Exploring Fallout, the Gaming World’s Most Surprising Small Screen Triumph

The post-apocalyptic TV series is back to its platform, and it's safe to say that fans were delightfully shocked by the excellence of its first season. By depicting the atomic-age, post-apocalyptic United States through the lenses of three different characters, it managed to capture multiple facets of the gamer's experience.

We followed vault-dweller Lucy, striving to uphold her morals and discovering that the barren landscape made that exceptionally challenging; Max, the militant faction rookie, who starts doubting his organization's authority and unleashes plenty of trouble in powered exoskeleton; and the Ghoul, a standout performance who has entirely abandoned any moral compass out in the irradiated badlands.

Building Anticipation for Season Two

The debut season's ending disclosed a major secret about who helped cause the atomic conflict that condemned a group of people in bomb-proof bunkers for hundreds of years. It also raised plenty of questions open for the next installment – and, this time, hopes are considerably elevated.

“We’ll take ‘pretty good’ – we should print that on merchandise,” remarks one of the series creators.

“Heading into the initial season, people were like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” comments Todd Howard. “We’re over the moon with the reception to the show, so now people are coming in with more excitement and different expectations.”

The Mojave Beckons for Season Two

The second season is taking place in New Vegas, the location of the 2010’s game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the sharpest dialogue and cast in the series, even if it was a bit broken at launch.

“It has a sun-baked feel, a Southwestern essence, that’s so essential to that game,” notes the co-creator. “That dusty, desolate Route 66 feeling of the game is so much enjoyable to translate into the show.”

In the series narrative, a considerable period has elapsed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the characters make their way there. However, the creators indicate that it does reference the fan's adventure.

Crafting a Tangible World

The Fallout TV series is notable for its tangible quality – its creators prioritized real props 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 filmed against a green screen,” says another of the showrunners. “The whole point of an adaptation, especially of a video game, is to seem like it’s authentic.”

Actually, virtually each creature you see on-screen is practical, even the legendarily scary radioactive creatures known as the apex predators. In the show, they are created using animatronics, and were reportedly quite terrifying up close.

A Labor of Love

The Fallout series works because it is made by accomplished storytellers who are also passionate gamers, alongside the game developers behind the video games. This common understanding for the world is evident in the finished show.

The second season is being released on a weekly basis rather than as a full-season drop, offering a different experience from the previous season. This format will allow for a different weekly discussion, a dynamic the showrunners themselves are looking forward to observe.

“It's richer, it’s more expansive, it’s funnier, it has a lot of twists,” promises Howard. “I’m looking forward to seeing what people think.”