8.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Sci-Fi | 100% |
Mystery | 23% |
Western | 14% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1, 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
German: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Danish, Finnish, Korean, Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Swedish
Blu-ray Disc
Six-disc set (6 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Fans of Westworld probably already know that HBO in all their wisdom has cancelled the series, and so some who haven't yet gotten
around
to watching this fourth season may wonder if it's worth it to even bother. I'd pretty strenuously argue that, yes, it is most definitely worth it, but
the
fact that the show has been cancelled is perhaps less of a "deal breaker" than it might be otherwise in that Westworld's seasons have
often
been structured as almost "self contained" collections, though there has obviously been a narrative through line tethering the story, and admittedly
this season ends with (another?) apocalyptic cliffhanger, so there's that. Speaking of apocalyptic cliffhangers, fans of the series will also
know that Westworld: Season Three ended in just such a manner, though rather
interestingly rather than showing the immediate aftereffects of an imminent war, season four actually picks up some years after the
conflict, showing characters already radically changed by the melee. Later in the season, things catapult even further into the future, but
as might be said, "everything new is old again", in that history (so to speak) seems to be about to repeat itself as this season draws to a close.
This fourth season
may in some ways also be rather oddly "ripped from the (fringe online) headlines" in that it presents a kinda sorta global conspiracy which secretly
controls
the lives of poor, hapless humans, and probably more saliently, those in the halls of power.
For those interested in our coverage of previous seasons, please click on the following links:
Westworld: Season One Blu-ray review
Westworld: Season One 4K Blu-ray review
Westworld: Season Two Blu-ray review
Westworld: Season Two 4K Blu-ray review
Westworld: Season Three Blu-ray review
Westworld: Season Three 4K Blu-ray
review
Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 discs.
Westworld: Season Four is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of HBO and Warner Brothers Home Entertainment with a 2160p transfer mostly in
1.78:1 (as with previous seasons, some scenes, notably involving Bernard, "expand" to 2.39:1). An already excellent 1080 presentation enjoys a
rather noticeable uptick in clarity and general detail levels in this version, as well as attaining some cool new highlights via HDR and/or Dolby Vision.
The clarity aspect is noticeable literally from the get go, with a quick view through a window at Hoover Dam in the first episode, which is a little "cloudy"
looking in the 1080 version but is at least somewhat more defined in this version. That same general improvement can be spotted throughout most of
the episodes, and fine detail on some of CGI elements like the flies also attains at least some more precision in this version. There are a number of
rather dimly lit scenes, including Maeve's "survivalist" introduction out in the wild, but also later in some of the nighttime scenes in Temperance (the
Jazz Age "playground"), and the 4K UHD version offers better shadow definition. The series employs a huge array of interesting tones (some of which
are addressed in the making of featurettes), and the 4K UHD version offers some gorgeous highlights in the warmer end of the spectrum in particular.
Westworld: Season Four features a very effective Dolby Atmos track that takes the "basics" of the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track on the
1080 version and then both figuratively and literally elevates things at times, as in the "entrance" of William at Hoover Dam aboard a hovercraft.
Surround activity here is near consistent, with outdoor material teeming with ambient environmental effects and some of the "down to earth" scenes
offering really well designed placement of effects like Jazz Age crowds (and music) or some of the battles that take place as Caleb and Maeve confront
Charlotte in the lab. As I mention in our Westworld:
Season Four Blu-ray review, Ramin Djawadi's score also fills the side and rear channels invitingly, and it's often very smart (pay
attention to how he scores the brief moment in the credits sequence where the CGI suddenly looks like piano keys and hammers). Dialogue is rendered
cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional subtitles in English and a variety of other languages are available.
Note: The audio specs for the 4K UHD and 1080 discs aren't quite the same. This listing features the 4K UHD specs. For the specs on the
1080 disc, see my above linked review.
Both the 2160 and 1080 discs in this package sport the same slate of supplements, as follows:
Disc One
- The Auguries (HD; 5:45)
- Well Enough Alone (HD; 5:27)
- Annees Folles (HD; 6:16)
- Generation Loss (HD; 4:56)
- Zhuangi (HD; 5:11)
- Fidelity (HD; 4:44)
- Metanoia (HD; 4:22)
- Que Sera, Sera (HD; 5:03)
It's kind of interesting to note that the current Netflix phenomenon 1899, which bears more than a few passing similarities to at least some of the many plot strands woven through Westworld, repeatedly uses both the visual and actual spoken trope of "wake up!", and that's what Christina is shown repeatedly doing throughout this season. The fact that all of these characters are in various stages of "waking up" provides a common tether to what is a huge, sprawling enterprise that intentionally feeds on and both figuratively and literally reflects prior seasons. I've long associated the great Bad Robot production masthead with the late, lamented Lost, and in that regard, while many (including this reviewer) found that series' wrap up to be less than completely fulfilling, it at least got the chance to wrap up. I'm hoping maybe HBO reconsiders their cancellation decision, at least insofar as perhaps greenlighting a finale movie event which might help to tie up several dangling threads. Westworld has been an unusually challenging series, and that proclivity continues in this fourth season. Technical merits are solid and the supplements appealing. Highly recommended.
2016
2016
2016
2016
with Ready Player One Movie Money
2016
2016-2022
2018
2018
with Bonus Disc
2018
2018
2018
2018
2020
2020
2020
2020
2022
2017
2015
2011
2015-2022
2019
2010
2017
2010
2015
2016
2018
2019
15th Anniversary Edition
2002
2009-2010
2018
2023
10th Anniversary Edition
2009
2021
2014
1973