Winter is Coming
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Westworld Season 2 set decorator offers glimpse behind the scenes

By Matthew Rudoy

Lee Sizemore and Maeve on Westworld [Credit: HBO]
Lee Sizemore and Maeve on Westworld [Credit: HBO] /
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After many months of secrecy, more and more tidbits are finally surfacing for Westworld Season 2. One of the latest reveals is a behind-the-scenes look with set decorator Julie Ochipinti.

Part of of what made Season 1 so special was the distinctive feel of Westworld. Julie Ochipinti was the creative mind that brought each of those sets to life with her innovation and nuance within every set piece. Those qualities are clearly flowing into season 2. However, this time it will be  bolder and more thrilling than season 1.

A Look Inside The Creative Genius Of Julie Ochipinti

In Westworld Season 1, Robert Ford and Arnold built Westworld from the ground up as “pure creation.” Likewise, Julie Ochipinti and her team tackle building the show’s set pieces in the same way. Similarly, her team built the scenes from the ground up, often in the most unexpected places. Recently, Ochipinti talked about bringing her ideas to life in Westworld during a interview with HBO:

"“You can’t go to the robot store for this stuff. We go out to crazy places like the airplane graveyard. Oh what is that weird thing? Oh, that looks cool. And you turn it into some machine that makes robots, and I got really cool guys that can come up with hydraulic lifts, mechanical . . .”"

Beyond the approach of building from the ground up and finding the most valuable resources in unlikely places, Ochipinti and her team are all about making the world-building feel authentic. No matter how rich the story or characters, the world-building needs to be just as strong for the show to thrive. In fact, during the interview, Julie Ochipinti mentions how she wanted the world to feel for the audience:

"“In the pilot we set down the rules of Westworld. It should feel like you can close your eyes and open your eyes and you know no matter what comes up it has a Westworld stamp on it. That’s the goal.”"

In what is too often a male-dominated industry, it is refreshing to see a woman like Ochipinti as one of the chief creative masterminds behind the show. Within the story, season 2 will break down barriers as with strong, empowered women like Dolores and Maeve truly at the center of the show.

Julie Ochipinti Interview Shows Characters And Plot Reveals

Julie Ochipinti set designs
[Credit: Entertainment Weekly] /

While the video is mostly focused on set design, there are still a few behind-the-scenes shots

More from Winter is Coming

that tease potential characters and plot reveals for Season 2. While spending all of Season 1 within the park facilities, it looks like Lee Sizemore will be heading into the park itself with Maeve. Furthermore, this is likely part of Maeve’s quest to find her daughter and manipulating Lee to make her mission a success. And viewers can also spot some blood on Maeve’s shirt, which implies some sort of attack.

Hence there are also some shots of the human security forces. Which means Delos has sent in a military group to try and retake control of the park. As a result, it looks like the military will begin in the same place where Dolores killed Ford in season 1. All in an attempt to take back control for their corporate overlords.

But the hosts will not go down without a fight. For example, the final shot shows a fierce, gun-wielding Clementine facing off against security forces within the bloodied park facilities. However, Clementine was last seen using her newfound autonomy to shoot the Man in Black at the end of Season 1. In addition, it looks like she will continue to be a formidable force in season 2.

Next: Westworld Season 2 Has Its Own Title

We still have a little over a month until Westworld Season 2 drops. Until then, we will continue to speculate on anything and everything Westworld.

Westworld Season 2 will premiere on HBO Sunday, April 22, 2018 9PM/EST

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