🔗 Share this article

The Fallout TV series has come back to streaming services, and it's safe to say that audiences were pleasantly surprised by the quality of its initial run. By portraying the retro-futuristic, post-apocalyptic United States through the eyes of three different characters, it succeeded in capturing multiple facets of the gamer's experience.

There was vault-dweller Lucy, attempting to do the right thing and learning that the wasteland made that very difficult; Max, the Brotherhood of Steel new recruit, who starts doubting his organization's authority and causes plenty of trouble in robotic power armour; and the Ghoul, a breakout character who has entirely abandoned any ethical bearings out in the radioactive wilderness.

Building Anticipation for the Second Season

The debut season's conclusion revealed crucial details about those responsible for the nuclear war that sealed a group of people in bomb-proof bunkers for centuries. It also posed numerous mysteries open for the upcoming chapter – and, on this occasion, expectations are significantly higher.

“We’ll take ‘not terrible’ – let’s get that on a poster,” remarks Jonah Nolan.

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

A New Vegas Vibe for the Next Installment

The second season is taking place in New Vegas, the setting of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the sharpest dialogue and cast in the franchise, even if it was technically flawed at launch.

“It has a desert vibe, a Mojave vibe, that’s so essential to that game,” says the co-creator. “That parched, blasted-out iconic highway vibe of the game is so much fun to translate into the show.”

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

The Importance of Physical Sets

The Fallout TV series is notable for its physical authenticity – its makers insisted on authentic items and sets were constructed, mirroring the cobbled-together nature of the settlements in the games.

“Being a genre enthusiast, so many shows I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all standing in front of a blue screen,” observes co-creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet. “The key objective of an adaptation, particularly of a interactive medium, is to feel like it’s real.”

In fact, almost each creature you see on-screen is real, including the legendarily scary mutated beasts known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are portrayed by animatronics, and were reportedly pretty frightening up close.

Made by Fans, for Fans

The Fallout series works because it is made by talented film-makers who are also dedicated players, alongside the game developers behind the video games. This mutual respect for the universe is evident in the finished show.

The second season is being released on a weekly basis rather than as a binge-able batch, marking a change from the previous season. This format will allow for a new weekly discussion, something the team themselves are looking forward to engage with.

“It delves deeper, it’s larger in scale, it’s funnier, it has a lot of revelations,” teases Howard. “I’m looking forward to seeing what people think.”