Player Piano is a weekly conversation recapping HBO's Westworld. Hosts Dan and Trevor do their best to decode the plot, philosophy and filmcraft of the sci-fi epic.

We're not going to lie, we felt a bit like old Bernard this week trying to get our thought machines working at Westworld speed after that two-year cryogenic slumber. That is, our minds are slipping all over the place and we should probably spike our coffee with some of that brain juice if we ever hope to wake up. Send us your comments and theories via this hive mind mesh network we're all sharing.

No cocktails this week, as we taped the episode in the morning in the broad ass light of day. 

Email us at: [email protected]

Player Piano is a weekly conversation recapping HBO's Westworld. Hosts Dan and Trevor do their best to decode the plot, philosophy and filmcraft of the sci-fi epic.

In this bonus episode, Dan and Trevor discuss Annihilation, the new film by sci-fi auteur Alex Garland based on the excellent novel by Jeff Vandermeer. Is it a masterpiece? A misstep? Or somewhere in between? 

Drinking game: play along! Every time Dan says "phenomenon" take a couple shots of your favorite liquor.

Email us at: [email protected]

Dan and Trevor go see Bladerunner 2049 and then make word sounds at each other trying to convey what they just saw. SPOILERS ABOUND.

Player Piano is a weekly conversation recapping HBO's Westworld. Hosts Dan and Trevor do their best to decode the plot, philosophy and filmcraft of the sci-fi epic.

This week Dan and Trevor say goodbye to the season by going into full analysis mode on that super-sized finale as well as discussing some of the big ideas touched on including: the paradox of free will, Ford’s master plan and the possibilities for creating hell on earth (or just in your shower).

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Recap begins at: 24:30

Takeaways begin at: 1:48:21

This week's cocktail: The Journey Into Night

Buffalo Trace Bourboun

Ginger beer (nice and tart)

10 Tablespoons (10!) Angostura Bitters

A few lines of Wyatt code

Player Piano is a weekly conversation recapping HBO's Westworld. Hosts Dan and Trevor do their best to decode the plot, philosophy and filmcraft of the sci-fi epic.

This week Dan and Trevor worked themselves into a fugue state trying to decode this increasingly complex narrative as well as discussing some of the big ideas touched on in episode 9 including: the fluidity of identity, ego in a posthuman existence and whether or not Arnold is striking a Jesus Christ pose. 

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Recap begins at: 11:09

Takeaways begin at: 1:28:025

This week's cocktail: The What the Fuck Is Going On

Muddled Tangerine

Buffalo Trace Whiskey

Lemon Lacroix

Cardamom Bitters

Campari

Stir it into a frenzy and hope for the best

Player Piano is a weekly conversation recapping HBO's Westworld. Hosts Dan and Trevor do their best to decode the plot, philosophy and filmcraft of the sci-fi epic.

This week Dan and Trevor do a thorough recap of the eighth episode as well as discussing some of the big ideas touched on including: the black box problem of high-level technology, AI as wayward teenagers and whether or not the hosts are collectively an organism. We also give you not one but TWO new cocktails this week and include the ingredients below.

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Recap begins at: 09:15

Broader discussion begins at: 1:29:00

DRINK ONE - The Ginotaur

1 1/2 oz. gin

2 oz. clementine juice

4 dashes of rhubarb bitters

1 tsp. maraschino cherry juice

1 cherry

DRINK TWO - The Slit Throat

1 oz. gin

1 oz. campari

1 oz. sweet vermouth

1 cherry

Player Piano is a weekly conversation recapping HBO's Westworld. Hosts Dan and Trevor do their best to decode the plot, philosophy and filmcraft of the sci-fi epic.

This week Dan and Trevor do a thorough recap of the entire pivotal episode as well as discussing some of the big ideas touched on including: the problem of evolutionary exclusives, uploading consciousness as a means to eternal life and the problem with photographs. We also fall down a rabbit hole of strong drink and end the episode with slurred speech and hugs. 

Email us at: [email protected]

Player Piano is a weekly conversation recapping HBO's Westworld. Hosts Dan and Trevor do their best to decode the plot, philosophy and filmcraft of the sci-fi epic.

This week Dan and Trevor recap a few of the episode's key scenes as well as discussing some of the big ideas touched on including: apperception, the vanishing line between android and human in a deterministic universe and whether or not Sizemore's ego will ever find its limit. 

Email us at: [email protected]

Player Piano is a weekly conversation recapping HBO's Westworld. Hosts Dan and Trevor do their best to decode the plot, philosophy and filmcraft of the sci-fi epic.

This week Dan and Trevor go deep, recapping the episode's key scenes as well as discussing some of the big ideas touched on in the episode including: the Cogito as both foundation of certainty and doubt, the limitless nature of evolution and the masturbation habits of ancient cultures. 

We also explore our favorite music cue in the series and answer listener mail.

Email us at: [email protected]

Player Piano is a weekly conversation recapping HBO's Westworld. Hosts Dan and Trevor do their best to decode the plot, philosophy and filmcraft of the sci-fi epic.

This week Dan and Trevor go deep, recapping the full episode and decoding a few of its clues as well as discussing some of the big ideas touched on in the episode including: the ethics of simulated violence, religion as a form of cognitive dissonance and the persistent two-timelines theory.

Recap starts at 9:54

Broader, half-drunk discussion begins at 1:27:41