Inside Fallout, the Gaming World’s Most Unexpected TV Hit
The post-apocalyptic TV show has come back to Prime Video, and it's fair to say that viewers were delightfully shocked by the caliber of its debut season. By depicting the retro-futuristic, post-apocalyptic United States through the lenses of three distinct characters, it succeeded in capturing various facets of the player's journey.
There was vault-dweller Lucy, attempting to act with integrity and finding that the wasteland made that incredibly hard; Max, the Brotherhood of Steel rookie, who starts doubting his organization's leadership and unleashes significant chaos in mechanized battle suit; and Walton Goggins's character, a breakout character who has completely shed any ethical bearings out in the radioactive wilderness.
Building Anticipation for the Second Season
The show's first season ending revealed key information about the culprits behind the global annihilation that trapped a group of people in subterranean shelters for an extended period. It also left several enigmas unresolved for the second season – and, this time, anticipations are much greater.
“We'd gladly accept ‘not terrible’ – we should print that on merchandise,” quips Jonah Nolan.
“Going into the first season, people were like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” comments Todd Howard. “We are ecstatic with the reception to the show, so this time people are coming in with more eagerness and different expectations.”
A New Vegas Vibe for Season Two
The upcoming season is taking place in the neon-lit city, the setting of the 2010’s game Fallout: New Vegas, which is widely regarded for having the sharpest dialogue and cast in the franchise, even if it was a bit broken at launch.
“It’s more of a sun-baked feel, a Southwestern essence, that’s so essential to that game,” explains the co-creator. “That parched, blasted-out iconic highway aesthetic of the game is so much enjoyable to translate into the show.”
In the show's timeline, a considerable period has passed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists arrive there. However, the creators hint that it acknowledges the player’s journey.
The Importance of Physical Sets
The Fallout TV series is praised for its physical authenticity – its makers insisted on real props and sets were built, mirroring the makeshift nature of the towns in the games.
“As a sci-fi fan, so many productions I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all filmed against a digital backdrop,” comments another of the showrunners. “The whole point of an adaptation, particularly of a interactive medium, is to appear as if it’s real.”
In fact, virtually each creature you see on-screen is physical, including the notoriously frightening mutated beasts 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 developed by accomplished storytellers who are also dedicated players, alongside the original creators behind the franchise. This common understanding for the world is apparent in the finished show.
The new batch of episodes is launching on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a full-season drop, representing a shift from the first season. This format will allow for a different viewing experience, a dynamic the creators themselves are eager to engage with.
“It has more depth, it’s larger in scale, it’s wittier, it has a lot of twists,” says the game director. “I can't wait to seeing what people think.”