Exploring the Fallout Universe, the Gaming World’s Most Surprising Television Success
The post-apocalyptic TV show has made a triumphant return to Prime Video, and it's accurate to state that fans were agreeably astonished by the quality of its initial run. By depicting the atomic-age, nuclear-ravaged United States through the lenses of three distinct characters, it managed to capture multiple facets of the player's journey.
There was Lucy the vault dweller, striving to uphold her morals and learning that the barren landscape made that very difficult; Max, the militant faction rookie, who starts challenging his faction's leadership and unleashes plenty of trouble in robotic power armour; and Walton Goggins's character, a fan-favorite figure who has entirely abandoned any sense of morality out in the radioactive wilderness.
Setting the Stage for a New Chapter
The show's first season conclusion unveiled key information about the culprits behind the nuclear war that condemned a population in underground vaults for centuries. It also raised plenty of questions unresolved for the next installment – and, this time, expectations are considerably elevated.
“We’ll take ‘not terrible’ – we should print that on merchandise,” remarks one of the series creators.
“Going into the first season, everyone’s like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” adds a key figure from the games. “We’re over the moon with the feedback to the show, so now people are coming in with more enthusiasm and altered expectations.”
A New Vegas Vibe for the Next Installment
The upcoming season is taking place in the neon-lit city, the backdrop of the 2010’s game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the best writing and cast in the franchise, even if it was a bit broken at launch.
“It embodies a arid atmosphere, a Southwestern essence, that’s so essential to that game,” says Nolan. “That parched, desolate iconic highway aesthetic of the game is so much fun to incorporate into the show.”
In the show's timeline, a significant amount of time has elapsed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists make their way there. Yet, the creators suggest that it acknowledges the player’s journey.
Crafting a Tangible World
The Fallout TV series is notable for its tactile feel – its production team ensured real props and locations were fabricated, reflecting the cobbled-together nature of the towns in the games.
“As a sci-fi fan, so many shows I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all filmed against a digital backdrop,” observes co-creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet. “The key objective of an translation, particularly of a interactive medium, is to seem like it’s authentic.”
Actually, pretty much every element you see on-screen is real, including the legendarily scary mutated beasts known as the apex predators. In the show, they are portrayed by puppets, and were by all accounts pretty frightening up close.
Made by Fans, for Fans
The Fallout series succeeds because it is developed by skilled directors who are also longtime fans, in collaboration with the original creators behind the franchise. This shared passion for the world is clear in the finished show.
The second season is launching on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a binge-able batch, offering a different experience from the first season. This approach will allow for a new viewing experience, a dynamic the showrunners themselves are excited to engage with.
“It's richer, it’s more expansive, it’s wittier, it has a lot of twists,” teases Howard. “I can't wait to seeing what people think.”