Behind the Scenes of Fallout, the Gaming World’s Most Astonishing TV Hit

The Fallout TV series is back to its platform, and it's accurate to state that audiences were delightfully shocked by the excellence of its first season. By portraying the atomic-age, post-apocalyptic United States through the perspectives of three separate characters, it effectively portrayed multiple facets of the player's journey.

There was vault-dweller Lucy, striving to uphold her morals and finding that the wasteland made that very difficult; Brotherhood initiate Max, the militant faction initiate, who begins to question his organization's dogma and unleashes significant chaos in robotic power armour; and Walton Goggins's character, a breakout character who has entirely abandoned any ethical bearings out in the radioactive wilderness.

Building Anticipation for the Second Season

The show's first season ending disclosed a major secret about who helped cause the atomic conflict that sealed a group of people in bomb-proof bunkers for centuries. It also posed plenty of questions unresolved for the next installment – and, on this occasion, anticipations are considerably elevated.

“We’ll take ‘pretty good’ – let’s get that on a poster,” remarks one of the series creators.

“Heading into the first season, everyone’s like, ‘Just get it right’,” comments the game director. “We’re over the moon with the response to the show, so now people are coming in with more excitement and altered expectations.”

A New Vegas Vibe for Season Two

The new season is set in New Vegas, the location of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the most compelling narratives and cast in the series, even if it was a bit broken at launch.

“It embodies a desert vibe, a Southwestern essence, that’s so key to that game,” says the co-creator. “That parched, blasted-out iconic highway aesthetic of the game is so much fun to incorporate into the show.”

In the show's timeline, a considerable period has elapsed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists arrive there. Yet, the creators hint that it acknowledges the fan's adventure.

Crafting a Tangible World

The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its physical authenticity – its makers ensured physical models and locations were fabricated, mirroring the makeshift nature of the settlements in the games.

“As a sci-fi fan, so many series I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all filmed against a digital backdrop,” says co-creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet. “The primary goal of an adaptation, especially of a interactive medium, is to feel like it’s real.”

In fact, virtually every element you see on-screen is real, even the notoriously frightening irradiated monsters known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are brought to life with practical effects, and were by all accounts quite terrifying up close.

Made by Fans, for Fans

The Fallout series succeeds because it is crafted by talented film-makers who are also longtime fans, alongside the game developers behind the source material. This shared passion for the lore is clear in the end result.

The new batch of episodes is being released on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a full-season drop, representing a shift from the first season. This format will allow for a different viewing experience, something the team themselves are excited to engage with.

“It's richer, it’s bigger, it’s more humorous, it has a lot of revelations,” teases the game director. “I’m looking forward to seeing what people think.”