🔗 Share this article Behind the Scenes of the Fallout Universe, the Gaming World’s Most Surprising Small Screen Triumph The post-apocalyptic TV series has come back to Prime Video, and it's fair to say that fans were pleasantly surprised by the quality of its first season. By portraying the atomic-age, nuclear-ravaged United States through the perspectives of three different characters, it effectively portrayed different facets of the gamer's adventure. There was Lucy the vault dweller, trying to do the right thing and finding that the ruined world made that very difficult; Max, the militant faction new recruit, who begins to question his organization's leadership and creates plenty of trouble in powered exoskeleton; and Walton Goggins's character, a breakout character who has entirely abandoned any sense of morality out in the contaminated wilderness. Setting the Stage for a New Chapter The show's first season ending revealed crucial details about the culprits behind the nuclear war that trapped a group of people in underground vaults for centuries. It also posed numerous mysteries unanswered for the upcoming chapter – and, now, expectations are significantly higher. “We'd gladly accept ‘not terrible’ – we should print that on merchandise,” remarks the show's co-creator. “Starting the initial season, everyone’s like, ‘Just get it right’,” comments a key figure from the games. “We’re over the moon with the response to the show, so now people are arriving with more excitement and different expectations.” The Mojave Beckons for Season Two The new season is set in New Vegas, the setting of the 2010’s game Fallout: New Vegas, which is frequently celebrated for having the sharpest dialogue and personalities in the series, despite the fact that it was technically flawed at launch. “It embodies a sun-baked feel, a Southwestern essence, that’s so essential to that game,” explains Nolan. “That parched, desolate Route 66 aesthetic of the game is so much enjoyable to bring into the show.” In the show's timeline, a significant amount of time has elapsed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the characters arrive there. Yet, the creators hint that it acknowledges the fan's adventure. The Importance of Physical Sets The Fallout TV series is praised for its tangible quality – its creators insisted on authentic items and environments were built, reflecting the cobbled-together nature of the settlements in the games. “As a sci-fi fan, so many shows I watch, I’m aware that they’re all filmed against a digital backdrop,” comments co-creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet. “The whole point of an adaptation, particularly of a video game, is to seem like it’s authentic.” In fact, almost each creature you see on-screen is physical, even the infamously terrifying irradiated monsters known as the apex predators. In the show, they are brought to life with animatronics, and were by all accounts quite terrifying up close. A Labor of Love The Fallout series works because it is made by accomplished storytellers who are also longtime fans, in collaboration with the original creators behind the source material. This shared passion for the world is apparent in the final product. The new batch of episodes is being released on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a binge-able batch, representing a shift from the previous season. This approach will foster a new weekly discussion, something the team themselves are excited to observe. “It has more depth, it’s more expansive, it’s funnier, it has a lot of twists,” teases Howard. “I am excited to seeing what people think.”