The series premiere of HBO's new sci-fi series "Westworld" kicked off its run on Oct. 2, Sunday, with an impressive 3.3 million total viewers across all platforms. The series is based on the 1973 film of the same name that was written and directed by novelist Michael Crichton.
The impressive 3.3 million total viewers apparently mark the best series premiere of HBO since the season one of "True Detective" (2.33 million) in 2014, Variety reported. It also topped the series premiere of the hit fantasy series "Game of Thrones," which only recorded 2.2 million viewers.
The premiere episode, dubbed "The Original," saw the Westworld's lead developer, Bernard Lowe (Jeffrey Wright), alarming the creative director of the park, Dr. Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins), about incidents of distorted behavior springing up in some recently re-coded hosts.
In the Westworld town of Sweetwater, Dolores Abernathy (Evan Rachel Wood) encountered a newly arrived gunslinger, Teddy Flood (James Marsden), who is in pursuit of a local beauty. Their predictable story is overturned by the sudden arrival of a ruthless Man in Black (Ed Harris).
Shortly after the premiere, series creators Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan sat down in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter to further explain the premiere episode and Dolores' place in the show's past, present, and future. Nolan revealed that Dolores is very central to the show's current mythology considering that she is the oldest host in Westworld.
"We were fascinated by the idea that if you make a good game space, a good and durable environment like this, it would last for generations," Nolan explained. "People would come back and bring their kids to meet Dolores, the same way they met her when they were a kid - or Teddy, or any of these characters."
Nolan added that Dolores has been the girl next door with yearnings to travel and see the outside world and escape her unassuming little circle for 35-year. That, to them, apparently enhances the loathsomeness of her situation.
Joy also made mention of the particular scene where Dolores casually killed a mosquito, stating that it is an indication that something is already stirring within her. She added that the particular move should not be taken lightly.
The showrunners also teased at what viewers should expect in the second episode of "Westworld." It is said that the second episode will continue to showcase the hosts' perspective and will introduce the beautiful and sharp madam of Westworld, Maeve Millay (Thandie Newton).
Check out HBO's "Westworld" below: