Behind the Scenes of the Fallout Universe, Gaming’s Most Surprising TV Hit

The post-apocalyptic TV series has come back to Prime Video, and it's safe to say that audiences were pleasantly surprised by the excellence of its first season. By portraying the atomic-age, post-apocalyptic United States through the eyes of three distinct characters, it managed to capture different facets of the gamer's adventure.

There was vault-dweller Lucy, attempting to act with integrity and learning that the barren landscape made that very difficult; Brotherhood initiate Max, the Brotherhood of Steel initiate, who starts challenging his cult's leadership and causes a lot of havoc in robotic power armour; and Walton Goggins's character, a standout performance who has completely shed any ethical bearings out in the radioactive wastes.

Setting the Stage for the Second Season

The debut season's conclusion disclosed crucial details about who helped cause the nuclear war that sealed a society in bomb-proof bunkers for an extended period. It also left several enigmas unanswered for the second season – and, this time, expectations are considerably elevated.

“We'd gladly accept ‘not terrible’ – let’s get that on a poster,” says one of the series creators.

“Going into the first season, everyone’s like, ‘Just get it right’,” states the game director. “We’re over the moon with the reception to the show, so this time people are bringing more enthusiasm and different expectations.”

The Mojave Beckons for Season Two

The second season is taking place in the neon-lit city, the setting of the 2010’s game Fallout: New Vegas, which is widely regarded for having the sharpest dialogue and cast in the franchise, despite the fact that it was technically flawed at launch.

“It’s more of a arid atmosphere, a Mojave vibe, that’s so key to that game,” notes Nolan. “That parched, blasted-out iconic highway feeling of the game is so much enjoyable to incorporate into the show.”

In the series narrative, a significant amount of time has passed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists make their way there. Nevertheless, the creators suggest that it does reference the gamer's experience.

Crafting a Tangible World

The Fallout TV series is praised for its physical authenticity – its production team prioritized real props and environments were built, echoing the improvised nature of the settlements in the games.

“As a sci-fi fan, so many shows I watch, I’m aware that they’re all standing in front of a digital backdrop,” observes another of the showrunners. “The key objective of an adaptation, especially of a video game, is to feel like it’s tangible.”

Actually, almost each creature you see on-screen is physical, including the infamously terrifying mutated beasts known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are portrayed by practical effects, and were reportedly pretty frightening up close.

A Labor of Love

The Fallout series succeeds because it is developed by talented film-makers who are also longtime fans, in collaboration with the original creators behind the franchise. This common understanding for the lore is evident in the finished show.

The second season is debuting on a weekly basis rather than as a binge-able batch, marking a change from the first season. This schedule will allow for a new viewing experience, a dynamic the creators themselves are excited to engage with.

“It's richer, it’s bigger, it’s wittier, it has a lot of twists,” says the game director. “I can't wait to seeing what people think.”