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The Fallout TV series has come back to streaming services, and it's safe to say that fans were agreeably astonished by the caliber of its initial run. By depicting the atomic-age, post-apocalyptic United States through the lenses of three different characters, it effectively portrayed multiple facets of the gamer's experience.

There was Lucy the vault dweller, attempting to uphold her morals and finding that the barren landscape made that incredibly hard; Brotherhood initiate Max, the Brotherhood of Steel initiate, who starts challenging his organization's leadership and causes plenty of trouble in robotic power armour; and the Ghoul, a standout performance who has completely shed any sense of morality out in the contaminated badlands.

Building Anticipation for a New Chapter

The show's first season conclusion disclosed a major secret about who helped cause the atomic conflict that condemned a group of people in underground vaults for an extended period. It also raised plenty of questions unresolved for the next installment – and, this time, anticipations are significantly higher.

“We'd gladly accept ‘not terrible’ – we should print that on merchandise,” says the show's co-creator.

“Going into the initial season, people were like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” comments the game director. “We’re over the moon with the feedback to the show, so this time people are coming in with more excitement and different expectations.”

A New Vegas Vibe for the Next Installment

The second season is taking place in New Vegas, the setting 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 arid atmosphere, a Southwestern essence, that’s so integral to that game,” says Nolan. “That parched, blasted-out iconic highway feeling of the game is so much enjoyable to incorporate into the show.”

In the show's timeline, a considerable period has passed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists make their way there. Nevertheless, the creators suggest that it acknowledges the gamer's experience.

The Importance of Physical Sets

The Fallout TV series is notable for its tangible quality – its creators insisted on real props and sets were built, echoing the cobbled-together nature of the outposts in the games.

“Being a genre enthusiast, so many shows I watch, I’m aware that they’re all standing in front of a digital backdrop,” observes another of the showrunners. “The whole point of an translation, particularly of a video game, is to appear as if it’s tangible.”

Indeed, virtually each creature you see on-screen is practical, including the notoriously frightening irradiated monsters known as the apex predators. In the show, they are portrayed by puppets, and were by all accounts rather intimidating up close.

A Labor of Love

The Fallout series works because it is made by talented film-makers who are also passionate gamers, in collaboration with the game developers behind the video games. This common understanding for the lore is clear in the finished show.

The new batch of episodes is launching on a weekly basis rather than as a all-at-once release, offering a different experience from the initial release. This approach will create a altered weekly discussion, something the creators themselves are excited to engage with.

“It has more depth, it’s bigger, it’s wittier, it has a lot of twists,” teases Howard. “I’m looking forward to seeing what people think.”