Behind the Scenes of the Fallout Universe, the Gaming World’s Most Surprising Small Screen Triumph
The post-apocalyptic TV show is back to streaming services, and it's fair to say that fans were pleasantly surprised by the quality of its initial run. By depicting the atomic-age, post-apocalyptic United States through the lenses of three different characters, it succeeded in capturing various facets of the player's journey.
We followed Lucy the vault dweller, striving to act with integrity and discovering that the wasteland made that incredibly hard; Max, the Brotherhood of Steel new recruit, who starts doubting his faction's leadership and causes plenty of trouble in powered exoskeleton; and Walton Goggins's character, a breakout character who has long since lost any sense of morality out in the radioactive wilderness.
Building Anticipation for the Second Season
The debut season's conclusion unveiled key information about the culprits behind the nuclear war that condemned a group of people in underground vaults for hundreds of years. It also posed plenty of questions open for the second season – and, now, anticipations are much greater.
“We’ll take ‘not terrible’ – let’s get that on a poster,” remarks one of the series creators.
“Heading into the first season, people were like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” comments a key figure from the games. “We’re over the moon with the feedback to the show, so this time people are bringing more enthusiasm and different expectations.”
A New Vegas Vibe for Season Two
The second season is set in New Vegas, the setting of the 2010’s game Fallout: New Vegas, which is frequently celebrated for having the best writing and cast in the series, even if it was technically flawed at launch.
“It has a desert vibe, a Mojave vibe, that’s so integral to that game,” notes the co-creator. “That dusty, desolate Route 66 vibe of the game is so much enjoyable to translate into the show.”
In the show's timeline, a considerable period has elapsed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists make their way there. However, the creators hint that it will honor the fan's adventure.
Crafting a Tangible World
The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its tactile feel – its production team ensured authentic items and environments were constructed, reflecting the makeshift nature of the settlements in the games.
“As a sci-fi fan, so many shows I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all filmed against a green screen,” says another of the showrunners. “The whole point of an adaptation, particularly of a video game, is to appear as if it’s authentic.”
Indeed, virtually everything you see on-screen is real, including the legendarily scary irradiated monsters known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are created using practical effects, and were apparently quite terrifying up close.
Made by Fans, for Fans
The Fallout series resonates because it is developed by accomplished storytellers who are also dedicated players, alongside the original creators behind the franchise. This mutual respect for the world is clear in the end result.
The second season is debuting on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a all-at-once release, marking a change from the previous season. This schedule will foster a altered audience reaction, something the team themselves are looking forward to observe.
“It's richer, it’s bigger, it’s more humorous, it has a lot of twists,” teases Howard. “I can't wait to seeing what people think.”