Exploring the Fallout Universe, Gaming’s Most Unexpected Small Screen Triumph

The Fallout TV series is back to its platform, and it's fair to say that fans were pleasantly surprised by the caliber of its first season. By portraying the retro-futuristic, post-apocalyptic United States through the lenses of three different characters, it managed to capture various facets of the gamer's experience.

We followed vault-dweller Lucy, trying to act with integrity and finding that the barren landscape made that very difficult; Max, the militant faction initiate, who begins to question his cult's dogma and causes plenty of trouble in mechanized battle suit; and Walton Goggins's character, a fan-favorite figure who has long since lost any moral compass out in the contaminated wastes.

Setting the Stage for Season Two

The debut season's conclusion revealed crucial details about who helped cause the atomic conflict that sealed a population in subterranean shelters for hundreds of years. It also posed plenty of questions open for the second season – and, now, expectations are significantly higher.

“We’ll take ‘not terrible’ – we should print that on merchandise,” quips Jonah Nolan.

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

A New Vegas Vibe for the Next Installment

The new season is set in the neon-lit city, the location of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the sharpest dialogue and characters in the franchise, even if it was technically flawed at launch.

“It has a desert vibe, a Southwestern essence, that’s so integral to that game,” explains Nolan. “That dusty, desolate iconic highway aesthetic of the game is so much fun to bring into the show.”

In the show's timeline, a long time has elapsed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists arrive there. Yet, the creators hint that it acknowledges the fan's adventure.

Crafting a Tangible World

The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its tangible quality – its creators prioritized authentic items and sets were constructed, echoing the cobbled-together nature of the towns in the games.

“Being a genre enthusiast, so many productions I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all filmed against a digital backdrop,” says co-creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet. “The primary goal of an translation, particularly of a video game, is to appear as if it’s authentic.”

Actually, virtually each creature you see on-screen is practical, including the infamously terrifying mutated beasts known as the apex predators. In the show, they are portrayed by practical effects, and were reportedly pretty frightening up close.

Made by Fans, for Fans

The Fallout series works because it is developed by accomplished storytellers who are also longtime fans, alongside the game developers behind the franchise. This shared passion for the world is apparent in the finished show.

The new batch of episodes is launching on a weekly basis rather than as a all-at-once release, representing a shift from the initial release. This format will allow for a new viewing experience, something the team themselves are looking forward to engage with.

“It delves deeper, it’s bigger, it’s funnier, it has a lot of surprises,” promises Howard. “I am excited to seeing what people think.”