🔗 Share this article

The post-apocalyptic TV show has made a triumphant return to its platform, and it's fair to say that fans were delightfully shocked by the caliber of its first season. By portraying the atomic-age, nuclear-ravaged United States through the eyes of three separate characters, it succeeded in capturing various facets of the player's journey.

We followed vault-dweller Lucy, striving to do the right thing and discovering that the wasteland made that very difficult; Brotherhood initiate Max, the Brotherhood of Steel rookie, who starts challenging his organization's dogma and creates a lot of havoc in powered exoskeleton; and Walton Goggins's character, a standout performance who has entirely abandoned any ethical bearings out in the radioactive badlands.

Setting the Stage for a New Chapter

The debut season's finale disclosed a major secret about those responsible for the atomic conflict that sealed a society in bomb-proof bunkers for an extended period. It also left plenty of questions unanswered for the second season – and, on this occasion, expectations are considerably elevated.

“We'd gladly accept ‘pretty good’ – we should print that on merchandise,” says Jonah Nolan.

“Starting the initial season, everyone’s like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” comments the game director. “We’re over the moon with the reception to the show, so this time people are arriving with more excitement and different expectations.”

The Mojave Beckons for Season Two

The second season is taking place in the neon-lit city, the location of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is frequently celebrated for having the best writing and personalities in the franchise, despite the fact that it was somewhat buggy at launch.

“It’s more of a sun-baked feel, a Mojave vibe, that’s so essential to that game,” says Nolan. “That dusty, desolate iconic highway feeling of the game is so much enjoyable to translate into the show.”

In the series narrative, a considerable period has passed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists make their way there. However, the creators indicate that it acknowledges the player’s journey.

The Importance of Physical Sets

The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its tactile feel – its creators ensured authentic items and sets were constructed, reflecting the improvised nature of the towns in the games.

“Being a genre enthusiast, 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 adaptation, particularly of a interactive medium, is to appear as if it’s authentic.”

Indeed, virtually everything you see on-screen is physical, even the notoriously frightening radioactive creatures known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are brought to life with practical effects, and were by all accounts rather intimidating up close.

Made by Fans, for Fans

The Fallout series resonates because it is made by talented film-makers who are also passionate gamers, alongside the original creators behind the source material. This common understanding for the lore is evident in the end result.

The second season is debuting on a weekly basis rather than as a full-season drop, representing a shift from the previous season. This format will allow for a different weekly discussion, something the showrunners themselves are excited to engage with.

“It's richer, it’s larger in scale, it’s wittier, it has a lot of revelations,” teases the game director. “I am excited to seeing what people think.”