Behind the Scenes of the Fallout Universe, Gaming’s Most Surprising Television Success
The post-apocalyptic TV series is back to streaming services, and it's fair to say that viewers were pleasantly surprised by the excellence of its debut season. By illustrating the atomic-age, post-apocalyptic United States through the perspectives of three distinct characters, it effectively portrayed multiple facets of the player's experience.
We followed vault-dweller Lucy, striving to act with integrity and finding that the barren landscape made that very difficult; Max, the Brotherhood of Steel initiate, who starts doubting his cult's dogma and unleashes plenty of trouble in mechanized battle suit; and Walton Goggins's character, a fan-favorite figure who has completely shed any moral compass out in the irradiated wastes.
Setting the Stage for a New Chapter
The debut season's ending revealed a major secret about who helped cause the atomic conflict that condemned a group of people in bomb-proof bunkers for an extended period. It also raised numerous mysteries open for the second season – and, this time, hopes are considerably elevated.
“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 reception to the show, so this time people are bringing more enthusiasm and new expectations.”
A New Vegas Vibe for the Next Installment
The second season is set 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 characters in the franchise, despite the fact that it was a bit broken at launch.
“It’s more of a desert vibe, a Southwestern essence, that’s so essential to that game,” explains the co-creator. “That parched, blasted-out Route 66 feeling of the game is so much enjoyable to incorporate into the show.”
In the show's timeline, a significant amount of time has elapsed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists arrive there. However, the creators indicate that it will honor the fan's adventure.
Crafting a Tangible World
The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its tangible quality – its makers prioritized real props and sets were built, reflecting the improvised nature of the settlements in the games.
“As a sci-fi fan, so many series I watch, I’m aware that they’re all standing in front of a green screen,” comments another of the showrunners. “The key objective of an adaptation, particularly of a video game, is to seem like it’s tangible.”
Indeed, pretty much everything you see on-screen is real, including the legendarily scary irradiated monsters known as the apex predators. In the show, they are created using animatronics, and were by all accounts quite terrifying up close.
A Labor of Love
The Fallout series succeeds because it is developed by skilled directors who are also dedicated players, in collaboration with the original creators behind the video games. This shared passion for the lore is apparent in the final product.
The second season is being released on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a all-at-once release, representing a shift from the initial release. This schedule will allow for a new audience reaction, something the creators themselves are eager to engage with.
“It's richer, it’s bigger, it’s wittier, it has a lot of surprises,” says the game director. “I am excited to seeing what people think.”
