🔗 Share this article

The post-apocalyptic TV series has made a triumphant return to Prime Video, and it's fair to say that audiences were agreeably astonished by the excellence of its first season. By portraying the retro-futuristic, post-apocalyptic United States through the eyes of three distinct characters, it effectively portrayed multiple facets of the player's adventure.

There was vault-dweller Lucy, trying to uphold her morals and finding that the barren landscape made that exceptionally challenging; Max, the militant faction new recruit, who starts challenging his cult's authority and unleashes significant chaos 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 show's first season finale revealed key information about those responsible for the nuclear war that sealed a population in bomb-proof bunkers for centuries. It also posed several enigmas unresolved for the next installment – and, on this occasion, expectations are significantly higher.

“We'd gladly accept ‘not terrible’ – we should print that on merchandise,” quips the show's co-creator.

“Starting the first season, everyone’s like, ‘Just get it right’,” comments a key figure from the games. “We are ecstatic with the feedback to the show, so this time people are arriving with more excitement and different expectations.”

A New Vegas Vibe for the Next Installment

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 best writing and characters in the franchise, even if it was a bit broken at launch.

“It has a arid atmosphere, a Southwestern essence, that’s so key to that game,” says the co-creator. “That parched, blasted-out iconic highway feeling of the game is so much fun to translate into the show.”

In the series narrative, a long time has passed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists arrive there. Yet, the creators hint that it does reference the player’s journey.

The Importance of Physical Sets

The Fallout TV series is notable for its physical authenticity – its creators ensured real props and environments were constructed, mirroring the makeshift nature of the towns in the games.

“As a sci-fi fan, so many shows I watch, I’m aware that they’re all standing in front of a blue screen,” comments another of the showrunners. “The whole point of an adaptation, especially of a video game, is to feel like it’s real.”

Indeed, virtually each creature you see on-screen is real, including the infamously terrifying irradiated monsters known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are brought to life with practical effects, and were reportedly pretty frightening up close.

A Labor of Love

The Fallout series succeeds because it is developed by skilled directors who are also passionate gamers, in collaboration with the original creators behind the video games. This shared passion for the lore is clear in the finished show.

The second season is debuting on a weekly basis rather than as a all-at-once release, marking a change from the previous season. This schedule will create a new weekly discussion, something the team themselves are eager to engage with.

“It delves deeper, it’s more expansive, it’s more humorous, it has a lot of twists,” says Howard. “I’m looking forward to seeing what people think.”