Fallout [S2] In Focus, Series Review: Good?

Fallout (Season 2) is an imaginative science fiction that paints a rather dark and tragic picture. Notably, this post-apocalyptic story takes place 200 years after the 2077 nuclear apocalypse, specifically in 2296, around Los Angeles, in the United States of America.

Series Review [Spoiler-Free]: Fallout (Seasons 2 & 1) English

The "Fallout" series is based on the highly regarded post-apocalyptic role-playing video game franchise crafted by Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky. Notably, Tim and Christopher created Fallout (1997) and its sequel, Fallout 2: A Post-Nuclear Role-Playing Game (1998), as a spiritual successor to Interplay's 1988 game, Wasteland. Now, in collaboration with Bethesda Game Studios, this Amazon Prime Video series presents an original narrative set within the established canon of the Fallout universe. Moreover, this TV series features themes from the entire Video Game series instead of adapting a single game.

We Do Wonder As To Why There Is So Much Gloom & Doom About The Future, In America

Series Synopsis

Fallout is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have.

200 years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird and highly violent universe waiting for them.

One More Apocalyptic Tale

Of course, the “Fallout” is a fictional science fiction tale. Primarily, this futuristic apocalyptic tale focuses on the radiation that affects North America and its denizens after a series of nuclear explosions has taken place. In fact, while watching this apocalyptic tale, we did ponder the sheer scale of mayhem and devastation. What could be the reasons for the creation of such a popular video game set in the post-nuclear blast world? Why does this series (and the original video game) depict so much mayhem and pessimism? Maybe the inherent fear of the greedy corporate heads and the corrupt politicians is fuelling the rise of such kind of depressive stories.

What do Americans (writers) know about the Nuclear Apocalypses that the rest of the world does not?

The World Deserves A Better…

Our beautiful but deeply flawed world does not deserve an ending. Not even in thought and in imagination.

THE WORLD DESERVES A BETTER LIFE FOR EVERYONE.

Circa, October 23, 2077, a 2-hour nuclear weapons warfare almost destroyed the civilisation, totally in the “Fallout” series.

So, when the catastrophic nuclear blasts happened, the less informed and relatively impoverished sections of society in America bore the real brunt. They were left defenceless on the surface. And after the blasts, their homes and the cities turned into a vast land of wasteland.

Meanwhile, the rich and powerful people of society managed to find a safe spot to hide themselves and their loved ones in the underground shelters built like vaults. Far away from the fallout of the series of nuclear blasts, they created their own safe and sound world beneath the destroyed surface.

A couple of centuries went by, to be precise, a total of 219 years passed by, when this story picks up the thread.

Series Poster

Let’s Meet The Trio

We watch in horror the huge gap that exists between the two contrastingly different worlds inhabited by the poor and the rich in this highly imaginative sci-fi tale of “Fallout”. And it seems that both the sections of society, haves and have-nots, rarely interact with each other.

But then, a surprise attack and the kidnapping of a senior Vault Leader and Overseer Hank MacLean (Kyle MacLachlan) kick-start a tale of discovery and search for trust. As to what really happened in 2077, which led to the loss of so many lives. This thought-provoking tale is led by a female protagonist, Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell), who is the daughter of the Overseer Hank. So, she leaves the safety of the vault (built by Vault-Tec) and roams around the wasteland in search of her kidnapped father.

She is joined by The Ghoul (Walton Goggins) in the wasteland, as both of them search for Hank. Please note that “The Ghoul”, Muties and Smoothskin are mutants in a post-nuclear world. While searching for her father, Hank, Lucy also meets Maximus (Aaron Moten), her love interest. The series extensively uses flashbacks to tell us the origin stories of “The Ghoul”, when he was simply Cooper Howard in the pre-nuclear blast era. In addition, another set of flashbacks tells us about the background tale of “Maximus” and his childhood. Additionally, they are also looking for answers about the origins of the nuclear apocalypse.

The ending of the season two finale again left us asking for more. As we were left hanging midway, in suspense and mystery.

Definitely, there is more to come in the stories of the trio. Sooner the better, it will be.

Many Positives

➕ In this series, the humans are living and surviving in two different kinds of worlds, and the background music really sets the tone. The background music uses various and different tenors almost perfectly in these tragic and cataclysmic scenarios.

➕ Besides, the set design of this apocalyptic tale primarily depicts that its tale is mainly set in the stark and depressing world of wasteland, which has been painstakingly recreated. The two dissimilar worlds of the “Vaults” and the “Wastelands” were recreated vividly, creatively and in a top-class manner.

➕ In other words, staying true to the original video game content, this series puts in a lot of effort to paint a dark and bleak picture of the post-nuclear world. All in all, this science fiction series is vivid and creative at its core.

➕ All those who have not played the Fallout video games will definitely find the sci-fi story enigmatic. In fact, this engrossing cataclysmal tale boasts many surprises, twists, turns and suspenseful elements; one has to stay glued to it.

➕ We also appreciate the engaging performances of the three leading stars of the show, namely, Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, and Walton Goggins. It is amazing to watch the top-class actor, Walton, straddle effortlessly between the two diverse characters, Cooper Howard, as well as The Ghoul.

➕Among the ensemble cast, we also like the performances of Kyle MacLachlan, Johnny Pemberton, Moises Arias, Annabel O’Hagan, Sarita Choudhury, Frances Turner, and others. They all portray their respective characters quite well.

Series Ratings

Conclusion

Back in the real world, with so many conflicts, wars and genocides going on in our present-day world, we are only a few steps away from the world war III. And many experts are saying that WWIII may turn out to be an all-out apocalyptic nuclear war. Let’s hope and pray that it does not happen. Please.

Now, with today’s season finale in the reel world, the two seasons have ended, yet we do not know who the main villain is in the “Fallout” series. Although the corporate czar hinted that it was a powerful politician who was actually pulling all the strings. Perhaps that political boss was responsible for the nuclear attacks on the civilian population, too. And that led to countless deaths, mind-blowing mutants, unfathomable destruction and creation of wastelands for generations. Among the trio, two of them, The Ghoul and Maximus, lost their respective families, too. Or maybe not, as the Ghoul believes that his family is alive.

So, let us eagerly wait and watch. As the trio, Lucy, Maximus and The Ghoul will most likely embark on another momentous journey, in search of truth and the villains. Meanwhile, the war clouds are hovering, as both Caesar’s Legion and the New California Republic are itching for domination.

Oh, there is so much happening in this sci-fi tale. If you are a fan of offbeat science fiction series, then “Fallout” is a fairly good option for viewing.

Key Details

Series Trailer

[YouTube Video Clip Link - Fallout Season One - Recap | Prime Video]

Bonus Information

Poster – First Season (2024)

Teaser Trailer – First Season (2024)

[Extra YouTube Video Clip Link - Fallout S1E1 Full Episode "The End" | Prime Video]

For your information, the “Fallout” (2024 onwards) Series is the second most-watched title on Prime Video, after “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” (2022) Series. Lastly, check out the Series review of “The Last of Us” (2023 onwards) in our Focus Magazine.

Posters & Featured Image of the Fallout (Seasons 2 & 1) English Series | Pictures Credit: Prime Video.