Characters you think are human might turn out to be androids (or, to use the show’s nomenclature, “hosts”). If, that is, they don’t turn out to be the same person as another character, only presented in a different timeline. Tackling issues like identity and memory, Westworld’s biggest trick is to keep you guessing as to when things are happening, playing with the concept of cause and effect, and causing you to furrow your brow deeper in concentration.

The show also explores the nature of morality, essentially asking: are you evil if you’re only perceived as evil by incredibly life-like androids in a “game” scenario, knowing that this “game” is as real to the androids as reality is to you? And the second season takes it even further, bringing in the ethics and pitfalls of striving to achieve immortality.
 

But while deliberately puzzling us, misdirecting us and daring to make us (whisper it) think, Joy and Nolan never forget to entertain. There’s plenty of six-shooter action, and, in more recent episodes, some fantastic swordfights as android samurai from neighbouring amusement park Shogun World enter the fray. But, more impressively, this beautifully realised dark future is populated by a variety of compelling characters played by some of Hollywood’s finest: Thandie Newton (Line Of Duty) as the empowered (and dangerous) host Maeve; Evan Rachel Wood (True Blood) as the sweet-turned-psychotically-sour android Dolores; Ed Harris (mother!) as the mysterious antihero known as the Man in Black; Tessa Thompson (Thor: Ragnarok) as the ruthless troubleshooter Charlotte Hale; Sir Anthony Hopkins as God complex-suffering park overseer Robert Ford; and Jeffrey Wright (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay) as lead programmer Bernard, who sits at the conflicted heart of the story.
 

Like that metaphorical rodeo ride, Westworld doesn’t just throw you around, it also gets your adrenaline pumping. Are you ready? Then hold on tight, it’s gonna be a crazy ride…

Not heard about the Virgin Media Store?

It’s the place where you can buy hundreds of ace films and TV Box Sets. Want to know more about how to order these top movies and series? Then read our full story here.

How to use it

First, set up your account quickly and easily at virginmediastore.com. Once that’s done, if you have a Virgin TV box you can buy and watch hundreds of films and TV Box Sets via the Virgin Media Store app on your box. Alternatively, if you’re not a Virgin TV customer, you can buy and watch via the Virgin Media Store website and do everything through that. Simple!