Inside Fallout, Gaming’s Most Unexpected Small Screen Triumph
The post-apocalyptic TV show has come back to streaming services, and it's safe to say that fans were delightfully shocked by the caliber of its first season. By depicting the retro-futuristic, nuclear-ravaged United States through the perspectives of three distinct characters, it managed to capture various facets of the gamer's journey.
There was Lucy the vault dweller, striving to do the right thing and discovering that the ruined world made that very difficult; Brotherhood initiate Max, the militant faction new recruit, who starts challenging his cult's dogma and causes plenty of trouble in mechanized battle suit; and the Ghoul, a breakout character who has entirely abandoned any ethical bearings out in the irradiated badlands.
Setting the Stage for the Second Season
The show's first season conclusion revealed crucial details about who helped cause the global annihilation that condemned a group of people in underground vaults for hundreds of years. It also left numerous mysteries unanswered for the upcoming chapter – and, this time, hopes are significantly higher.
“We’ll take ‘pretty good’ – we should print that on merchandise,” says one of the series creators.
“Heading into the initial season, everyone’s like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” comments Todd Howard. “We’re over the moon with the reception to the show, so this time people are coming in with more enthusiasm and altered expectations.”
The Mojave Beckons for Season Two
The second season is located in New Vegas, the setting of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is widely regarded for having the most compelling narratives and cast in the franchise, despite the fact that it was a bit broken at launch.
“It has a sun-baked feel, a Mojave vibe, that’s so key to that game,” explains the co-creator. “That parched, blasted-out Route 66 aesthetic of the game is so much enjoyable to incorporate into the show.”
In the show's timeline, a long time has elapsed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the characters arrive there. Yet, the creators indicate that it acknowledges the player’s journey.
The Importance of Physical Sets
The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its tangible quality – its makers insisted on authentic items and locations were constructed, mirroring the cobbled-together nature of the outposts in the games.
“As a sci-fi fan, so many series I watch, I’m aware that they’re all standing in front of a blue screen,” says co-creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet. “The key objective of an translation, especially of a video game, is to appear as if it’s real.”
In fact, pretty much every element you see on-screen is physical, including the legendarily scary radioactive creatures known as the apex predators. In the show, they are brought to life with puppets, and were by all accounts quite terrifying up close.
A Labor of Love
The Fallout series resonates because it is made by talented film-makers who are also longtime fans, alongside the original creators behind the franchise. This common understanding for the world is apparent in the final product.
The new batch of episodes is being released on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a all-at-once release, offering a different experience from the initial release. This schedule will allow for a new viewing experience, something the creators themselves are excited to observe.
“It has more depth, it’s more expansive, it’s more humorous, it has a lot of twists,” promises Howard. “I’m looking forward to seeing what people think.”