Inside the Fallout Universe, Gaming’s Most Unexpected TV Hit
The Fallout TV show has made a triumphant return to Prime Video, and it's safe to say that audiences were pleasantly surprised by the caliber of its debut season. By portraying the atomic-age, nuclear-ravaged United States through the perspectives of three different characters, it managed to capture different facets of the gamer's experience.
We followed Lucy the vault dweller, striving to uphold her morals and finding that the wasteland made that incredibly hard; Brotherhood initiate Max, the militant faction new recruit, who starts challenging his cult's dogma and causes significant chaos in robotic power armour; and the Ghoul, a fan-favorite figure who has long since lost any sense of morality out in the radioactive badlands.
Setting the Stage for a New Chapter
The show's first season finale revealed key information about the culprits behind the global annihilation that condemned a society in subterranean shelters for hundreds of years. It also posed several enigmas unresolved for the second season – and, on this occasion, anticipations are much greater.
“We'd gladly accept ‘not terrible’ – let’s get that on a poster,” quips Jonah Nolan.
“Starting the initial season, people were like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” comments Todd Howard. “We are thrilled with the response to the show, so this time people are coming in with more eagerness and new expectations.”
A New Vegas Vibe for the Next Installment
The second season is taking place in New Vegas, the location of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the best writing and personalities in the franchise, despite the fact that it was somewhat buggy at launch.
“It embodies a sun-baked feel, a Mojave vibe, that’s so integral to that game,” explains the co-creator. “That dusty, desolate Route 66 vibe of the game is so much rewarding to bring into the show.”
In the series narrative, a long time has elapsed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists make their way there. However, the creators hint that it acknowledges the player’s journey.
Crafting a Tangible World
The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its physical authenticity – its makers ensured real props and locations were fabricated, mirroring the makeshift nature of the outposts in the games.
“Being a genre enthusiast, so many series I watch, I’m aware that they’re all standing in front of a green screen,” observes co-creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet. “The whole point of an translation, particularly of a interactive medium, is to feel like it’s real.”
Actually, pretty much every element you see on-screen is real, including the infamously terrifying mutated beasts known as the apex predators. In the show, they are created using practical effects, and were reportedly pretty frightening up close.
Made by Fans, for Fans
The Fallout series resonates because it is developed by talented film-makers who are also dedicated players, in collaboration with the original creators behind the video games. This mutual respect for the world is evident in the finished show.
The second season is being released on a weekly basis rather than as a all-at-once release, representing a shift from the initial release. This format will allow for a different audience reaction, something the showrunners themselves are eager to observe.
“It delves deeper, it’s bigger, it’s wittier, it has a lot of surprises,” says Howard. “I can't wait to seeing what people think.”
