The Veteran and the Vault Dweller: Two Perspectives on Amazon's Fallout Series
Does it hold up for those familiar with the Wasteland? Those new to it?
Marc: Well, I know I’m going to get lambasted on this one by Robin the longtime fan here, but let it not be said I’m not open to new experiences, and 2 hours of high-quality TV is way more digestible than 10ish full-length games for me. My biggest curiosity is whether or not someone who I know for a fact has a Fallout analog alarm clock (provided from a ‘Secret Santa’ who shall remain nameless…because that’s the point) can be objective and/or not too overly critical, which is how I usually see these kinds of reviews going.
Robin: I would never give anyone gruff for not playing the series! One of my favourite things is to encourage people to try new things, especially if said thing is something that I adore. I do understand the roadblock of trying a series where the average game is 50-60+ hours, which makes this series so exciting: it’s a way for non-fans to experience the world and maybe even encouraged to give the games a spin.
Marc, Junior Writer / Willfully Oblivious Vault Dweller
Well now, that certainly is something different, isn’t it? Obviously, I’m going into this near blind as my knowledge of Fallout is exactly this:
It’s a video game series that exists.
It loves the colors blue and yellow.
Now, please know I haven’t been out actively avoiding the game series like I have other things in life like Starbucks, but I haven’t been seeking it out at all, either. I am an avid gamer, but Fallout has never stood out to me as a game I need to play. Why? Idunno. Strange gaming kismet I suppose.
So, right from the get-go I think there’s likely a million references to things that I just don’t get. What’s the obsession with huge cod pieces? Are stimpacks basically magic? Those giant tv/armband things just look cumbersome more than useful. Names of things, sound effects, in-jokes for the die-hard fans who were salivating excessively at the thought of this show happening (speaking of, has anyone checked on Robin for dehydration? We might want to get on that) I know they’re just going over my head.
Oh, and speaking of Die Hard, Lucy Maclean is (close enough to) John’s daughter’s name in the movies, so that’s distracting…
It’s a crazy mashup of genres. The first episode slides from post-apocalyptic to western to retro-futurism to horror to military drama, without any warning. I may not know the game, but I know of the show’s pedigree, and anyone who’s seen a Jonathan Nolan show before like Westworld won’t be surprised, nor will they be shocked that the soundtrack is an absolute killer. Composer Ramin Djawadi is throwing strikes right from the first shot. As someone who loves 50’s Americana pop music, and thinks the Westworld soundtrack is the best a show has had this century, I’m very impressed.
I think the first two episodes do a great job of telling the viewer everything they need to know, even without prior knowledge of the world. The main players are clear, the world is established extremely well, and the questions it made me ask were perfectly reasonable and made me curious about watching more. Is the endgame a foregone conclusion to anyone who’s played the games? I have no idea, but the way it plays out, that’s perfectly OK! I know for a fact things were lost on me, but I didn’t feel left behind because of that. That’s pretty good story telling, because there has been times I’ve been unfamiliar with a game property-turned-show where I felt left out (I’m looking at you, Arcane, but I still love you, you beautiful, complex nightmare).
Shogun is my current obsession in TV, and no small part of that is the amazing set pieces and settings (much love, Vancouver Island!), but even then, I’m confident saying Fallout looks even better. The sets, the sweeping panoramas of the Wasteland, the mix of practical and computer effects (uh, except for maybe the bear…), all make a very enjoyable visual experience.
The biggest hook for me is the cast. I’ll come back to the three main characters, but the supporting cast is possibly one of the best I’ve ever seen. I have no idea who will be around for more episodes yet, but when I see talents like Kyle Maclachlan (AKA: the man who has never been in a not-weird piece of media), Leslie Uggams, Michael Rappaport, the treasure that is Dale Dickey, and Pulitzer Prize and Tony award winner Michael Cristofer (whoops, time to rewatch Mr. Robot!) give their all in what little screen time they have? That’s the mark of a great show. Even the dog seems perfect, but if I lived in a world like this, I’d want a Belgian Malinois as well. They’re amazing!
The main three are also very well done. Ella Purnell as Lucy has the perfect look for a doe-eyed innocent thrust into a brutal world (I’m not all that familiar with her previous work, but my wife says she’s good in Yellowjackets so that’s good enough for me, though sometimes I felt like I was just watching Zooey Deschanel), Aaron Moten as Maximus seems to embody the loyalty to his cause, while channeling more than a little Finn from Star Wars, and Walton Goggins… look, if Walton Goggins shows up in anything western or western-themed, I’m in. I. Am. In. No further convincing required. And if you let him off the leash to feast on the scenery like he is here as The Ghoul? Well, that’s just added brain candy and I want more.
