The Fallout TV series is back to streaming services, and it's safe to say that viewers were pleasantly surprised by the caliber of its first season. By illustrating the atomic-age, post-apocalyptic United States through the perspectives of three separate characters, it effectively portrayed various facets of the gamer's adventure.
There was Lucy the vault dweller, striving to act with integrity and finding that the barren landscape made that exceptionally challenging; Max, the militant faction rookie, who begins to question his cult's dogma and causes significant chaos in mechanized battle suit; and Walton Goggins's character, a fan-favorite figure who has long since lost any ethical bearings out in the radioactive wastes.
The debut season's finale disclosed key information about those responsible for the nuclear war that trapped a group of people in subterranean shelters for hundreds of years. It also raised plenty of questions open for the upcoming chapter – and, this time, expectations are significantly higher.
“We’ll take ‘pretty good’ – we should print that on merchandise,” says the show's co-creator.
“Heading into the first season, people were like, ‘Just get it right’,” states Todd Howard. “We’re over the moon with the response to the show, so this time people are coming in with more enthusiasm and altered expectations.”
The upcoming season is taking place in the neon-lit city, the location of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is widely regarded for having the most compelling narratives and characters in the franchise, despite the fact that it was somewhat buggy at launch.
“It’s more of a sun-baked feel, a Mojave vibe, that’s so key to that game,” says Nolan. “That dusty, desolate Route 66 aesthetic of the game is so much fun to translate into the show.”
In the show's timeline, a significant amount of time has passed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the characters arrive there. Yet, the creators indicate that it does reference the fan's adventure.
The Fallout TV series is notable for its physical authenticity – its creators ensured physical models and sets were constructed, mirroring the cobbled-together nature of the settlements in the games.
“As a sci-fi fan, so many series I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all filmed against a digital backdrop,” comments co-creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet. “The key objective of an translation, particularly of a video game, is to feel like it’s authentic.”
In fact, almost every element you see on-screen is real, even the infamously terrifying radioactive creatures known as the apex predators. In the show, they are portrayed by puppets, and were reportedly pretty frightening up close.
The Fallout series works because it is made by accomplished storytellers who are also passionate gamers, with the help of the visionaries behind the video games. This mutual respect for the lore is evident in the final product.
The second season is launching on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a all-at-once release, marking a change from the previous season. This schedule will create a altered audience reaction, something the creators themselves are excited to observe.
“It has more depth, it’s bigger, it’s more humorous, it has a lot of surprises,” promises the game director. “I am excited to seeing what people think.”
Elara is a seasoned writer and digital storyteller with a passion for exploring diverse literary genres and empowering others through words.
