Exploring Fallout, Gaming’s Most Unexpected Television Success
The Fallout TV show has come back to its platform, and it's safe to say that viewers were delightfully shocked by the quality of its initial run. By depicting the atomic-age, post-apocalyptic United States through the eyes of three separate characters, it succeeded in capturing various facets of the player's experience.
We followed vault-dweller Lucy, striving to do the right thing and finding that the barren landscape made that very difficult; Brotherhood initiate Max, the Brotherhood of Steel new recruit, who starts challenging his cult's dogma and unleashes a lot of havoc in powered exoskeleton; and Walton Goggins's character, a breakout character who has long since lost any sense of morality out in the irradiated wilderness.
Setting the Stage for a New Chapter
The show's first season ending disclosed crucial details about those responsible for the global annihilation that condemned a group of people in bomb-proof bunkers for an extended period. It also left several enigmas unanswered for the second season – and, now, hopes are significantly higher.
“We'd gladly accept ‘not terrible’ – we should print that on merchandise,” says Jonah Nolan.
“Starting the initial season, people were like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” comments Todd Howard. “We are ecstatic with the feedback to the show, so this time people are arriving with more excitement and different expectations.”
The Mojave Beckons for the Next Installment
The second season is set in New Vegas, the location of the 2010’s game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the best writing and characters in the series, despite the fact that it was a bit broken at launch.
“It’s more of a arid atmosphere, a Southwestern essence, that’s so key to that game,” explains Nolan. “That parched, desolate iconic highway vibe of the game is so much rewarding to bring into the show.”
In the series narrative, a long time has passed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists arrive there. Yet, the creators indicate that it does reference the gamer's experience.
Crafting a Tangible World
The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its tactile feel – its creators prioritized authentic items and locations were built, echoing the cobbled-together nature of the outposts in the games.
“As a sci-fi fan, so many shows I watch, I’m aware that they’re all filmed against a green screen,” observes another of the showrunners. “The primary goal of an translation, particularly of a interactive medium, is to seem like it’s authentic.”
Indeed, almost every element you see on-screen is real, including the legendarily scary mutated beasts known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are brought to life with animatronics, and were apparently pretty frightening up close.
A Labor of Love
The Fallout series resonates because it is developed by skilled directors who are also dedicated players, in collaboration with the original creators behind the video games. This mutual respect for the universe is clear in the final product.
The new batch of episodes is being released on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a full-season drop, offering a different experience from the previous season. This schedule will allow for a different audience reaction, a dynamic the creators themselves are excited to witness.
“It delves deeper, it’s bigger, it’s more humorous, it has a lot of twists,” promises Howard. “I am excited to seeing what people think.”