Behind the Scenes of the Fallout Universe, the Gaming World’s Most Unexpected Small Screen Triumph
The post-apocalyptic TV show is back to Prime Video, and it's accurate to state that viewers were pleasantly surprised by the quality of its initial run. By illustrating the atomic-age, post-apocalyptic United States through the eyes of three different characters, it succeeded in capturing multiple facets of the gamer's experience.
There was Lucy the vault dweller, striving to act with integrity and finding that the barren landscape made that very difficult; Max, the Brotherhood of Steel initiate, who starts doubting his cult's authority and creates a lot of havoc in powered exoskeleton; and the Ghoul, a breakout character who has entirely abandoned any moral compass out in the irradiated wilderness.
Setting the Stage for Season Two
The show's first season finale unveiled key information about who helped cause the nuclear war that sealed a group of people in subterranean shelters for hundreds of years. It also raised plenty of questions unanswered for the second season – and, now, hopes are much greater.
“We’ll take ‘not terrible’ – let’s get that on a poster,” says Jonah Nolan.
“Going into the initial season, everyone’s like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” comments Todd Howard. “We are ecstatic with the feedback to the show, so now people are coming in with more enthusiasm and altered expectations.”
The Mojave Beckons for the Next Installment
The second season is taking place in the neon-lit city, the location of the 2010’s game Fallout: New Vegas, which is frequently celebrated for having the most compelling narratives and characters in the franchise, even if it was somewhat buggy at launch.
“It’s more of a desert vibe, a Southwestern essence, that’s so integral to that game,” explains the co-creator. “That dusty, blasted-out Route 66 aesthetic of the game is so much rewarding to incorporate 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 make their way there. Nevertheless, the creators suggest that it acknowledges the player’s journey.
Crafting a Tangible World
The Fallout TV series is notable for its physical authenticity – its makers ensured physical models and locations were built, reflecting the makeshift nature of the settlements in the games.
“Being a genre enthusiast, so many productions I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all standing in front of a green screen,” observes another of the showrunners. “The whole point of an adaptation, especially of a interactive medium, is to appear as if it’s authentic.”
Indeed, almost everything you see on-screen is physical, including the notoriously frightening irradiated monsters known as the apex predators. In the show, they are brought to life with animatronics, and were by all accounts quite terrifying up close.
Made by Fans, for Fans
The Fallout series works because it is crafted by talented film-makers who are also longtime fans, alongside the visionaries behind the video games. This common understanding for the universe is evident in the end result.
The new batch of episodes is launching on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a full-season drop, offering a different experience from the first season. This schedule will foster a different viewing experience, a dynamic the team themselves are excited to engage with.
“It delves deeper, it’s more expansive, it’s funnier, it has a lot of surprises,” says Howard. “I’m looking forward to seeing what people think.”