Review: 'Westworld' Season 2 Ep 1

The first reviews are in for Westworld's long-awaited second season - and they're largely praising the series for its "ambitious" changes.

The second season of the mind-bending sci-fi series, set in a futuristic theme park populated with artificial intelligence, premieres in New Zealand on Monday evening.

Early reviews in the US are praising the show for the ambitious new strides it has taken in the second season - though some have criticised its high-brow complexity and slow pace.

Variety's Maureen Ryan says the show has "modestly improved" on season one, but highlighted a number of representation issues. "...the writers' affection for colonial fantasies designed for white people is highly questionable, and the drama could do much more to deepen its portrayals of indigenous people and South Asian characters," she writes.

The Hollywood Reporter's Tim Goodman says the series grows "exponentially in appeal" over its first five episodes, but that the first episode tries to be too "broadly inclusive", with much expository fodder helping to catch viewers up on what happened in season one.

The AV Club's Alex McLevy says Westworld's second season benefits from being "darker and more violent", as well as toning down the first season's "J.J. Abrams-esque 'mystery box' style of storytelling" in favour of "more clues to clearly defined end points".

Vanity Fair's Sonia Saraiya called the new season a "dramatic improvement ... the show has committed to spinning out, sending its sprawling cast on side quests as though they were Dungeons and Dragons campaigners".

Entertainment Weekly's Kristen Baldwin praised the series' thematic styles and strong performances, saying; "Westworld is enthralling even for those who prefer a passive viewing experience."

Watch 'Westworld' on Sky SoHo every Monday at 8:30pm

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission.