen, packing an amazing amount of mystery and world-building in just one hour, laying a great foundation for the rest of first season. We discuss our relative comfort with the concept of Westworld at the outset, investigate the strange actions of Ed Harris's Man in Black, and praise the acting abilities of malfunctioning androids. All this and tons of early fe...
Season 1 Preview
September 27, 2016 23:41 - 40 minutes - 5 MBJim and A.Ron spend a bit of time talking about the upcoming season of HBO's new sci-fi/western, Westworld. We discuss the multiple reasons to be excited, from the creative and talent pedigree of the project, to the stellar advance reviews the series has enjoyed. Can the series live up to it's promise, and hype, to become HBO's next Game of Thrones sized megahit? Will the concept be able to sustain more than just one or two seasons? What does Westworld look like in four seasons? We'll fi...