The highly anticipated second season of the Fallout television series has arrived on Prime Video, building on the unexpected and widespread success of its first outing. The show, which brilliantly translated the games' unique blend of retro-futurism, moral complexity, and post-apocalyptic adventure to the screen, now faces the challenge of meeting elevated expectations as it ventures into the iconic setting of New Vegas.
From 'Not Terrible' to Must-Watch Television
When the first season premiered, simply being "not terrible" was considered a victory for a video game adaptation. The series, however, far exceeded that low bar. By following three distinct protagonists—the idealistic vault-dweller Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell), the questioning Brotherhood of Steel initiate Maximus, and the morally desolate Ghoul (Walton Goggins)—it captured the multifaceted experience of being a player in the wasteland.
The season one finale left audiences with a major revelation about the origins of the nuclear war and numerous unanswered questions. Jonah Nolan, who co-created the series with Geneva Robertson-Dworet, jokes about the initial modest hopes, while Todd Howard, the director of Bethesda's Fallout games, acknowledges the shift in atmosphere. "We're over the moon with the reception to the show," Howard says. "This time people are coming in with more excitement and different expectations."
Welcome to the Mojave: The New Vegas Setting
Season two is set in the location of the fan-favourite 2010 game, Fallout: New Vegas. The show's narrative arrives long after the events of that game, but the creators were deeply mindful of its legacy. "Honouring everyone's journey through that game was a trick," admits Howard. The production aimed to capture the essential, dusty Route 66 vibe of the Mojave Desert, filming in the real Nevada desert and across California.
Nolan describes the shift in aesthetic, noting the move to a more pronounced "desert vibe" that is central to the New Vegas experience. Howard promises that fans of the game will find "so much to love" in the new season, from familiar visuals to the ongoing machinations of the region's warring factions.
A Tactile, Puppet-Filled Wasteland
A key to the show's immersive feel is its commitment to practical effects and real sets, eschewing an over-reliance on blue-screen technology. "The whole point of an adaptation... is to feel like it's real," explains Robertson-Dworet. This philosophy extends even to the wasteland's most fearsome inhabitants.
The notoriously terrifying Deathclaws and giant Radscorpions are brought to life as sophisticated puppets. Nolan recounts the surreal experience of finally being able to examine a Deathclaw up close without being instantly killed, while Robertson-Dworet recalls the genuine fear induced by a puppeteer charging the massive 'mama scorp' puppet at her.
The second season will be released on a weekly schedule, a change from the first season's binge-drop. The creators express excitement about this shift, anticipating the weekly audience reactions. Howard teases that the new season has "more depth, it's bigger, it's funnier, it has a lot of surprises." For fans of the games and the smash-hit series, the journey into the neon-lit decay of New Vegas is just beginning.
