Fallout
The Ghoul: “Yeah, well, the Wasteland’s got its own golden rule. Thou shalt get sidetracked by bullshit every goddamn time.”
(Everyone who ever played video games, especially those from RPG genre, will recognize themselves in this sentence 😅)
As for films and series (especially this second), 2024 year is really top for me! I’d even say topnotch! Now, fact I don’t have time to watch these titles, that’s already another problem… 😅
Ah, “Fallout”… one of my most anticipated series… ever.
You know how it is, I loved video games since childhood, and grew up on first “Fallout” titles (for me, for example, “Fallout 2” is still best game of all time and I’m convinced no one played it more than me on this planet… no exaggeration). Next “Fallout” games modernized, which (maybe to slight disappointment of old guard) in end turned out good move, and this game series is still very popular today, even ended up in news (though, not exactly pretty news).
And now came (FINALLY!) series to small screens.
“Wait, wait… if this is series made from video games I have no idea about, is there point watching it?”
ABSOLUTELY!
Point is simple… every “Fallout” game has its own story, and series is integrated, i.e., became canon, and plot takes place some ten years from events in last game (“Fallout 4”) which follows chronological order.
So, briefly about background (of series, not mine) of events, as well as plot itself…
In alternative history of our planet, World War II introduced America to “golden age” of development and technology, where atomic physics, vacuum pumps, as well as overall advancement of nuclear technology dominated. And considering that in this Earth version discovery of transistor (which, as you know, was one of important elements for electronics development, and thereby modern world as we know it today) wasn’t as relevant, this led to very unusually advanced (and bizarre) discoveries for that period, like robots, nuclear-powered vehicles, energy weapons and similar… in translation, what people once fantasized 50s and 60s America would look like (retrofuturistic), here it came true.
However, all this also led to war over resources and strained relationship with China and threat of nuclear war in next hundred years. Trying to prevent complete (but seemingly inevitable) catastrophe, US government in cooperation with megacorporation “Vault-Tec” started project building special atomic public shelters (Vaults). Idea is each of these shelters can receive up to 1,000 people and literally can function as small communes and survive for decades (even centuries) locked and isolated from outside influence (radiation) and, when right time comes, be unlocked and survivors repopulate planet again. However, in end only 122 shelters were built. And then nuclear war happened in 2077.
Some 200 years later, girl named Lucy leaves her shelter (Vault 33) and is first (and only person) from her shelter who stepped on devastated Earth’s (i.e., America’s) soil and sets out searching for father, who, under very unusual circumstances, was kidnapped.
Lucy is very likeable, smart and charismatic girl… and a bit too naive. She grew up in shelter where people were kind to each other and helped each other and where everything seemed perfectly normal, and where they were taught that one day their shelter’s inhabitants will come to surface (when radiation stops) and repopulate planet again and moreover help all those who weren’t lucky enough to (sur)vive in shelters.
What Lucy wasn’t prepared for… is post-apocalyptic wasteland where people live in small settlements and “laws” rule as if it’s Wild West. There’s small part of population that continued to liv(e scav)e despite nuclear war and radiation and somehow survived. However, people are generally distrustful of each other, food and water aren’t exactly abundant, and besides services, only means of payment are caps from Nuka-Cola soft drink (parody is obvious). And if you want to wander planet’s wastelands, there’s big probability bandits or dangerous mutated creatures will rob you, eat you, rape you (and maybe something worse and not necessarily in stated order).
Lucy soon realizes (but learns very slowly) that people “from surface” will look every way to screw her and for very long time it’s hard for her to accept this (new) reality.
In her search for father her paths will cross with various unusual people, but here we’ll mention primarily focus on Maximus and Cooper Howard, who are, along with Lucy, main (anti)heroes of series.
Maximus had very hard trauma that moreover left him orphan (I wouldn’t reveal too much, because it’s very interesting, and in a way is connected with Lucy too) and Brotherhood of Steel organization took him under their wing. This organization is very specific. Very rigorous and has clear chain of command. Their task is to research American continent’s wastelands searching for former (pre-nuclear) technology and preserve it (but not share it with rest of civilization). They’re quite ruthless and resemble some military-religious sect, and are recognizable by their elite armored soldier-knights and that’s technology (power armor) only they have access to. By circumstance (very strange ones), Maximus comes into possession of such armor and wanders land with desire to fulfill BoS mission, which is to find one specific scientist.
