🔗 Share this article

The post-apocalyptic TV series is back to streaming services, and it's fair to say that audiences were pleasantly surprised by the excellence of its initial run. By depicting the retro-futuristic, nuclear-ravaged United States through the lenses of three different characters, it succeeded in capturing multiple facets of the gamer's adventure.

We followed vault-dweller Lucy, striving to uphold her morals and finding that the ruined world made that very difficult; Brotherhood initiate Max, the militant faction rookie, who begins to question his organization's dogma and unleashes plenty of trouble in mechanized battle suit; and Walton Goggins's character, a breakout character who has completely shed any moral compass out in the radioactive badlands.

Setting the Stage for Season Two

The show's first season conclusion revealed key information about who helped cause the nuclear war that trapped a population in bomb-proof bunkers for centuries. It also raised plenty of questions unanswered for the upcoming chapter – and, this time, expectations are significantly higher.

“We’ll take ‘not terrible’ – we should print that on merchandise,” remarks the show's co-creator.

“Heading into the initial season, everyone’s like, ‘Just get it right’,” states a key figure from the games. “We’re over the moon with the reception to the show, so now people are arriving with more eagerness and different expectations.”

The Mojave Beckons for the Next Installment

The new season is set in New Vegas, the backdrop of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the most compelling narratives and cast in the series, even if it was somewhat buggy at launch.

“It embodies a arid atmosphere, a Southwestern essence, that’s so essential to that game,” notes Nolan. “That parched, desolate iconic highway vibe of the game is so much enjoyable to incorporate 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 characters arrive there. Yet, the creators suggest that it will honor the player’s journey.

The Importance of Physical Sets

The Fallout TV series is notable for its tangible quality – its makers insisted on physical models and environments were constructed, mirroring the makeshift nature of the settlements in the games.

“As a sci-fi fan, so many shows I watch, I’m aware that they’re all filmed against a digital backdrop,” says another of the showrunners. “The key objective of an translation, especially of a interactive medium, is to feel like it’s real.”

Actually, almost each creature you see on-screen is physical, including the notoriously frightening radioactive creatures known as Deathclaws. 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 works because it is developed by talented film-makers who are also passionate gamers, in collaboration with the game developers behind the source material. This mutual respect for the universe is clear in the final product.

The new batch of episodes is launching on a weekly basis rather than as a binge-able batch, offering a different experience from the first season. This approach will foster a new audience reaction, something the showrunners themselves are excited to engage with.

“It's richer, it’s bigger, it’s more humorous, it has a lot of twists,” says the game director. “I’m looking forward to seeing what people think.”