Entertainment

'Westworld' Is Running on Vibes at This Point

HBO's sentient robot series, which has returned for a fourth season, remains confounding as ever.

HBO
HBO
HBO

To prepare to attend the Season 4 premiere of Westworld, hosted at Lincoln Center and featuring a man in a robot costume handing out vodka pomegranate shots in test tubes, I tried to remember what happened in the previous season’s finale. It’s been a long time since May 2020, and words like “Rehoboam” had been stored so deeply in my memory you would think I was a host waking up from a long slumber. (That’s a little Westworld humour for you.)

I recalled that there was a huge AI, programmed by a man named Engerraund Serrac played by Vincent Cassel, which controlled human beings by designating those who were not productive members of society as “outliers.” Evan Rachel Wood’s escaped host Dolores uses one such outlier-Caleb, played by Aaron Paul-to help incite a rebellion eventually joined by Maeve (Thandiwe Newton). There’s also, frankly, a lot of other stuff going on, including Tessa Thompson’s Charlotte Hale, a cloned robot of Dolores that has evolved and is building an army of hosts, one of which is an exact replica of Ed Harris’ William/The Man in Black, who subsequently murders his human counterpart.

This is all to say that, yes, in its fourth season, which jumps ahead eight years, Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy’s Westworld remains confounding, but also able to be appreciated on a simple vibes level. You can try to theorize and figure out what the hell is going on, but isn’t it better just to sit back, relax, and listen to the orchestral cover of Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games,” which rips?

HBO
HBO
HBO

Westworld takes itself very seriously and is also extremely goofy, all of which is still present in the first new episode, which opens with Harris’ Man in Black taking over a data mining facility run by a cartel. Harris’ character goes about doing this by wielding some sort of modified flies, which can make people do his bidding. Sure! Okay! Meanwhile, in New York, Evan Rachel Wood is now “Christina,” who seems to maybe not realize she is a robot-and who’s to say she is anyway? She works at a gaming company called Olympiad Entertainment (which seems pretty nefarious if you ask me) programming non-playable characters. It seems like a low-level gig, except she keeps getting calls from a man who is telling her she’s controlling his life. She also has a fun new roommate played by Oscar winner Ariana DeBose, whose role is probably bigger than “fun new roommate.” Oh, and, James Marsden is back, watching over Christina, formerly his robot lover Dolores. How? No clue.

The third and fourth storylines of this hour involve Caleb, who is now married with a kid, but afraid of being persecuted, and Maeve, who has been living off the grid until she’s attacked by William’s henchman. She comes to get Caleb and they ride off to enact justice or something. Other characters like Jeffrey Wright’s Bernard and Thompson’s Charlotte, have yet to be seen, but will presumably figure into the rest of the season somehow.

As overwhelming as the plotting is, Westworld continues to be a very stylish show, trading in its past seasons’ cowboy aesthetics for stark futuristic design. Newton is a blast as the fully badass Maeve, who this season might have a motivation beyond getting back to her robot daughter, and Wood gives Christina a captivating, haunted blankness.

At this point, you sort of have to admire Westworld‘s resistance to crowd pleasing. We’re so far beyond the lauded robot cowboy show at this point, I’ve swerved back around into begrudgingly respecting the Nolans’ absurdly complicated narrative. There are hints that this season is going to take on concepts of crypto, but I don’t really care. I’m just chilling out to “Video Games” and trying not to think too hard about anything happening on screen.

Get the latest from Thrillist Australia delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe here.

Esther Zuckerman is a senior entertainment writer at Thrillist. Follow her on Twitter @ezwrites.

Entertainment

Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year 2023 in Australia

And what it means to be in the year of the Rabbit.

where to celebrate lunar new year australia

Starting with the new moon on Sunday, January 22, this Lunar New Year ushers in the year of the Rabbit. We’ve put together a guide on celebrating the Lunar New Year in Australia.

What is special about the year of the Rabbit?

As you might know, each year has an animal sign in the Chinese Zodiac, which is based on the moon and has a 12-year cycle. This year, we celebrate the year of the rabbit, known to be the luckiest out of all twelve animals. It symbolises mercy, elegance, and beauty.

What celebrations are taking place and how can I get involved?

There are plenty of festivals happening all around the country which you can get involved with. Here they are per state.

New South Wales

Darling Harbour Fireworks
When: Every year, Sydney puts on a fireworks show, and this year, you can catch it on January 28 and February 4 at 9 pm in Darling Harbour.

Dragon Boat Races
When: Witness three days of dragon boat races and entertainment on Cockle Bay to usher in the Lunar New Year. The races will commence on January 27 and finish on January 29.

Lion Dances
When: Catch a traditional Lion Dance moving to the beat of a vigorous drum bringing good luck and fortune for the Lunar New Year. The dance performances will happen across Darling Harbour on Saturday, January 21, Sunday, January 22, and Sunday, February 4 and 5, around 6 pm and 9 pm.

Lunar New Year at Cirrus Dining
When: Barangaroo’s waterfront seafood restaurant, Cirrus, is celebrating the Year of the Rabbit with a special feast menu. Cirrus’ LNY menu is $128pp with optional wine pairing and is available from Saturday, January 21, to Sunday, February 5.

Auntie Philter
When: Hello Auntie’s owner and executive chef, Cuong Nguyen will be dishing out some of the most classic Vietnamese street foods with his mum, Linda. All of Philter’s favourites will be on offer, as well as Raspberry Pash Beer Slushies and other cocktails being served at the Philter Brewing rooftop bar on Sunday, January 22 and Sunday, January 29.

Victoria

Lunar New Year Festival
When: Ring in the Lunar New Year with food, music, arts, and more on Sunday, January 22, from 10 am to 9 pm.

Lunar New Year at the National Gallery of Victoria
When: Celebrate the year of the rabbit at the National Gallery of Victoria’s festival of art, food, and art-making activities for everyone from 10 am-5 pm.

Queensland

BriAsia Festival
When: From February 1-19, Brisbane will come alive with performances, including lion dances and martial arts displays. There will be street food, workshops, comedy and more.

South Australia

Chinatown Adelaide Street Party
When: Adelaide is set to hose a fun-filled day celebrating the Chinese New Year on Saturday, January 28, from 12 pm to 9 pm.

Western Australia

Crown Perth
When: Across January and February, Crown Perth hosts free live entertainment, including colourful lion dances, roving mascots, and drumming performances. The restaurants will also throw banquets and menus dedicated to the Lunar New Year.

Get the latest from Thrillist Australia delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe here.


Related

Our Best Stories, Delivered Daily
The best decision you'll make all day.