Few series were as thought-provoking and relevant as the technological exploration seen in HBO’sWestworld, meaning that plenty of viewers will be looking for a new show to watch after making their way through all four seasons. With a well-plotted, intricate, andtwist-filled narrative,Westworldwas one of the most talked-about shows on HBO back when it first aired in 2016. Featuring incredibleA-list talentlike Anthony Hopkins, Evan Rachel Wood, and Ed Harris, the wayWestworldpaired themes of the ethics of artificial intelligence with an outrageous Wild West amusement park setting was truly ingenious.
It’s always difficult to know what to watch next after you’ve finished one ofthe best shows ever madeand are desperately trying to find something that fills the void left by the series' absence. Luckily, several other great shows are just as engrossing, original, and insightful asWestworld, making them perfect choices for fans looking for their next binge-watch.Those who are looking for something as great asWestworldto watch next should look no further than these incredible shows.
A prime reason that viewers connected so much with HBO’sWestworldduring its first season was its slowly unfolding mystery, interconnected timelines, and seemingly endless possibilities for twists and turns. While these types of cryptic and complex stories have become more common on television in the 21st century, none of them would exist without the influence ofTwin Peaks. This classic mystery series from the 1990s was a trailblazing piece of television that had the entire world asking the pressing question of ‘Who killed Laura Palmer?’
Fromthe late filmmaking icon David Lynch and TV writer Mark Frost,Twin Peakswas the first show of its kind to embrace the potential for serialized television. With an ongoing mystery that required viewers to pay close attention to its litany of clues and secrets,Twin Peaksmade for fascinating TV and laid the foundations for everything fromLosttoWestworld. Add to this Lynch’s unique sense of surrealism and dreamlike logic, and you’ve got one of the most iconic cult classics there has ever been.
There are two major strands ofWestworldfans, and which camp you fall into will have a major implication for the type of show you’re looking for to fill that void. While some viewers will be seeking out more tech-heavy series that explore the implications of artificial intelligence, others will be more interested in the Wild West setting of its advanced theme park that’s populated with highly intelligent androids. If you prefer the western side ofWestworld,thenJustifiedis certainly the show for you.
WithTimothy Olyphant as the tough deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens,Justifiedwas a modern Western series that explored an unconventional law officer’s personal brand of Old West-style justice. Featuring fantastic supporting performances from the likes of Walton Goggins,Justifiednot only boasted the same A-list talent asWestworldbut also maintained its impeccable writing. As one of the greatest shows of the 2010s, those who haven’t caught up on Justified yet are missing out.
There’s a major push-and-pull withinWestworldbetween the way that AI android hosts can be utilized and their right to personal autonomy and civil liberties. This brings up thought-provoking themes around the nature of selfhood that are also addressed in the sci-fi psychological thriller,Severance. With a unique premise, rather than focus on AI hosts who are being unfairly exploited by society at large, withinSeverance, it isindividuals who are exploiting themselves by separating their consciousness into a work self and a home self.
The cognitive separation seen inSeveranceis referred to as an “innie” and an “outtie,” and this Apple TV+ series delves deep into the moral and ethical implications of such a practice.Severanceexplored the darkest side of corporate drudgery and addressed many of the same themes and ideas that made Westworld such a hotbed for discussion among viewers. With strong performances from the likes of Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette, and John Turturro,Severancepairs top-tier writing, fascinating concepts, and richly psychological themes to become one of the best series currently on TV.
WhileWestworldandDeadwoodshare surface-level similarities due to their Wild West settings, the comparison goes far deeper than just this. As a show that highlights the encroaching influence of civilization on a small frontier town, the prime theme ofDeadwoodexplores chaos versus order as the slow emergence of government showcased the final days of the Wild West. Similarly,Westworlddepicts a society at a point of transformation as AI intelligence begins to fight back and demand autonomy.
Through power struggles, attempts at control, and dark morality seen in a lawless society,DeadwoodandWestworldeach addressed universal themes with thoughtful care and depth. With a standout performance from Ian McShane as Al Swearengen, the entire ensemble cast should get credit for turningDeadwoodinto perhaps HBO’s greatest period drama. With just three seasons and an epilogue movie,Deadwoodis the perfect show to help you fill aWestworld-sized gap in your life.
There’s a sense of grief, trauma, and existential questioning that ran throughWestworld, as seen in hosts like Dolores’s journey toward self-awareness and a discovery of their harrowing pasts. InThe Leftovers, these same ideas are explored through the Sudden Departure,a global event that saw 2% of the world’s population inexplicably disappear.As society reckons with the fallout of this event, religious fanaticism and odd beliefs begin to take hold of the town of Mapleton, where Chief Kevin Garvey serves as a police officer.
