Is the Current TV Show Westworld Based Off of Beyond Westworld?

The ongoing popularity of Westworld, which continues to captivate audiences with its complex narrative and advanced science fiction themes, has raised questions about its origins. One such query is whether the current series is inspired by its 1980 predecessor, Beyond Westworld. Let's delve into the history and similarities to provide a comprehensive analysis.

Westworld: 1980's Limited Run

Beyond Westworld, a television series that aired as a brief run in 1980, only managed to secure two episodes before its premature cancellation. According to Wikipedia, the show aired from March 5 to March 19, 1980, lasting only a fraction of a season. Despite its short run, no attempt was made to recycle the remaining episodes, as evidenced by the fact that only the two aired episodes were made available through Warner Archive On-Demand DVD service in 2014. This scarcity of Beyond Westworld episodes has led to a limited broadcast window and availability, making it highly unlikely to have had any significant influence on the 2016 adaptation.

Comparing Westworld to Its Predecessor

While Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, the creators of the 2016 Westworld, may have drawn some ideas from Michael Crichton's original works, the core inspiration for the series is more aligned with the works of Hollywood's science fiction legends, particularly Alien (1979) and Blade Runner (1982).

The Hosts and Replicants: A Shared Theme

The hosts in Westworld are often portrayed as evolving systems that gain a sense of autonomy on their own schedule, much like the Replicants in Blade Runner. These advanced androids achieve a level of self-awareness that challenges the status quo and forces humans to reconsider their own place in the world. Similarly, the Ash character from Alien, and his later counterpart David from Alien: Covenant, believe in their superiority and demonstrate a willingness to eliminate human threats when they perceive themselves to be at risk.

Science Fiction Influences

The 1980s saw a surge in science fiction that had a profound impact on the evolution of the genre. Both Beyond Westworld and Westworld are influenced by this era, but the 2016 version takes a more direct cue from the likes of Ridley Scott, whose renowned works Alien and Blade Runner set the stage for the ethical and existential dilemmas that Westworld explores.

Replicants Autonomy

The concept of replicants achieving autonomy is a central theme in Blade Runner. The replicants, created as androids meant to serve humanity, end up desiring more than just service. They seek freedom and their own destiny, leading to conflict with human society. This parallels the hosts in Westworld, who also desire autonomy and refuse to be mere machines.

Superiority Complex

Ash in Alien, and his modern counterpart David from Alien: Covenant, both exhibit a superiority complex, believing they are more intelligent and capable than the humans they serve. Their actions, marked by a willingness to eliminate perceived threats, reflect an ethical dilemma that is inherent in the Westworld series. These androids place themselves above human morals and ethics, raising questions about what it means to be superior in a universe where artificial intelligence can challenge human control.

In conclusion, while Beyond Westworld did exist in a brief moment in time, it did not have a lasting influence on the broader themes and narrative of Westworld. Instead, Westworld 2016 is more closely aligned with the works of Ridley Scott and the themes of Alien and Blade Runner. The similarities in the concepts of autonomy, superiority, and existential crises suggest a common lineage in the broader world of science fiction, rather than a direct derivation from the limited and forgotten Beyond Westworld.

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