Inside Fallout, Gaming’s Most Surprising Television Success
The Fallout TV series has made a triumphant return to its platform, and it's safe to say that audiences were delightfully shocked by the quality of its debut season. By depicting the atomic-age, nuclear-ravaged United States through the eyes of three separate characters, it effectively portrayed multiple facets of the gamer's journey.
We followed vault-dweller Lucy, striving to act with integrity and finding that the ruined world made that exceptionally challenging; Max, the Brotherhood of Steel initiate, who starts challenging his faction's authority and unleashes a lot of havoc in powered exoskeleton; and the Ghoul, a fan-favorite figure who has entirely abandoned any ethical bearings out in the radioactive wilderness.
Building Anticipation for the Second Season
The show's first season conclusion revealed a major secret about who helped cause the atomic conflict that trapped a group of people in bomb-proof bunkers for centuries. It also posed several enigmas unresolved for the upcoming chapter – and, on this occasion, anticipations are considerably elevated.
“We'd gladly accept ‘pretty good’ – we should print that on merchandise,” says the show's co-creator.
“Going into the first season, people were like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” states Todd Howard. “We’re over the moon with the feedback to the show, so now people are bringing more eagerness and altered expectations.”
The Mojave Beckons for the Next Installment
The new season is taking place in New Vegas, the setting of the 2010’s game Fallout: New Vegas, which is widely regarded for having the best writing and personalities in the series, even if it was technically flawed at launch.
“It embodies a arid atmosphere, a Southwestern essence, that’s so essential to that game,” explains Nolan. “That dusty, desolate iconic highway vibe of the game is so much enjoyable to bring into the show.”
In the show's timeline, a long time has elapsed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the characters make their way there. Yet, the creators indicate that it acknowledges the fan's adventure.
Crafting a Tangible World
The Fallout TV series is notable for its tangible quality – its makers ensured authentic items and sets were constructed, echoing the improvised nature of the settlements in the games.
“Being a genre enthusiast, so many series I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all filmed against a blue screen,” says another of the showrunners. “The primary goal of an translation, especially of a video game, is to feel like it’s authentic.”
Indeed, pretty much every element you see on-screen is physical, including the notoriously frightening mutated beasts known as the apex predators. In the show, they are created using puppets, and were reportedly quite terrifying up close.
A Labor of Love
The Fallout series succeeds because it is made by skilled directors who are also longtime fans, with the help of the original creators behind the source material. This shared passion for the world is apparent in the end result.
The new batch of episodes is debuting on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a binge-able batch, representing a shift from the first season. This approach will create a new weekly discussion, something the creators themselves are excited to engage with.
“It's richer, it’s bigger, it’s wittier, it has a lot of twists,” promises Howard. “I am excited to seeing what people think.”