Cooper is… well, ghoul, and for those to whom “Fallout” world isn’t known from before… well, let’s say, they’re classified as special race, and look like slightly “more human” zombies… but they’re actually people who were exposed to high degree of radiation (as consequence of events from 200 years ago), which caused them to mutate (not exactly in nice visual way). They can live long, but must watch they don’t lose humanity and reason and become like unreasonable wild beasts (feral ghoul) and start attacking everyone (which they can prevent, i.e., delay with special drug). Cooper established himself as one of most dangerous bounty hunters and is over 200 years old! In translation, he had life before nuclear war. Now he’s cynical gunslinger/cowboy, but in America’s golden age, he was famous actor in western films, had family, fame… and because of that he’s perhaps most interesting character in this series, because through his memories we’ll piece together many things from distant (American) past, vault shelters and their TRUE purposes, who really caused nuclear war, what’s role of “Vault-Tec” corporation in all this… as well as where, for God’s sake, is Cooper’s family?
And what’s common for these three? Scientist’s head named Ziggy… I mean, literally just his head. Namely, Ziggy worked in one facility (I’ll just say Enclave for those familiar with “Fallout” games 😉) and injected mysterious blue device into his head then fled facility accompanied by one dog (if someone said Dogmeat, you’re not right, but I like how you think 😁), then soon lost his head… Ziggy, not dog. And way he lost his head is hilarious, and Lucy wasn’t well because of it (who met him at one point).
And so for Lucy scientist’s head is bargaining chip to possibly free father (and fulfill scientist’s wish to have his head delivered to certain person), for Maximus to redeem himself before brotherhood (you’ll see why), and our ghoul Cooper has his reasons for that head too.
And where all this leads, you’ll find out if you watch fantastic series “Fallout”! 😁
What’s all super in this series?
EVERYTHING! 😁
Visually, series is (at least to me) full hit! From post-apocalyptic world’s wastelands and its smaller settlements, abandoned places and unusual individual locations (random encounter anyone? No? Ok, never mind…) to brief jumps (flashbacks) to past and display of retrofuturistic America… series simply excellently conveys video games’ flavor, and in some elements successfully upgrades it. Unfortunately, we didn’t see many mutated creatures that are one of “Fallout” series’ trademarks. It was interesting (and creepy) to see radroaches, yao guais, ghouls, as well as legendary two-headed cows (brahmins), and for series’ needs completely new creature was created (actually fusion of two creatures from video games)… however, regardless whether you played games or not, I really hope in next seasons they’ll add radscorpions, geckoes, bloatflies, mothmans, centaurs… and unavoidable super mutants and maybe worst predators of “Fallout” world – deathclaws.
Special visual treat is when you see soldier in famous “Brotherhood of Steel” power armor… though in future I’d like to see armor of another nasty faction too, which is only briefly mentioned in series.
Series is focused on (quality) CGI, but locations where it was filmed definitely contribute to game’s flavor, especially post-apocalyptic world filmed in Namibia’s deserts, including one real abandoned mining ghost town.
Music also (expectedly) matched series quality. Besides original compositions, there’s music from “Fallout” video games. One of “Fallout” series’ trademarks is excellent choice of music from period of 50s to 70s. Maybe these names won’t mean anything to some (and to some certainly will), but still let’s mention performers like Nat King Cole, Johnny Cash, “The Ink Spots,” “Metrotones,” Gene Armstrong and many others.
Of course, nothing without acting…
Ella Purnell has previously attracted audience attention on small and big screens with her talent (“Wildlike,” “Arcane,” “Yellowjackets,” “Army of the Dead,” “Kick-Ass 2”), and with her very appearance and very interesting facial features, brilliantly breathed life into (at moments naive, at moments silly, at moments direct, and at moments diplomatic) main heroine Lucy. Very reminiscent of protagonists from video games, where often obvious choices made produce quite unexpected environment reactions (as well as hers), which makes her seem like incredibly hilarious and silly character.
