If you follow the Fish blog, you know that we all share a love of TV. From Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad to the Real Housewives and Vanderpump Rules, our passion for the small screen expands across all genres and knows no limits. Needless to say, April 22nd marked a big moment for television enthusiasts: HBO’s mind-blowing hit Westworld finally returned for it’s 2nd season, and naturally the show dominated our Fishies group Skype. I’m actually a late-in-the-game Westworld fan – I spent all day Sunday binging the first season in preparation for the premiere (I’m a firm believer that spending Sunday on the couch watching 10+ hours of television is a Sunday well spent, so don’t judge). What makes Westworld so interesting is more than just it’s totally original premise. It’s the way the show really digs into the human mind explores the depth of human nature.
You might think I’m crazy to propose that the insanity that takes place in the show’s Wild West environment can relate to our everyday lives, but hear me out. Sure, robots mostly populate the show – but how different are we from them really? As this article from Today.com points out, one of the eerie things about the show is realizing how many of us live on a loop, programmed not by a futuristic algorithm, but by ourselves and our circumstances. Chances are you wake up at the same time every day, travel the same route to work, spend a set amount of time at the office before returning home. You eat dinner at a certain time, spend the evening relaxing in a familiar way, go to bed at a set time, before doing it all again the next day. Can you really tell the difference between one week and other?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a firm believer in the importance of having a routine. As I’ve gotten older, my sanity has slowly but surely been dependent on sticking to my routine. That said, watching Westworld also highlights the fact that sticking to a routine can leave you feeling stuck in a rut and frustrated by the monotony. The show’s captivating season one finale depicts many of the robots achieving self-awareness and rebelling against the narratives that have been predetermined for them by their creators. While I’m not advocating going on a murderous rampage like Dolores did, if you’re unhappy about your routine, it’s worth paying attention to how you’re feeling, and thinking about whether there’s anything you can do to shake up your loop a bit.
If you’re craving a change in your routine, pull a ‘Westworld’ and make a change, even if it’s something small. Do something different, something that you’ve always wanted to do or thought would be interesting to try. Eat lunch at a different time or with a different person. Or, instead of eating at lunch, pop out and go for a run, or visit a local landmark. Take a different route to your office. While there’s no doubt it’s fun to watch the characters of Westworld violently rebel against their routine, the show highlights the dangers of failing to shake up your circumstances and falling victim to the consequences of a routine life.
