HBO Fantasy Show Westworld Had Even Worse Ending Than Game Of Thrones

Game of Thrones famously had a bad ending that continues to be quite controversial, but there’s another great HBO TV show that had an even worse fate. HBO is well-known for its high-quality TV shows, of which some now rank among the best TV shows of all time, but it has to be said that not all of them ended on a high note.

When it comes to fantasy shows by HBO, the one that has to be mentioned is Game of Thrones. Based on George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire book series, Game of Thrones ran from 2011 to 2019 for eight seasons. Game of Thrones was a huge critical success and a cultural phenomenon, but it had a less-than-ideal ending.

The ending of Game of Thrones now ranks among the worst TV finales of all time, but there’s another HBO fantasy TV hit show that had an even more frustrating ending: Westworld.

Westworld Never Got An Ending

Westworld is a dystopian sci-fi Western drama series created by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy. Based on the 1973 movie of the same name by Michael Crichton, Westworld takes the audience to the title setting, a technologically advanced Wild West-themed amusement park hosted by androids indistinguishable from humans. The wealthy can go to Westworld and indulge in all types of fantasies with the hosts.

The clients fulfill those fantasies – that range from sexual to violent – safely as the hosts’ programming prevents them from harming humans, and their memories are wiped after every narrative. However, after an update, some hosts retain their memories and develop sentience, prompting them to seek freedom and, eventually, world domination.

Westworld was a big success in its first season, breaking viewership records for HBO, but the series’ decline began the following season. Westworld stayed for four seasons, ending in 2022 after HBO decided to cancel the show. As a result, Westworld didn’t get a proper ending, as season 4 ended on a cliffhanger that will now never be solved.

Despite the story for season 5 of Westworld being outlined and Nolan and Joy having shared plans for it, it’s unlikely it will happen, so the show will remain one that feels inconclusive.

Westworld Was Supposed To Be HBO’s Next Game Of Thrones

Westworld arrived between Game of Thrones’ seasons 6 and 7, and it was supposed to be the latter’s replacement, despite their completely different worlds and stories. Game of Thrones was nearing its end by then, so HBO had to prepare its next high-budget prestige show to take over once it ended.

Westworld fitted that category with its high-budget, high-end visuals, cinematography, and concept, along with complex world-building, mature themes, and tone. Westworld also had a strong cast with names like Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Thandiwe Newton, Jeffrey Wright, and Evan Rachel Wood, and with the success of its first season, it had the potential to take Game of Thrones’ place when the time came.

Unfortunately, and as mentioned above, Westworld couldn’t maintain that season 1 success and quality, both dropping in season 2 and never really recovering. The subsequent seasons of Westworld were convoluted, the characters were underdeveloped, and failed to keep the audience engaged, leading to its cancellation and no longer being the next Game of Thrones.

Few Prestige TV Shows Have Managed To End On A High Note

Prestige TV shows come with high expectations, and with good reason. Their high budgets, concepts, strong casts, themes, and intriguing stories set the bar high, so much so that not all of them are able to maintain that initial quality and success, as happened with Westworld.

Westworld and Game of Thrones are joined on that list by Dexter, Lost, and True Blood, to name a few, while on the opposite side of prestige shows that ended on a high note are Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, and Six Feet Under. Prestige TV shows carry a heavy load, and it surely isn’t an easy task to write and produce one, but even those that didn’t end well are still praised for their good parts.