There’s an honest effort in this show. Much like The Last of Us, fans made this show, not just corporate suits. People who want to capture the essence of what made the games legendary. Even me, an outsider being let into this world for the first time, can see that. Does the show make me want to rush out and play the games? No. My opinion on those is still the same as it was going in, however, that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in what comes next. Will I finish it? I’d say there’s a good chance. My TV time is very valuable, but Fallout has earned some of it, if only for more dog and Ghoul adventures!
Robin, Sr. Editorial Writer / Veteran Wastelander
When I first found out Fallout was being adapted into a live-action series, it was met with boundless excitement and an equal measure of hesitance. They were planning to adapt one of my favorite series of all time for the small screen, and unfortunately, video-game adaptations of exceptional-to-passing quality are few and far between.
Fallout has always meant a lot to me, I still remember the first time playing the series with Fallout 3. It was 2008, I was 16 years old and I was going with my dad to Best Buy to pick up, I want to say, a blender. When we arrived I broke off on my own and went to the gaming section as most teenagers would. When I arrived, I saw it sitting on the shelf, Fallout 3. My previous experience playing Bethesda games was a borrowed copy of Oblivion.
Before even having a chance to ask my dad for some money, he comes, picks up the game and buys it for me. I arrived home and then spent the next 6 hours completely lost in the world triggering a life-changing moment and the beginning of my adoration for both Bethesda and the Fallout franchise.
I hope this paints an elaborate picture of why I would be cautious about a live-action series set in this universe.
Fallout has such a unique tone: a delicate balancing act between dread and comedy, horror and hope all set in a retro-futuristic backdrop. Games with far simpler design philosophies and tones have been a disaster to adapt, what hope would this show have?
Luckily for us, Kilter Studio and Jonathan Nolan (as well as the enormous talent attached to this title) have pulled off the impossible: a video game adaptation that leans into what makes the games so uniquely weird while creating an original story that carves its place in the universe.
The first two episodes are a perfect introduction to this universe for both new viewers and veterans alike. For fans of the series, there are so many references and easter eggs that have you pointing at the screen every few minutes like Leonardo DiCaprio in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The fact that we got one of the strangest weapons in Fallout in the first episode is a testament to how well the showrunners have gone into researching the world.
I am, of course, talking about the Junk Jet.
But for new fans, it’s an introduction into a world where in the year 2077, America has continued the 50’s-60’s aesthetic and doubled down on the American Dream and rapid advancement of technology. It’s also an introduction to the end of the world, and what happens afterwards.
It’s also an introduction of three unique characters, each of them representing a different paradigm of the universe:
Lucy MacLean is the resident of Vault 33 who represents the nativity of living a protected life and then being thrust into the unknown and things that need to be done to survive
Maximus, a member of the Brother Hood of Steel represents the current state of the world and the ideologies of one of the biggest factions in this universe, and finally;
The Ghoul who represents the degradation of humanity after spending decades fighting to survive; both a cautionary tale and narrator of the wastelands rolled into one
The show also excels in introducing us to a diverse set of supporting cast members all adding their own flavor to this wild wasteland.
But there’s another unsaid character that is synonymous with the series: the world itself. Kilter Studios has gone to painstaking lengths to recreate the world of Fallout from every sign, poster, and set location, all the way to the fully-practical T-60 Power Armors. Their dedication to practical effects is commendable, making the world feel natural and lived in.
After two episodes of the series, I felt reassured by the showrunner’s dedication in preserving the essence of what makes Fallout and gave me the trust to continue with the series.
Spoiler Alert: I’ve finished the entire season, and I’m already planning a second re-watch in case you’re wondering if I liked it overall.
Marc: I have now watched episode 3, so I’m getting there! It will likely be s slow burn, but I’ll get through it, because I like what I’ve seen, and it’s pretty rare for me to bail once I’m 37.5% through something.
What I think we really need to talk about is how the only Bethesda game I’ve ever played is Wayne Gretzky Hockey on the NES. It sucked, and the sprites were way too small. Outside of memes, I haven’t spent a moment with an Elder Scrolls game. Arrows! Knees! Excitement! I’m pretty sure Skyrim is available on my smart fridge so I have no excuses other than ‘200+ hours? Am I being paid to play it? No? Pass’. I’m sure Robin will be very understanding about this fact, and will in no way overreact.
Robin: Wait, the only Bethesda game you’ve played is an obscure hockey game on the NES?!..
No, it’s okay, I’m fine *breaths*
After watching the entire season in 4 days (which is rare for me, I don’t like binging shows) I can happily confirm that the Fallout series is a fantastic adaptation of the source material while contributing to the overall lore of the series. Besides the many love letters to the fans created by the showrunners, this is a fantastic show by itself: a tense, hilarious journey across a wacky wasteland filled with terrors and great characters. I’m so happy this show turned out as good as it did, and I can’t wait for a new wave of Fallout fans!
Marc, I will be giving you a G.O.A.T. test at some point to test your Fallout knowledge once you complete the show.
First question: What is a G.O.A.T.?