HBO struggled to find a new flagship show whenGame of Thronesended in 2019, even though there was already a worthy successor in active production. AlthoughGame of Thrones' endingwas divisive at best, the live-action adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s fantasy novels is still touted as one ofHBO’s best shows.
AlthoughHouse of the Dragonis currently flying the flag for HBO’s genre-heavy efforts, the studio once tried and ultimately failed to replaceGame of Throneswith a sci-fi epic that was canceled after season 4. While best known for making some of thebest crime thrillersof all time,HBO has proven itself capable of far more fantastical affairs.
Westworld Could Have Been HBO’s Next Game Of Thrones
Westworlddebuted in 2016 and ran for four seasons before HBO pulled the plugin 2022. So, there was a period when HBO was making the show alongsideGame of Thrones. Despite belonging in separate genres, both projects boasted the same level of impressive gradiosity and were aimed at mature audiences due to their use of extreme violence and sexual themes.
WhileGame of Throneswas able to finish on its own terms - despite leapfrogging the saga’s literary source material -Westworldwas not. The sci-fi show, which was based loosely on the 1973 movie of the same name, was not given the same chance to wrap up its story.
Westworld’s premise held almost infinite potential, and could easily have taken over fromGame of Thronesas HBO’s best effort when it came to less grounded TV shows. Sadly, the show’s reception started to slide and the ever-increasing budget wasn’t deemed a worthwhile investment after season 4.
Westworld Went Downhill Long Before It Was Canceled
Westworldseason 1 is an absolutely fantastic batch of episodesthat isn’t talked about enough. While it ended in a way that left the door ajar for renewal, it’s still possible to watch as something akin to a limited series without a hard need to keep going. WhileWestworldseason 2 kept the same general vibe alive, it shows early signs of decline.
A big part of what madeWestworld’s inaugural run so great was the blend of mysterious arcs and hard sci-fi storytelling. The show later tried hard to replace the mysterious elements that had been solved in season 1, but they were never quite as compelling - although they were still good.
The longerWestworldwent on, the more it started to prioritize high-concept storylines and action sequences over the more character-driven formula that had been so successful early on. Season 1 remained the high bar the show had set for itself, and none of the subsequent seasons quite managed to recapture that same magic.
Westworldstarted to spend less and less time set in the show’s titular location, or even in the other parks teased by the show. While I understand the decision to expand the universe, and even agree with it to a certain extent, the focus shifted far too much to settings that were less interesting. This was most noticeable with the start ofWestworldseason 3.
Westworld Deserved To Have Gotten A Proper Ending
Westworldseason 4’s finale wraps up certain storylines but leaves other arcs unresolved. It’s not a completely satisfying ending, but it does function as one relatively well. Still, the amount of effort and care that went into crafting the show’s larger story means it’s a huge shameWestworldwasn’t given the chance to bid a proper farewell to its audience.
Getting four seasons is good for a show in the streaming era. Where it went wrong was making the storylines increasingly convoluted and less accessible for those less inclined to follow that sort of writing.Westworldstarted to go off the rails in season 3, but it could have righted itself if it had known season 4 would be the end.
As it stands,Westworld’s cerebral scripts come to a somewhat abrupt halt. While I didn’t agree with huge portions of what became the show’s direction, I do still think that the effort that had gone into bringing the world to life should have earned it the chance to bring things to a cleaner end.
Will Westworld Season 5 Ever Happen?
There are currently no confirmed plans forWestworldto resume production, and there have been no new episodes since the show was canceled in 2022. While there has been a contingent of the show’s fan base rallying for its revival, it’s not been enough to convince HBO to reverse its decision to end it.
What makesWestworld’s continuation even less likely is the fact that the show has been removed from HBO Max, meaningTubi is the only service where it can be streamed. If there was even the faintest possibility that HBO planned to one day makeWestworldseason 5, I doubt the other episodes would have been taken down.
That said, there is a flicker of hope that the story will be completed in one way or another. Co-creatorJonathon Nolan has spoken of his intense desire to finishWestworld, but said that the conclusion may take place in another medium. So, newWestworldbooks, comics, or even animations, could be on the horizon.
