Movies News Talk
The four-season sci-fi Western series HBO canceled, Westworld, has drawn compliments for its gripping story and breathtaking visuals. Its historical accuracy, especially in a scene involving a wagon robbery, has drawn criticism, though. Expert on Wild West history Michael Grauer notes several errors in the portrayal of this event, so casting questions on the show's focus on detail.
In the fifth episode of the first season, "Contrapasso," host El Lazo guides a gang of thieves including human visitors William and Logan in an attack on an army wagon carrying nitroglycerin. Although viewers would have found this scene exciting, Grauer contends that it differs greatly from Old West reality.
Grauer notes the way goods are transported using an army ambulance rather than a goods wagon. According to him, in the real Wild West, such shipments would have been under surveillance by a bigger contingent of troops, thus a successful robbery by four gun-wielding criminals is quite unlikely. He also underlines the need of hired teamsters in the movement of products, so stressing the unrealistic character of the scene.
Westworld is a fictionalized world itself, thus even if the creators of the show have taken artistic license with the historical backdrop. The creators of the show are building a unique and fanciful world using Western clichés rather than trying for a historically accurate depiction of the Wild West. The show is essentially a "fantasy within a fantasy," in which the Wild West serves only as a background for a more general investigation of issues of consciousness, free will, and artificial intelligence.
Though they generated controversy, Westworld's historical errors were not the main cause of cancellation. The show's demise in late 2023 resulted from declining audience and rising complexity. Ultimately, rather than rigorous adherence to historical accuracy, the success of the series depended on captivating narrative and interesting characters.
Beyond the Wild West environment, Westworld also investigates a dystopian future in which advanced technology is now a regular feature of society. The program presents Rehoboam, an artificial intelligence ruling the planet, and the possible fallout from letting technology shape human fate. It begs serious concerns regarding the nature of consciousness, free will, and the interaction between people and machines.
Though it was canceled, Westworld changed the television scene by blurring the boundaries between reality and fantasy and investigating difficult subjects that still appeal to viewers.
Though fictional works sometimes stray from historical accuracy, it's important to consider the possible effects of these errors. Particularly if viewers lack a strong awareness of the historical background, fictional depictions can mislead some of them. Writers and directors should be aware of the possibility for misrepresentation and aim for a balanced approach that honors the historical background while yet following the demands of the story.
Inspired by the Wild West to build a distinctive and captivating environment, the creators of Westworld obviously intended to produce a fictionalized world. Nonetheless, the show's use of historical errors emphasizes the need of thinking on the possible influence of artistic decisions on the audience's perspective of historical events and settings.
The historical errors in Westworld offer a useful case study for investigating the interaction among fiction, reality, and history. Although the writers of the show might not have been aiming for a historically accurate depiction of the Wild West, their artistic decisions show the need of responsible storytelling that acknowledges the historical background and avoids misleading viewers.
Notwithstanding its cancellation, Westworld's legacy will probably live on and inspire more conversation on the possible influence of technology on society and the need of historical accuracy in fictional stories.