Ghost of Harry Smith wrote:
They're not mutually exclusive points. Maybe "requirement" is the wrong word but my point is that it's vital for speculative fiction to present its world/environment realistically, so that the reader/viewer believes in its internal logic*.
If that doesn't take place (and I'd argue Westworld is only partially successful), then it's difficult to feel a depth of connection with the narrative and characters.
*in realist drama anyway, I get that postmodern fictions etc are doing something different.
One of my favorite sci-fi series ever was MTV's "Aeon Flux" -- and I'm referring to the full episode series rather than the preceding series of shorts. There was little-to-no character development and little continuing narrative because there was basically no continuity from episode to episode. A lot of it flat didn't make sense in any scientific way. But nearly every episode featured some mind-blowing concepts. Nevertheless, I'll grant that generally it's important for most fiction, even wildly speculative fiction, to have internal logic and continuity. I don't see that as a problem in "Westworld," myself, but I'm probably less nit-picky than you.