HBO Canceled Its Perfect Game Of Thrones Replacement After Just 4 Seasons

Game of Thrones was the hottest show on TV when it was being aired, and although HBO immediately had the chance to replace the fantasy epic, it canceled the project that was primed to be its long-term successor. Despite the largely negative response to Game of Thrones‘ ending, the George R.R. Martin adaptation is still a beloved show and one of HBO’s most successful projects.

Game of Thrones is one of HBO’s shows that everyone should watch at least once. It was a once-in-a-generation event that pulled in fantasy fans as well as those who don’t routinely engage with the genre. Although House of the Dragon season 3 is on the way to flesh out the canon even further, HBO canceled another GOT successor far too soon.

Westworld Was HBO’s Only Chance At “Replacing” Game Of Thrones

The 2016 Reboot Of A Sci-Fi Classic Was Just As Grand As Game Of Thrones

Westworld ran for four seasons between 2016 and 2022, so there was actually a multi-year period when HBO was making the show alongside Game of Thrones. While one is sci-fi and the other is fantasy, they’re connected by the fact that they differ quite significantly from many of HBO’s other successful shows.

HBO is perhaps most known for crime dramas like The Wire and The Sopranos, so when the studio steps into less grounded territory, it’s often a landmark event. When Game of Thrones ended in 2019, Westworld became HBO’s flagship project when it came to fantastical, glossy, high-budget shows. It stayed that way until Westworld‘s 2022 cancellation.

Loosely based on the 1973 movie of the same name, HBO’s Westworld adaptation essentially just borrowed the movie’s premise and built an entirely new universe around it. It focused on compelling topics like free will and sentience. Like Game of Thrones, it was also aimed at a mature audience. It could have been a worthy long-term replacement for HBO’s GOT adaptation, but it wasn’t to be.

Westworld Season 1 Was On Par With Game Of Thrones’ Best Moments

HBO Came Out Swinging With Westworld’s Initial Batch Of Episodes

HBO wrote Westworld season 1 in such a way that it almost felt like a miniseries. While the finale teased a cliffhanger, it wasn’t a mystery that necessarily needed solving, and the show could easily have ended there without the need for a continuation. The sci-fi show’s inaugural run performed incredibly well with critics and fans alike.

Westworld‘s first outing did more than enough to secure a season 2, but that was the start of the show’s gradual downfall. Game of Thrones was a far more consistent saga that was packed with great moments. Held up against Westworld, Game of Thrones generally comes out on top. However, Westworld season 1 in isolation can easily go toe-to-toe with Game of Thrones‘ highlight reel.

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20 Best Game Of Thrones Episodes, Ranked

Game of Thrones’ best episodes are also among some of the greatest, biggest, and most memorable in TV history, but which one comes out on top?

Although sci-fi and fantasy are often grouped together as genres, they can often attract different audiences, depending on how accessible they are. Both Game of Thrones and Westworld are at the upper end of their respective genre spectrums when it comes to how heavily they utilize various tropes. Still, their quality is easy to compare, especially when isolating Westworld season 1.

Why Westworld Went Downhill So Fast After An Acclaimed First Season

Season 1 Set A Standard For The Show That Was Impossible To Beat

Westworld season 1 focused almost entirely on the show’s titular location, thoroughly exploring the abilities and limitations of the robotic hosts while also delving into how they interact with the human characters. It felt like a perfect blend of mystery and sci-fi, and seemed to carry an unknowable gravity in its narrative. Unfortunately, what season 1 set up didn’t meet expectations.

While season 1’s primary setting remained part of the larger story as Westworld progressed, later seasons tended to focus on the artificial characters exploring other locations. Similar themes continued to arise, but they either felt overused or not as impactful as they once had been.

The show upheld its engaging and high-concept storytelling techniques throughout its run, but it struggled to replicate its original brilliance and started to trip over its own toes a little by over-complicating certain arcs. Season 4 scored just 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, falling very short of the show’s record of 87% score it had been awarded for season 1.

Westworld seasons 2-4 are still highly watchable, and I enjoyed the experience throughout. That said, I did feel the enjoyment starting to wane as the show went on. The season 1 formula that had ensnared my imagination was visible in glimpses that became shorter and less frequent. So, I understand HBO’s decision to pull the plug.

Westworld’s Cancellation Was Frustrating Despite The Show’s Shortcomings

I’d Still Love Westworld Season 5 To Happen

Even though I often felt like I was waiting for Westworld to return to its season 1 glory, I was still annoyed when I found out season 5 wasn’t happening. While the season 4 finale provides something of a semi-satisfying ending, there are still several loose ends that will, in all likelihood, never be resolved.

Westworld offered something special that other shows didn’t, and I still think the sci-fi projects that have followed haven’t scratched quite the same itch. If you’re willing to put aside the fact that Westworld‘s final episode won’t be the closure you’ll be looking for, I would still recommend the show to anyone who hasn’t seen it.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes

Westworld

6/10

Release Date

2016 – 2022

Network

HBO

Showrunner

Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy