'Westworld' season 1 news, spoilers: Evan Rachel Wood, showrunners discuss violence in series premiere

Evan Rachel Wood, who stars in HBO's new sci-fi thriller "Westworld," has defended the harrowing violence in the series premiere, suggesting that viewers wait for the context in which that violence is being used.

The stunning series premiere of HBO's "Westworld" introduced Dolores Abernathy, Wood's character, one of the hosts in the fictional sci-fi theme park "Westworld." The season opener revealed Dolores as an innocent Western girl, a creepy android, and the victim of violence from the mysterious Gunslinger (Ed Harris).

In a recent chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Wood admitted that the show's violent scenes are indeed very rough, but said that it's all about context. "I don't like gratuitous violence against women at all," she said, adding, "but I would wait for the context in which it's being used."

"As the show progresses, the way it's being used is very much a commentary and a look at our humanity and why we find these things entertaining and why this is an epidemic, and flipping it on its head," she explained.

The actress, who described herself as an advocate against abuse or violence of any kind, also said that viewers should wait to see what happens next, adding that it might surprise them. She also called the series "very gender-neutral."

"It's really revolutionary for women," Wood told Entertainment Weekly about the new HBO thriller.

Meanwhile, "Westworld" showrunners Lisa Joy and Jonah Nolan also discussed the violent nature of the series, telling EW that in terms of the show's plot, "it's an issue of perspective."

Joy said that the violence in "Westworld" is meant to get viewers thinking about whether violence is only unacceptable when it is humans at the receiving end. The "Westworld" boss compared the violence against Dolores to the violence done against characters in video games such as "Grand Theft Auto" — characters people don't usually assign personhood to.

"If it's just a robot, does it matter?" Joy asked. "That's a question we continue to ask throughout the series," she added.

"Westworld" season 1 airs Sundays at 9 p.m. EDT on HBO.