Behind the Scenes of the Fallout Universe, the Gaming World’s Most Astonishing Small Screen Triumph
The Fallout TV series has made a triumphant return to Prime Video, and it's fair to say that viewers were agreeably astonished by the quality of its initial run. By portraying the retro-futuristic, post-apocalyptic United States through the eyes of three different characters, it managed to capture multiple facets of the player's experience.
There was vault-dweller Lucy, trying to act with integrity and discovering that the barren landscape made that exceptionally challenging; Brotherhood initiate Max, the Brotherhood of Steel rookie, who begins to question his faction's leadership and causes significant chaos in mechanized battle suit; and Walton Goggins's character, a fan-favorite figure who has entirely abandoned any ethical bearings out in the irradiated badlands.
Setting the Stage for the Second Season
The show's first season finale revealed a major secret about who helped cause the atomic conflict that sealed a society in subterranean shelters for an extended period. It also posed several enigmas open for the next installment – and, now, expectations are significantly higher.
“We’ll take ‘pretty good’ – we should print that on merchandise,” says Jonah Nolan.
“Starting the initial season, people were like, ‘Just get it right’,” adds the game director. “We are thrilled with the feedback to the show, so this time people are bringing more excitement and new expectations.”
The Mojave Beckons for Season Two
The upcoming season is set in the neon-lit city, the backdrop of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the best writing and personalities in the franchise, despite the fact that it was technically flawed at launch.
“It’s more of a sun-baked feel, a Mojave vibe, that’s so key to that game,” notes the co-creator. “That dusty, desolate Route 66 aesthetic of the game is so much rewarding to bring into the show.”
In the series narrative, a significant amount of time has passed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists arrive there. Yet, the creators hint that it does reference the fan's adventure.
Crafting a Tangible World
The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its tactile feel – its creators prioritized real props and locations were constructed, mirroring the improvised nature of the settlements in the games.
“As a sci-fi fan, so many series I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all filmed against a blue screen,” comments co-creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet. “The primary goal of an adaptation, particularly of a interactive medium, is to seem like it’s tangible.”
Indeed, virtually everything you see on-screen is practical, including the notoriously frightening radioactive creatures 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 resonates because it is made by talented film-makers who are also dedicated players, in collaboration with the visionaries behind the video games. This mutual respect for the lore is evident in the end result.
The new batch of episodes is launching on a weekly basis rather than as a all-at-once release, marking a change from the first season. This approach will create a new audience reaction, something the creators themselves are looking forward to witness.
“It has more depth, it’s larger in scale, it’s funnier, it has a lot of surprises,” teases Howard. “I am excited to seeing what people think.”
