🔗 Share this article Behind the Scenes of Fallout, the Gaming World’s Most Surprising Television Success The post-apocalyptic TV show has made a triumphant return to Prime Video, and it's safe to say that audiences were agreeably astonished by the excellence of its first season. By portraying the atomic-age, nuclear-ravaged United States through the lenses of three separate characters, it managed to capture different facets of the player's journey. There was Lucy the vault dweller, attempting to uphold her morals and finding that the wasteland made that very difficult; Brotherhood initiate Max, the Brotherhood of Steel new recruit, who starts challenging his cult's authority and creates plenty of trouble in robotic power armour; and Walton Goggins's character, a standout performance who has long since lost any sense of morality out in the contaminated wilderness. Setting the Stage for the Second Season The show's first season finale disclosed key information about those responsible for the atomic conflict that trapped a population in subterranean shelters for centuries. It also posed numerous mysteries open for the second season – and, on this occasion, expectations are significantly higher. “We’ll take ‘not terrible’ – let’s get that on a poster,” remarks Jonah Nolan. “Starting the first season, everyone’s like, ‘Just get it right’,” adds the game director. “We are thrilled with the response to the show, so this time people are arriving with more enthusiasm and different expectations.” The Mojave Beckons for the Next Installment The second season is set in New Vegas, the setting of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the most compelling narratives and cast in the franchise, despite the fact that it was somewhat buggy at launch. “It’s more of a sun-baked feel, a Southwestern essence, that’s so essential to that game,” says Nolan. “That parched, desolate Route 66 aesthetic of the game is so much rewarding to incorporate into the show.” In the series narrative, a significant amount of time has passed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists make their way there. Yet, the creators indicate 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 locations were fabricated, reflecting the makeshift nature of the outposts in the games. “As a sci-fi fan, so many series I watch, I’m aware that they’re all filmed against a digital backdrop,” observes co-creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet. “The key objective of an translation, especially of a interactive medium, is to seem like it’s authentic.” Actually, virtually every element you see on-screen is practical, even the infamously terrifying irradiated monsters known as the apex predators. In the show, they are portrayed by puppets, and were by all accounts pretty frightening up close. Made by Fans, for Fans The Fallout series succeeds because it is crafted by talented film-makers who are also passionate gamers, with the help of the game developers behind the franchise. This shared passion for the lore is apparent in the finished show. 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 format will foster a new weekly discussion, something the showrunners themselves are excited to engage with. “It has more depth, it’s more expansive, it’s more humorous, it has a lot of surprises,” teases the game director. “I’m looking forward to seeing what people think.”