Behind the Scenes of the Fallout Universe, Gaming’s Most Unexpected TV Hit

The post-apocalyptic TV series has come back to its platform, and it's safe to say that fans were pleasantly surprised by the excellence of its initial run. By depicting the retro-futuristic, post-apocalyptic United States through the eyes of three distinct characters, it managed to capture different facets of the gamer's experience.

There was Lucy the vault dweller, striving to do the right thing and learning that the barren landscape made that very difficult; Max, the militant faction rookie, who starts challenging his faction's dogma and unleashes a lot of havoc in mechanized battle suit; and Walton Goggins's character, a fan-favorite figure who has entirely abandoned any sense of morality out in the radioactive wastes.

Building Anticipation for Season Two

The show's first season conclusion revealed key information about those responsible for the global annihilation that condemned a society in bomb-proof bunkers for hundreds of years. It also raised plenty of questions open for the next installment – and, on this occasion, anticipations are considerably elevated.

“We'd gladly accept ‘not terrible’ – we should print that on merchandise,” says one of the series creators.

“Starting the initial season, people were like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” adds Todd Howard. “We are thrilled with the feedback to the show, so this time people are bringing more enthusiasm and new expectations.”

A New Vegas Vibe 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 most compelling narratives and personalities in the franchise, even if it was somewhat buggy at launch.

“It’s more of a sun-baked feel, a Mojave vibe, 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 translate into the show.”

In the series narrative, a long time has elapsed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the characters make their way there. Nevertheless, the creators suggest that it acknowledges the gamer's experience.

Crafting a Tangible World

The Fallout TV series is praised for its tangible quality – its makers insisted on authentic items and sets were built, echoing the makeshift nature of the outposts in the games.

“Being a genre enthusiast, so many productions I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all standing in front of a digital backdrop,” observes another of the showrunners. “The key objective of an translation, particularly of a interactive medium, is to seem like it’s authentic.”

Indeed, almost each creature you see on-screen is practical, including the infamously terrifying radioactive creatures known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are created using puppets, and were apparently rather intimidating up close.

A Labor of Love

The Fallout series resonates because it is crafted 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 final product.

The second season is debuting on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a binge-able batch, representing a shift from the previous season. This schedule will allow for a altered audience reaction, something the showrunners themselves are eager to engage with.

“It has more depth, it’s larger in scale, it’s wittier, it has a lot of twists,” teases Howard. “I am excited to seeing what people think.”