Aaron Moten as Maximus did ok job. His character is a bit specific and at moments seems quite straightforward (in accordance with environment he was raised and trained in), but has that trait of silliness and confusion, especially in Lucy’s vicinity. I think his character still needs to be broken down. He reminded me a bit of Finn from last Star Wars trilogy. You’ve seen this actor in films like “Emancipation” and “Father Stu.”
Walton Goggins as Cooper/ghoul… this is serious player in series. This actor is known for his versatile roles (“The Hateful Eight,” “Django Unchained,” “Invincible,” “The Righteous Gemstones,” “The Shield”) and it’s no exaggeration he successfully carried series on his shoulders, even managed to overshadow main actress. Simply, his transformation of Cooper from actor who acts in westerns to ghoul who completely lived role of lone wolf cowboy-avenger/gunslinger/bounty hunter with sarcastic comments (and very often deep thoughts) is what certainly delighted audience and there’s no doubt he’ll get lots of various nominations (and maybe win some) for this role.
Should also mention some supporting actors who nicely complemented series. There’s experienced Kyle MacLachlan (enough to just say “Twin Peaks,” though there are “Desperate Housewives,” original “Dune,” “Blue Velvet” and some other classics) as Lucy’s father (and her vault’s leader), then Sarita Choudhury (“Homeland”) as mysterious Lee Moldaver whom whole wasteland fears. There’s also brilliant Leslie Uggams (Blind Al from “Deadpool” films, then “Empire” series) as Betty Prison, Lucy’s vault inhabitant, but with dark secrets. There’s another vault inhabitant, unusual Stephanie Harper played by charming Annabel O’Hagan, as well as Moises Arias (“Ender’s Game”) who plays withdrawn (but very intelligent) Lucy’s younger brother, Norm.
What else makes “Fallout” so irresistible? Well everything mentioned contributes to one incredible and exciting atmosphere. As in eponymous video games, you know what your main task (main quest) is, but while you reach goal, all sorts of unexpected adventures happen to you and you make some decisions that can affect main outcome.
Series is full of easter eggs that viewers who didn’t play games won’t even notice, but series fans will (dog who’s homage to Dogmeat, “The Enclave,” Brahmins, Robobrain, code 101097, NCR, New Vegas, device hacking method, “Super Duper Mart,” damaged water chip in vault and many others).
“Fallout” series got almost instant green light for second season, which was expected. This is great news, because series hasn’t even scratched what all video games from this series have to offer. From various mysterious factions in game that would surely be interesting to see, because each has its own agenda and are quite unique (Caravan Merchants, Khans, Salvatores, Shi, Vault City, The Railroad, Super Mutants, Caesar’s Legion, Robert House, The Institute, Minutemen), to various monsters, and maybe homage to some characters from “Fallout” video games. Also, we hope doggy CX404 will get bigger screen time, because dog is important companion of protagonist in this video game series. And maybe real Dogmeat appears somewhere, you never know…
I think it’s obvious to you I’m thrilled with this series and that I could still write more about it, but it’s quite big probability you already have desire to throw Nuka-Cola bottle at my head, so I’ll slowly bring review to end.
But I must add one more very important aspect of this series… and that’s it kept spirit of original games. Which means at moments it’s very dark, bloody (characters here die in worst and most hilarious possible ways, in spirit of video games), has silly and twisted humor. Good thing “Bethesda” (creators of newest “Fallout” games) joined with “Amazon,” to whom it’s not foreign to make (literally) brutal series like “The Boys” and “Invincible” and that series isn’t for children (put PG-16, but wouldn’t be wrong with PG-18 either). Because if they’d tried to soften it, series would lose point and be big miss.
It’s truly irrelevant whether you played video games or not (you really don’t need prior knowledge, that’s just plus), “Fallout” series is truly top-notch production. For me it’s one of most pleasant surprises of 2024 and definitely became one of my favorites for top 10 series ever.
Absolute recommendation and can’t wait for next season!
And you, dear reader, how familiar are you with “Fallout” world? 🙂
Trailer | Imdb | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic
Premiere: 2024 | Format: Series | Number of seasons: 1 (eight episodes) | Average episode duration: 60 minutes
