🔗 Share this article

The post-apocalyptic TV series has come back to its platform, and it's safe to say that viewers were pleasantly surprised by the caliber of its debut season. By depicting the retro-futuristic, nuclear-ravaged United States through the eyes of three separate characters, it effectively portrayed different facets of the gamer's adventure.

We followed Lucy the vault dweller, striving to uphold her morals and learning that the wasteland made that incredibly hard; Brotherhood initiate Max, the militant faction initiate, who starts challenging his faction's leadership and unleashes plenty of trouble in mechanized battle suit; and the Ghoul, a fan-favorite figure who has entirely abandoned any ethical bearings out in the contaminated wastes.

Setting the Stage for Season Two

The debut season's finale disclosed crucial details about those responsible for the nuclear war that condemned a group of people in subterranean shelters for centuries. It also left plenty of questions open for the next installment – and, on this occasion, expectations are much greater.

“We'd gladly accept ‘not terrible’ – we should print that on merchandise,” remarks one of the series creators.

“Starting the first season, people were like, ‘Just get it right’,” comments Todd Howard. “We are ecstatic with the feedback to the show, so now people are bringing more eagerness and different expectations.”

The Mojave Beckons for the Next Installment

The second season is taking place in New Vegas, the setting of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is frequently celebrated for having the best writing and characters in the franchise, even if it was technically flawed at launch.

“It embodies a arid atmosphere, a Mojave vibe, that’s so integral to that game,” says Nolan. “That dusty, desolate iconic highway feeling of the game is so much enjoyable to bring into the show.”

In the show's timeline, a long time has passed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists make their way there. Nevertheless, the creators hint that it will honor the gamer's experience.

Crafting a Tangible World

The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its physical authenticity – its production team insisted on physical models and locations were built, echoing the cobbled-together nature of the outposts in the games.

“Being a genre enthusiast, so many shows I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all filmed against a blue screen,” says another of the showrunners. “The whole point of an adaptation, particularly of a video game, is to appear as if it’s tangible.”

Indeed, pretty much each creature you see on-screen is physical, including the notoriously frightening mutated beasts known as the apex predators. In the show, they are portrayed by puppets, and were by all accounts rather intimidating up close.

Made by Fans, for Fans

The Fallout series resonates because it is crafted by talented film-makers who are also dedicated players, alongside the game developers behind the source material. This shared passion for the lore is clear in the end result.

The new batch of episodes is debuting on a weekly basis rather than as a binge-able batch, representing a shift from the first season. This schedule will allow for a altered weekly discussion, something the creators themselves are looking forward to observe.

“It's richer, it’s more expansive, it’s more humorous, it has a lot of twists,” promises Howard. “I am excited to seeing what people think.”