"Have you ever questioned the nature of your reality?"
The mind-bending sci-fi epic Westworld blasts back onto our screens with a third run that takes the series outside of the amusement parks that the artificially intelligent 'hosts' were once forced to serve as playthings in the fantasies of the rich and powerful.
Abandoning the overly-convoluted multiple timelines of the second season, the new episodes - subtitled The New World - take on a much more streamlined approach to storytelling and is all the more thrilling for it.
Revolutionary host Dolores Abernathy ( Evan Rachel Wood ) is now living in the pristine metropolises of the future and walking elegantly through it undetected and with plans of carving a new home for the hosts - with humanity's doom.
However, through her trials, she comes to stumble into the life of troubled construction worker Caleb Nichols (Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul ), and soon finds that not all human beings are the villains who visited and ran Westworld.
Thankfully, these developments allow a steely Wood to explore the textures of Dolores after being saddled with a one-dimensional killer last season, while Paul makes a welcome addition as a warmer and relatable presence.
Elsewhere, pacifist host Bernard Lowe (Jeffrey Wright) is lying low in the outside world but soon finds himself returning to Westworld, as former madam and resourceful host Maeve Millay ( Thandie Newton ) is herself still in captivity and in a whole new narrative in a World War II inspired park.
Wright's best material may be yet to come but he remains a majestic understated presence, while Newton continues to steal the show as Maeve finds herself beckoned by a mysterious but powerful figure named Serac (a charismatic Vincent Cassel ).
Other welcome returns include Tessa Thompson as the increasingly enigmatic and riveting host copy of Delos executive Charlotte Hale and Ed Harris as struggling William aka The Man in Black.
The episodes of the new run have renewed focus, the culling of much of the cast last season has enabled the show to take on a renewed vibrancy and ensure that the plot is not too busy and doesn't grow tiresome.
There are, of course, new faces but these are mostly to serve the arcs of our existing favourites and are not to totally upend the fabric of the show, which has already made enough changes in setting and stakes that it feels refreshed enough.
The action scenes remain violent, elegantly choreographed and shot, while giving us the feel of dystopian sci-fi films such as Blade Runner 2049 or Ex Machina.
Gorgeous vistas of diverse landscapes from the ornate architecture of Singapore to the almost alien quality of Valencia's science parks make the show feel more high-budget and of a blockbuster quality than ever before.
Despite abandoning a less comprehensible structure, the show is also still unafraid to pull the rug out from the audience's feet at regular intervals, which means viewers still need to be on the toes for the next big twist.
As per usual, it feels as thought the show is building towards another major turning point - but where will Westworld go next?
If it looks as good as it does now, we'll be along for the ride whatever happens, as Westworld season 3 takes audiences on a sleek, stylish, and intriguing journey.
Verdict
Westworld season 3 sees the stylish and cerebral series expand to the outside world yet take a more streamlined approach to storytelling - with thrilling results.
Westworld season 3 will be released on NOW TV and Sky Atlantic on Monday, March 16, 2020.
What are you expecting from Westworld season 3? Let us know in the comments below.
