If all this seems overly intellectual, don’t be mistaken. “Westworld” is extremely, graphically violent, including sexual violence, and with all the nudity and language that viewers of HBO dramas have come to expect. And then some.

Sexualized violence was on many minds this summer when HBO programming boss Casey Bloys and the “Westworld” team discussed the series at separate Television Critics Association panels in Los Angeles. An early trailer that showed Wood’s character being dragged, screaming, by her hair set off the debate.

“It was definitely something that was heavily discussed,” Joy, who serves as showrunner on the series, said when asked about rape as plot device.

“Westworld,” she said, “is an examination of human nature, the best parts of human nature, but also the basest parts of human nature, and that includes violence and sexual violence that have sadly been a fact of human history since the beginning.”

In a situation where one can “act out any desire you have, without impunity, it seems like an issue you have to address,” she added.