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The Fallout TV series is back to streaming services, and it's safe to say that viewers were delightfully shocked by the caliber of its initial run. By depicting the atomic-age, post-apocalyptic United States through the eyes of three separate characters, it managed to capture multiple facets of the gamer's adventure.

There was Lucy the vault dweller, trying to act with integrity and learning that the wasteland made that exceptionally challenging; Brotherhood initiate Max, the Brotherhood of Steel new recruit, who starts doubting his cult's authority and creates a lot of havoc in robotic power armour; and the Ghoul, a breakout character who has entirely abandoned any moral compass out in the radioactive wilderness.

Setting the Stage for a New Chapter

The show's first season conclusion disclosed key information about those responsible for the global annihilation that condemned a society in bomb-proof bunkers for centuries. It also posed numerous mysteries unanswered for the second season – and, now, hopes are significantly higher.

“We'd gladly accept ‘not terrible’ – let’s get that on a poster,” says the show's co-creator.

“Starting the first season, everyone’s like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” adds the game director. “We are thrilled with the feedback to the show, so now people are coming in with more enthusiasm and altered expectations.”

The Mojave Beckons for Season Two

The second season is located in New Vegas, the backdrop of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is widely regarded for having the most compelling narratives and characters in the franchise, even if it was somewhat buggy at launch.

“It’s more of a sun-baked feel, a Southwestern essence, that’s so essential to that game,” explains the co-creator. “That dusty, desolate Route 66 aesthetic of the game is so much fun to translate into the show.”

In the show's timeline, a considerable period has elapsed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the characters make their way there. Yet, the creators suggest that it will honor the fan's adventure.

Crafting a Tangible World

The Fallout TV series is notable for its tangible quality – its creators ensured physical models and locations were built, echoing the cobbled-together nature of the settlements in the games.

“Being a genre enthusiast, so many series I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all filmed against a green screen,” says co-creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet. “The primary goal of an translation, particularly of a video game, is to seem like it’s tangible.”

In fact, almost everything you see on-screen is physical, including the infamously terrifying radioactive creatures known as the apex predators. In the show, they are portrayed by animatronics, and were by all accounts quite terrifying up close.

Made by Fans, for Fans

The Fallout series resonates because it is developed by talented film-makers who are also passionate gamers, with the help of the original creators behind the video games. This common understanding for the lore is clear in the final product.

The new batch of episodes is being released on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a all-at-once release, representing a shift from the previous season. This approach will allow for a new viewing experience, something the team themselves are excited to witness.

“It's richer, it’s bigger, it’s funnier, it has a lot of surprises,” teases Howard. “I can't wait to seeing what people think.”