Inside the Fallout Universe, Gaming’s Most Unexpected Small Screen Triumph
The Fallout TV show has come back to its platform, and it's safe to say that viewers were pleasantly surprised by the excellence of its initial run. By depicting the retro-futuristic, nuclear-ravaged United States through the lenses of three separate characters, it succeeded in capturing different facets of the gamer's journey.
There was vault-dweller Lucy, attempting to uphold her morals and finding that the wasteland made that incredibly hard; Brotherhood initiate Max, the Brotherhood of Steel rookie, who starts challenging his cult's authority and creates significant chaos in robotic power armour; and Walton Goggins's character, a breakout character who has completely shed any ethical bearings out in the radioactive wilderness.
Setting the Stage for a New Chapter
The show's first season ending disclosed a major secret about those responsible for the nuclear war that trapped a population in subterranean shelters for an extended period. It also left plenty of questions unanswered for the next installment – and, on this occasion, hopes are much greater.
“We’ll take ‘pretty good’ – let’s get that on a poster,” remarks one of the series creators.
“Going 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 arriving with more enthusiasm and altered expectations.”
A New Vegas Vibe for Season Two
The new season is set in New Vegas, the setting of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is widely regarded for having the best writing and personalities in the series, despite the fact that it was a bit broken at launch.
“It’s more of a arid atmosphere, a Mojave vibe, that’s so essential to that game,” notes the co-creator. “That parched, desolate iconic highway feeling of the game is so much enjoyable 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 characters make their way there. However, the creators hint that it acknowledges the player’s journey.
The Importance of Physical Sets
The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its tactile feel – its production team ensured physical models and sets were fabricated, echoing the improvised nature of the outposts 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,” observes another of the showrunners. “The primary goal of an translation, especially of a video game, is to appear as if it’s tangible.”
Indeed, almost every element you see on-screen is real, even the infamously terrifying mutated beasts known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are created using animatronics, and were reportedly rather intimidating up close.
Made by Fans, for Fans
The Fallout series works because it is developed by skilled directors who are also longtime fans, with the help of the game developers behind the franchise. This common understanding for the world is apparent in the final product.
The second season is debuting on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a binge-able batch, offering a different experience from the first season. This schedule will foster a new viewing experience, something the showrunners themselves are excited to observe.
“It delves deeper, it’s more expansive, it’s funnier, it has a lot of twists,” promises Howard. “I can't wait to seeing what people think.”