Inside the Fallout Universe, Gaming’s Most Unexpected TV Hit
The Fallout TV show has made a triumphant return to its platform, and it's safe to say that fans were delightfully shocked by the excellence of its initial run. By depicting the retro-futuristic, post-apocalyptic United States through the perspectives of three distinct characters, it effectively portrayed multiple facets of the gamer's adventure.
We followed vault-dweller Lucy, striving to uphold her morals and finding that the ruined world made that incredibly hard; Brotherhood initiate Max, the Brotherhood of Steel initiate, who starts doubting his faction's leadership and causes significant chaos in powered exoskeleton; and Walton Goggins's character, a standout performance who has completely shed any moral compass out in the contaminated badlands.
Building Anticipation for Season Two
The show's first season finale unveiled a major secret about who helped cause the global annihilation that condemned a society in underground vaults for centuries. It also raised plenty of questions open for the upcoming chapter – and, now, hopes are considerably elevated.
“We'd gladly accept ‘pretty good’ – let’s get that on a poster,” says one of the series creators.
“Going into the first season, people were like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” adds the game director. “We are ecstatic with the response to the show, so now people are arriving with more enthusiasm and different expectations.”
The Mojave Beckons for the Next Installment
The second season is set in New Vegas, the backdrop of the 2010’s game Fallout: New Vegas, which is widely regarded for having the sharpest dialogue and characters in the franchise, even if it was somewhat buggy at launch.
“It’s more of a arid atmosphere, a Southwestern essence, that’s so key to that game,” explains the co-creator. “That parched, desolate iconic highway aesthetic of the game is so much enjoyable to bring into the show.”
In the show's timeline, a significant amount of time has passed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists make their way there. Yet, the creators indicate that it acknowledges the fan's adventure.
The Importance of Physical Sets
The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its tactile feel – its creators ensured authentic items and environments were fabricated, reflecting the makeshift nature of the towns in the games.
“As a sci-fi fan, so many series I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all filmed against a digital backdrop,” says another of the showrunners. “The whole point of an translation, particularly of a video game, is to appear as if it’s authentic.”
Indeed, virtually each creature you see on-screen is practical, including the infamously terrifying mutated beasts known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are brought to life with practical effects, and were by all accounts rather intimidating up close.
Made by Fans, for Fans
The Fallout series succeeds because it is developed by accomplished storytellers who are also dedicated players, alongside the game developers behind the video games. This common understanding for the world is clear in the finished show.
The second season is debuting on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a full-season drop, marking a change from the previous season. This format will foster a different viewing experience, a dynamic the team themselves are eager to witness.
“It delves deeper, it’s larger in scale, it’s wittier, it has a lot of revelations,” teases Howard. “I can't wait to seeing what people think.”