Behind the Scenes of the Fallout Universe, the Gaming World’s Most Surprising Small Screen Triumph
The post-apocalyptic TV series is back to streaming services, and it's safe to say that viewers were agreeably astonished by the caliber of its debut season. By depicting the atomic-age, nuclear-ravaged United States through the perspectives of three separate characters, it managed to capture different facets of the player's experience.
We followed Lucy the vault dweller, attempting to do the right thing and finding that the ruined world made that very difficult; Brotherhood initiate Max, the Brotherhood of Steel initiate, who starts doubting his organization's authority and creates a lot of havoc in powered exoskeleton; and the Ghoul, a fan-favorite figure who has completely shed any moral compass out in the contaminated badlands.
Setting the Stage for a New Chapter
The show's first season conclusion disclosed crucial details about those responsible for the global annihilation that sealed a society in underground vaults for hundreds of years. It also raised plenty of questions open for the next installment – and, now, anticipations are much greater.
“We’ll take ‘pretty good’ – let’s get that on a poster,” says the show's co-creator.
“Heading into the first season, everyone’s like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” adds Todd Howard. “We are ecstatic with the response to the show, so this time people are bringing more excitement and new expectations.”
The Mojave Beckons for Season Two
The upcoming season is taking place in New Vegas, the location of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the sharpest dialogue and characters in the franchise, even if it was technically flawed at launch.
“It has a arid atmosphere, a Southwestern essence, that’s so key to that game,” says Nolan. “That parched, desolate Route 66 vibe of the game is so much fun to translate into the show.”
In the series narrative, a considerable period has passed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists arrive there. However, the creators suggest that it will honor the fan's adventure.
Crafting a Tangible World
The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its physical authenticity – its makers insisted on real props and environments were constructed, mirroring the makeshift nature of the towns in the games.
“Being a genre enthusiast, so many productions I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all standing in front of a digital backdrop,” says co-creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet. “The primary goal of an adaptation, especially of a video game, is to feel like it’s authentic.”
Indeed, almost everything you see on-screen is practical, including the infamously terrifying radioactive creatures known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are portrayed by animatronics, and were by all accounts rather intimidating up close.
A Labor of Love
The Fallout series works because it is developed by skilled directors who are also passionate gamers, in collaboration with the original creators behind the source material. This common understanding for the lore is clear in the end result.
The new batch of episodes is debuting on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a binge-able batch, offering a different experience from the first season. This approach will allow for a new weekly discussion, a dynamic the showrunners themselves are excited to witness.
“It's richer, it’s more expansive, it’s funnier, it has a lot of surprises,” promises the game director. “I can't wait to seeing what people think.”