While at first glance, the similarities betweenThe LeftoversandWestworldwon’t be immediately clear, their willingness to address the eternal search for meaning in a meaningless world means that these shows have a lot in common. The way that Kevin’s wife, Laurie, joins the mysterious cult called the Guilty Remnant to try to make sense of this world-shattering event was similar to the hosts inWestworldexploring their newly discovered sense of free will. With both shows looking at the essence of what it means to be human,Westworldfans will find a lot to like aboutThe Leftovers.
Mr. Robotwas an intriguing mix of influence that brought together ideas previously seen in the likes ofAmerican Psycho,Fight Club,The Matrix, andTaxi Driverto create something totally new. With theFight Club-esque twist of a split personality ruling somebody’s life,Mr. Robotfeatured plenty of twists and turns that kept audiences guessing in the same way that Westworld’s mystery box narrative was an intriguing puzzle just waiting to be put together.
With a unique sense of humor and a great performance from Rami Malek,Mr. Robotaddressed themes of tech, society, and the destructive nature of capitalism in modern civilization. As a suspenseful cyber-thriller,Mr. Robotwas influenced not only by the expanding influence of technology but also by political movements like Occupy Wall Street. As a clever, thought-provoking, and underrated prestige drama,Mr. Robotdeserves more credit as one of the best shows of the 2010s.
The anthology sci-fi seriesBlack Mirroris a trailblazing look at the dark side of technology in the modern era. With each episode telling a self-contained story with an entirely new cast, the anthology nature ofBlack Mirrormeant he could always be on the cutting edge and even accidentally predicted upcoming technological advances. Known for its cynical worldview and jaw-dropping twist endings,Black Mirroris a masterclass in dystopian storytelling from British satirist Charlie Brooker.
While some episodes ofBlack Mirrorwere certainly better than others, at its best, it thoughtfully explored the dark implications of artificial intelligence and a society increasingly reliant on technology. Much in the same way thatWestworldhighlights the ethical dilemmas posed by technology that has achieved consciousness,Black Mirrorforces viewers to confront the moral inconsistencies facing society as it currently stands.
Dollhousewas a fantastic, albeit all too brief, TV series fromBuffy the Vampire Slayercreator Joss Whedon. As a sci-fi series that explored a corporation running underground establishments populated by artificially intelligent Actives known as Dolls, these sentient robots are fitted with temporary personalities and skills. With the premise that identity is malleable,Dollhousetapped into the ethics of artificial consciousness and posed questions of whether it’s right to load AI with multiple, ever-changing personalities.
With a fantastic lead performance from Eliza Dushku,Dollhousewas an intriguing series that was sadly canceled after just two seasons. While the questions posed byDollhousefeel highly relevant today, back in 2009, artificial intelligence was not as commonplace, and the show failed to connect with mainstream viewers. AlthoughWhedon never got to finish his five-season plan for the show, the two-season run ofDollhouseremains a cult favorite just waiting to be discovered by a new generation of viewers.
The German-language sci-fi thrillerDarktook viewers on a genre-bending exploration through time in a multigenerational story that addressed big questions of duality, fate, and morality. Through a sprawling story that truly has to be seen to be believed,Darkmanaged to capture the same excitement and curiosity that madeWestworldseason 1 such an intriguing viewing experience. With elements ofTwin Peaksmixed withStranger Things,Darkalso carved out its own unique identity and was like nothing else on Netflix.
Darkwas one of the rare shows that got better with each subsequent season as it delved further into its complex mystery. With an insanely talented ensemble cast, it was incredible the way that actors were perfectly cast to play characters at different points in their life stories. While some viewers may be put off by foreign language series, I guarantee you won’t regret taking a chance onDark.
Humanswas a co-production between Channel 4 and AMC that adapted the Swedish sci-fi dramaReal Humans. Dealing with pressing questions around the ethics of exploiting artificial intelligence, robotics, and their place in the future of mankind,it’s incredible just how comparable the themes ofHumanswere toWestworld. WhileWestworldembraced the more outlandish side of using AI for entertainment,Humanswas more grounded in the everyday use and moral dilemmas of the anthropomorphic robots known as synths.
With a truly thought-provoking narrative,Humanstapped into important questions around the ethical use of AI at a time when viewers were ready to address this topic. Through a blend of intense drama and comedy,Humanswas a riveting glimpse into the sociopolitical consequences of a technological development we are only just beginning to see the all-encompassing influence of. If you’re looking for a new show to replaceWestworldwith, look no further thanHumans.
