Fallout: Review
Based on one of the most popular game series of all time, Amazon Prime’s series shows a post-nuclear world where people are split into two categories: Vaulteres and Others. The ‘Vaulters’ are those who have hidden in Vault-Tec underground vaults for two hundred years, and the others are those who have lived on the harsh surface following nuclear bombs. The luxury shelters are only for those who could afford them, and for the past two hundred years, its inhabitants have been living in luxury, away from the harsh surface, where if the radiation won’t kill you, other dangers may arise. Fallout, the series, follows three characters from different parts of this new world. The Ghoul (Walton Goggins), Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell), and Maximus (Aaron Moten) journeys collide while chasing an artefact that has the potential to radically change the power dynamic in this world.
Opening at the beginning of a nuclear disaster, the world is seen through the eyes of Cooper Howard, a famous actor who will later become the morally ambiguous ghoul bounty hunter, The Ghoul. Cooper/The Ghoul’s past is entwined with Vault Tech and 200 years later he is still paying the price. Goggins gives a fantastic performance in his dual role but, despite the fight scenes as Ghoul, is severely underused as The Ghoul. That particular character has a complex story that barely touches the surface despite seeing him in both timelines. Goggins is a fantastic addition to the series and Cooper/The Ghoul’s story is one of the strongest points of the series despite feeling it barely touches the surface of this character’s intrigue and matching talent of the performer.
Maximus is a younger soldier within the Brotherhood of Steel who rises to the rank of squire in this militaristic faction and will do anything to further the goals of his faction and to become the very knight he aspires to be. While each of the main three characters offers a detailed perspective into the post-apocalyptic world, Maximus’s storyline is one of the weakest, often being overshadowed by the other storylines taking place in the series.
The series really shines when Lucy MacLean takes centre stage. Through her, viewers are able to explore the lives of the vault dwellers in the first episode without overexplaining the world. Lucy’s peaceful and idealistic nature is tested when she is forced to go to the surface to rescue her father, Hank MacLean (Kyle MacLachlan), from the raiders. The Fallout game is open-world, and having Lucy explore the surface is a fantastic way to bring that feeling into the series. Her naivety and lack of experience on the surface allow the viewers to explore the world of Fallout without having to have played the game, which is a testament to the writers.
As with any adaptation, it can be difficult to adapt such a beloved series, and while Fallout makes an excellent go at it, the series is not without its faults. The first two episodes are almost perfect, but the pacing drops off around the third episode. It does improve, but that is mostly because of the mysteries being introduced into the series, such as the importance of Vault 31 and its history. Adding the secrecy of Vault 31 adds a new level of intrigue within the show that helps draw viewers into the mystery and how these three connecting vaults have impacted the world around them.
With three main characters with their own goals and stories, the weaker of the series quickly reveals itself to be the Brotherhood of Steel. A militaristic faction is nothing new but, in this world, it feels like there could have been something more as it lacks substance when compared to the other two plots. The story feels misplaced and characters such as Maximus and Dane (Xelia Mendes-Jones) have little impact on the overall story which, sadly, adds to a forgettable faction.
For the most part, the pacing and story telling of Fallout are expertly done, and with the mysterious additions to the plot in later episodes, the show successfully uses the mysterious vault 31 to keep the viewers’ attention all the way to the final episode and how it has impacted the course of the other connecting vaults. Having Lucy explore the surface while her brother Norm (Moisés Arias) tries to navigate Vault 33 without his family, more so in the later episodes,it offers a fresh perspective that helps elevate the series while maintaining the entertainment.
One of the strongest elements of the show, aside from Lucy’s exploration of the surface, is The Ghoul / Cooper Howard. Fallout gives an insight into Cooper’s life before the world became a nuclear wasteland in a non-linear way. While The Ghoul is jaded and is the embodiment of a decaying world, Cooper’s past and his involvement with Vault-Tech show how a corporation monopolised the world with the help of his fame and charm. Normally, non-linear storylines detailing a character's past can be very hard to pull off but Fallout manages to make this work without overloading the viewer with unnecessary information or revealing too much of The Ghoul’s past.
Fallout is at its best when the focus is on Lucy as she encounters different people and learning the harsh realities of surviving on the surface. She ties the story together in ways that aren’t revealed until the second-to-last scene of the series that deepen the mysteries and character of the entire show. From her personal aims to her explorer spirit, Lucy is a strong character that makes you excited for a second season.
As a fan of post-apocalyptic shows, Fallout is a must-watch as it offers a fresh perspective on the genre. Having three leads telling different stories could have been too much, but showing the world in different ways really helps to capture the wonder of the game without shying away from the harsh realities. Despite some episodes having some pacing issues, Fallout is still an excellent show that fans of the game will enjoy, as well as those who are unaware of the game’s history. The writing and directing of Fallout capture the enormity of the worldand with the help of characters like Lucy and The Ghoul, they add the exploration that gamers will enjoy.