Behind the Scenes of Fallout, Gaming’s Most Unexpected Small Screen Triumph

The Fallout TV series has come back to Prime Video, and it's fair to say that viewers were delightfully shocked by the excellence of its first season. By illustrating the atomic-age, post-apocalyptic United States through the perspectives of three separate characters, it succeeded in capturing various facets of the gamer's experience.

We followed vault-dweller Lucy, striving to act with integrity and learning that the barren landscape made that very difficult; Max, the Brotherhood of Steel initiate, who begins to question his cult's dogma and causes a lot of havoc in mechanized battle suit; and Walton Goggins's character, a fan-favorite figure who has entirely abandoned any ethical bearings out in the irradiated wastes.

Building Anticipation for Season Two

The debut season's finale revealed crucial details about who helped cause the atomic conflict that trapped a society in bomb-proof bunkers for centuries. It also raised several enigmas open for the next installment – and, now, hopes are much greater.

“We'd gladly accept ‘not terrible’ – we should print that on merchandise,” quips Jonah Nolan.

“Starting the initial season, everyone’s like, ‘Just get it right’,” comments a key figure from the games. “We are thrilled with the reception to the show, so now people are bringing more enthusiasm and different expectations.”

A New Vegas Vibe for the Next Installment

The second season is set in New Vegas, the setting of the 2010’s game Fallout: New Vegas, which is widely regarded for having the sharpest dialogue and personalities in the series, even if it was somewhat buggy at launch.

“It embodies a arid atmosphere, a Southwestern essence, that’s so key to that game,” notes Nolan. “That dusty, blasted-out iconic highway aesthetic of the game is so much fun to bring into the show.”

In the show's timeline, a considerable period has passed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the characters make their way there. Yet, the creators suggest that it will honor the gamer's experience.

Crafting a Tangible World

The Fallout TV series is praised for its tangible quality – its creators ensured real props and environments were constructed, reflecting the makeshift nature of the towns in the games.

“Being a genre enthusiast, so many series I watch, I’m aware that they’re all filmed against a green screen,” says co-creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet. “The primary goal of an translation, particularly of a video game, is to appear as if it’s real.”

In fact, virtually everything you see on-screen is practical, including the legendarily scary mutated beasts known as the apex predators. In the show, they are portrayed by animatronics, and were reportedly quite terrifying up close.

Made by Fans, for Fans

The Fallout series resonates because it is developed by talented film-makers who are also longtime fans, with the help of the game developers behind the video games. This common understanding for the world is clear in the finished show.

The second season is launching on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a full-season drop, representing a shift from the previous season. This format will create a altered 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,” promises Howard. “I am excited to seeing what people think.”

Terry Jones
Terry Jones

A tech journalist with a decade of experience covering consumer electronics and digital innovation.