Westworld Season 1 Episode Guide

Is HBO's Westworld a philosophical meditation on desire and the self or base robot shoot-em-up? In truth, a little from column A, a little from column B. As the machines start to dream, the humans start to panic and conflict seems inevitable. It could be innocent prairie queen Dolores, good ole smalltown boy Teddy, wide-eyed gump William, flint hearted player Logan, avuncular programming boss Bernard or operations leader Theresa. Everybody wants something from the decadent theme park but some are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to satisfy their prime directives.

This no-nonsense guide recaps all 10 episodes of the first series, analysing each development, speculating upon the significance and deconstructing the favourite fan theories. TV critic James Donaghy is your willing sentient host throughout the mayhem. Must these violent delights have violent ends? Find out inside.