Behind the Scenes of Fallout, the Gaming World’s Most Surprising Television Success
The Fallout TV series has come back to Prime Video, and it's safe to say that fans were delightfully shocked by the quality of its debut season. By depicting the retro-futuristic, nuclear-ravaged United States through the perspectives of three different characters, it managed to capture various facets of the player's adventure.
There was vault-dweller Lucy, attempting to act with integrity and learning that the ruined world made that very difficult; Brotherhood initiate Max, the Brotherhood of Steel initiate, who starts challenging his faction's dogma and causes a lot of havoc in powered exoskeleton; and Walton Goggins's character, a fan-favorite figure who has long since lost any moral compass out in the radioactive badlands.
Building Anticipation for a New Chapter
The show's first season finale disclosed crucial details about those responsible for the global annihilation that trapped a population in underground vaults for hundreds of years. It also left several enigmas unanswered for the next installment – and, on this occasion, expectations are considerably elevated.
“We'd gladly accept ‘not terrible’ – we should print that on merchandise,” says the show's co-creator.
“Going into the initial season, everyone’s like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” states the game director. “We are ecstatic with the reception to the show, so this time people are coming in with more excitement and new expectations.”
The Mojave Beckons for the Next Installment
The upcoming season is located in New Vegas, the location of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is widely regarded for having the most compelling narratives and cast in the series, even if it was technically flawed at launch.
“It embodies a sun-baked feel, a Mojave vibe, that’s so essential to that game,” says Nolan. “That dusty, desolate iconic highway aesthetic of the game is so much fun to incorporate into the show.”
In the show's timeline, a long time has passed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists make their way there. Nevertheless, the creators hint that it does reference the gamer's experience.
Crafting a Tangible World
The Fallout TV series is notable for its physical authenticity – its makers insisted on physical models and environments were constructed, echoing the improvised nature of the settlements in the games.
“As a sci-fi fan, so many productions I watch, I’m aware that they’re all filmed against a blue screen,” says another of the showrunners. “The whole point of an adaptation, especially of a video game, is to appear as if it’s tangible.”
In fact, pretty much everything you see on-screen is physical, even the legendarily scary irradiated monsters known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are brought to life with puppets, and were reportedly pretty frightening up close.
Made by Fans, for Fans
The Fallout series succeeds because it is made by talented film-makers who are also longtime fans, with the help of the visionaries behind the franchise. This common understanding for the lore is apparent in the finished show.
The new batch of episodes is debuting on a weekly basis rather than as a binge-able batch, representing a shift from the first season. This format will create a different viewing experience, a dynamic the showrunners themselves are looking forward to witness.
“It's richer, it’s bigger, it’s more humorous, it has a lot of surprises,” promises Howard. “I am excited to seeing what people think.”
