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The post-apocalyptic TV series is back to its platform, and it's safe to say that viewers were agreeably astonished by the excellence of its debut season. By depicting the retro-futuristic, post-apocalyptic United States through the eyes of three separate characters, it effectively portrayed multiple facets of the player's experience.

There was vault-dweller Lucy, attempting to uphold her morals and finding that the ruined world made that exceptionally challenging; Max, the Brotherhood of Steel new recruit, who starts doubting his cult's dogma and creates a lot of havoc in robotic power armour; and the Ghoul, a breakout character who has completely shed any sense of morality out in the contaminated badlands.

Setting the Stage for the Second Season

The debut season's conclusion unveiled key information about the culprits behind the atomic conflict that sealed a population in bomb-proof bunkers for centuries. It also left numerous mysteries open for the upcoming chapter – and, now, expectations are much greater.

“We’ll take ‘not terrible’ – let’s get that on a poster,” quips the show's co-creator.

“Starting the first season, everyone’s like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” states the game director. “We’re over the moon with the reception to the show, so this time people are bringing more eagerness and different expectations.”

The Mojave Beckons for the Next Installment

The upcoming season is taking place in the neon-lit city, the setting of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the most compelling narratives and cast in the franchise, despite the fact that it was technically flawed at launch.

“It has a sun-baked feel, a Mojave vibe, that’s so integral to that game,” says the co-creator. “That parched, blasted-out Route 66 aesthetic of the game is so much rewarding to bring 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. Yet, the creators suggest that it acknowledges the fan's adventure.

The Importance of Physical Sets

The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its physical authenticity – its makers insisted on physical models and sets were fabricated, echoing the improvised nature of the outposts in the games.

“As a sci-fi fan, so many series I watch, I’m aware that they’re all standing in front of a blue screen,” says another of the showrunners. “The whole point of an translation, particularly of a video game, is to feel like it’s real.”

Actually, pretty much everything you see on-screen is physical, including the infamously terrifying mutated beasts known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are portrayed by practical effects, and were apparently rather intimidating up close.

A Labor of Love

The Fallout series works because it is developed by talented film-makers who are also dedicated players, alongside the visionaries behind the video games. This common understanding for the lore is clear in the end result.

The new batch of episodes is launching on a weekly basis rather than as a all-at-once release, marking a change from the first season. This format will allow for a different weekly discussion, a dynamic the team themselves are eager to observe.

“It delves deeper, it’s more expansive, it’s more humorous, it has a lot of surprises,” teases Howard. “I am excited to seeing what people think.”