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The Fallout TV series has made a triumphant return to streaming services, and it's safe to say that viewers were delightfully shocked by the quality of its initial run. By depicting the retro-futuristic, post-apocalyptic United States through the lenses of three distinct characters, it managed to capture different facets of the gamer's experience.

We followed Lucy the vault dweller, trying to uphold her morals and finding that the ruined world made that exceptionally challenging; Max, the Brotherhood of Steel initiate, who starts challenging his cult's authority and creates significant chaos in powered exoskeleton; and the Ghoul, a breakout character who has long since lost any moral compass out in the irradiated wastes.

Setting the Stage for the Second Season

The debut season's ending disclosed a major secret about who helped cause the nuclear war that condemned a group of people in underground vaults for hundreds of years. It also left several enigmas unresolved for the second season – and, now, expectations are considerably elevated.

“We'd gladly accept ‘not terrible’ – let’s get that on a poster,” says one of the series creators.

“Going into the first season, people were like, ‘Just get it right’,” adds a key figure from the games. “We are thrilled with the feedback to the show, so now people are arriving with more excitement and different expectations.”

A New Vegas Vibe for Season Two

The second season is set in New Vegas, the setting of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is widely regarded for having the best writing and personalities in the franchise, even if it was a bit broken at launch.

“It has a sun-baked feel, a Mojave vibe, that’s so essential to that game,” explains Nolan. “That parched, blasted-out Route 66 feeling of the game is so much rewarding to bring 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 acknowledges the fan's adventure.

The Importance of Physical Sets

The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its tactile feel – its makers insisted on real props and environments were built, echoing the cobbled-together nature of the settlements in the games.

“Being a genre enthusiast, so many shows I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all filmed against a digital backdrop,” says another of the showrunners. “The key objective of an translation, especially of a video game, is to feel like it’s real.”

In fact, pretty much every element you see on-screen is real, including the legendarily scary radioactive creatures known as the apex predators. In the show, they are portrayed by puppets, and were reportedly rather intimidating up close.

Made by Fans, for Fans

The Fallout series works because it is crafted by talented film-makers who are also passionate gamers, with the help of the original creators behind the franchise. This shared passion for the lore is apparent in the end result.

The second season is being released on a weekly basis rather than as a binge-able batch, marking a change from the first season. This approach will create a different weekly discussion, something the showrunners themselves are eager to witness.

“It has more depth, it’s bigger, it’s more humorous, it has a lot of revelations,” says Howard. “I am excited to seeing what people think.”