Exploring Fallout, the Gaming World’s Most Unexpected TV Hit

The post-apocalyptic TV show has come back to Prime Video, and it's accurate to state that fans were pleasantly surprised by the excellence of its debut season. By depicting the retro-futuristic, post-apocalyptic United States through the perspectives of three separate characters, it managed to capture multiple facets of the player's experience.

We followed Lucy the vault dweller, attempting to do the right thing and finding that the ruined world made that exceptionally challenging; Max, the Brotherhood of Steel initiate, who starts doubting his cult's dogma and creates plenty of trouble in robotic power armour; and Walton Goggins's character, a breakout character who has completely shed any ethical bearings out in the radioactive wastes.

Building Anticipation for Season Two

The debut season's ending unveiled a major secret about who helped cause the nuclear war that sealed a society in underground vaults for centuries. It also posed numerous mysteries open for the upcoming chapter – and, now, expectations are significantly higher.

“We’ll take ‘pretty good’ – let’s get that on a poster,” says the show's co-creator.

“Heading into the first season, people were like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” states Todd Howard. “We are ecstatic with the reception to the show, so this time people are coming in with more excitement and different expectations.”

The Mojave Beckons for the Next Installment

The upcoming season is located in New Vegas, the location of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the most compelling narratives and cast in the series, despite the fact that it was somewhat buggy at launch.

“It’s more of a sun-baked feel, a Mojave vibe, that’s so integral to that game,” says the co-creator. “That dusty, desolate iconic highway vibe of the game is so much fun to bring into the show.”

In the series narrative, a long time has elapsed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists make their way there. Yet, the creators indicate that it does reference the fan's adventure.

Crafting a Tangible World

The Fallout TV series is praised for its tangible quality – its creators ensured real props and sets were fabricated, reflecting the improvised nature of the outposts in the games.

“As a sci-fi fan, so many series I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all standing in front of a digital backdrop,” comments another of the showrunners. “The primary goal of an adaptation, particularly of a video game, is to appear as if it’s tangible.”

Indeed, almost every element you see on-screen is practical, even the notoriously frightening mutated beasts known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are brought to life with puppets, and were by all accounts pretty frightening up close.

A Labor of Love

The Fallout series succeeds because it is made by skilled directors who are also longtime fans, with the help of the game developers behind the source material. This common understanding for the universe is clear in the finished show.

The second season is launching on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a full-season drop, offering a different experience from the first season. This schedule will create a altered viewing experience, something the creators themselves are eager to engage with.

“It's richer, it’s more expansive, it’s more humorous, it has a lot of surprises,” teases Howard. “I am excited to seeing what people think.”