🔗 Share this article

The Fallout TV series is back to Prime Video, and it's fair to say that audiences were delightfully shocked by the excellence of its first season. By illustrating the atomic-age, nuclear-ravaged United States through the eyes of three different characters, it succeeded in capturing different facets of the gamer's adventure.

There was Lucy the vault dweller, trying to do the right thing and discovering that the ruined world made that incredibly hard; Brotherhood initiate Max, the militant faction new recruit, who starts doubting his cult's leadership and causes significant chaos in powered exoskeleton; and Walton Goggins's character, a fan-favorite figure who has entirely abandoned any moral compass out in the radioactive wastes.

Setting the Stage for the Second Season

The debut season's finale unveiled crucial details about who helped cause the nuclear war that trapped a population in subterranean shelters for centuries. It also posed several enigmas open for the second season – and, now, hopes are much greater.

“We’ll take ‘not terrible’ – we should print that on merchandise,” quips one of the series creators.

“Going into the first season, everyone’s like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” comments the game director. “We are ecstatic with the response to the show, so now people are coming in with more eagerness and different expectations.”

A New Vegas Vibe for Season Two

The upcoming season is taking place in New Vegas, the backdrop of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is widely regarded for having the most compelling narratives and cast in the series, even if it was somewhat buggy at launch.

“It’s more of a arid atmosphere, a Mojave vibe, that’s so essential to that game,” says the co-creator. “That parched, desolate Route 66 aesthetic of the game is so much rewarding to translate into the show.”

In the series narrative, a considerable period has passed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the characters make their way there. Nevertheless, the creators indicate that it acknowledges the player’s journey.

Crafting a Tangible World

The Fallout TV series is praised for its tactile feel – its creators ensured real props and environments were fabricated, mirroring the cobbled-together 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,” says another of the showrunners. “The primary goal of an adaptation, particularly of a video game, is to seem like it’s real.”

In fact, virtually each creature you see on-screen is practical, including the legendarily scary radioactive creatures known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are portrayed by practical effects, and were apparently rather intimidating up close.

Made by Fans, for Fans

The Fallout series resonates because it is developed by accomplished storytellers who are also longtime fans, in collaboration with the game developers behind the franchise. This shared passion for the world is apparent in the end result.

The new batch of episodes is being released on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a full-season drop, representing a shift from the previous season. This approach will allow for a new audience reaction, something the team themselves are excited to observe.

“It has more depth, it’s more expansive, it’s wittier, it has a lot of twists,” teases the game director. “I’m looking forward to seeing what people think.”