Westworld season 1 concludes as HBO's biggest ever debut

It caps an impressive year for the premium cable network

The scifi drama, starring Sir Anthony Hopkins, attracted an average of 12 million viewers

After what felt like an agonising wait for what was being billed as “the new Game of Thrones”, the first season of Westworld has drawn to a close with one hell of a grandstanding finale.

It’s fair to say that bigwigs at HBO are cracking open the champagne – it’s provided the premium cable network with its most-watched debut of all time.

Things looked promising following the sci-fi western series’ premiere which outdid Thrones’ first episode by more than a million viewers (3.3 million when combined with repeat airings, HBO Now and HBO Go viewings).

Combining the viewership amassed through these platforms for its extended finale “The Bicameral Mind” only solidifies the series’ success: 3.6 million viewers saw Westworld climax with a new rating peak – impressive for such a high-concept show which takes its influence from the 1973 Michael Crichton film of the same name.

In all, season one scored an average of 12 million viewers. The last series which came close to Westworld’s success was the acclaimed first season of Nic Pizzolato’s crime anthology True Detective.

Between these two series and The Night Of, HBO can consider 2016 a strong year.

Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy – who claim to have five seasons mapped out – have confirmed fans will have to wait a bit longer than anticipated for season two.