There is a long history of video game adaptations being less than stellar to be nice. Especially when it comes to live action, Street Fighter the movie stands as a perfect example of how everything can go wrong.
Recently, the tide has turned for video game adaptations, particularly with the success of animated releases like Castlevania on Netflix and the live-action adaptation of The Last of Us on HBO. The upcoming Fallout series on Prime Video is no exception, promising a unique and thrilling experience that’s sure to blow you away.
The Fallout series delves into the unexplored realms of Vault 33, 32, and 31, a departure from the familiar settings of the game series. This creative decision by series writer and avid Fallout fan Jonathan Nolan has allowed for the weaving of a brand new lore, a refreshing change from simply retelling existing stories.
Three main storylines are at the center of Fallout: Lucy, a Vault 33 dweller who, after a tragic event, believes the answers she seeks are on the surface. Going against her vault’s beliefs, she ventures into the wasteland only to learn that maybe things in the vault aren’t all they seem while also trying to learn how to live on the war-torn surface.
“The Fallout series delves into the unexplored realms of Vault 33, 32, and 31, a departure from the familiar settings of the game series.”
Then there is Maximus, a Brotherhood of Steel squire whose sole focus of becoming a Knight leads him to make choices that go against the Brotherhood. He must decide which is more important to him, his newfound freedom or the Brotherhood. Lastly and probably most importantly, The Ghoul/Cooper: a dual role. The Ghoul is a famed bounty hunter in the wasteland; as he hunts down an important person, his story is slowly revealed through flashbacks to pre-bomb as Copper as he learns the truth about Vault-Tec, and quite possibly changes the course of the history of Fallout as a whole.
The three storylines are so intriguing in ways that we haven’t seen portrayed in the Fallout universe before. Take Lucy, for example, expertly portrayed by Ella Purnell. She takes to the wasteland after a horrible event, which leads her to believe all her answers lie on the surface.
But, unlike the usual Fallout trappings of being immediately comfortable in the situation as this is usually the character’s role, save for New Vegas, we get Lucy trying to come to terms with the horrific things she has to do to survive on the surface. She starts out trusting every person she comes across, which is something you just can’t do in the wasteland, but it follows her journey into becoming a surface dweller.
Maximus, played by Aaron Clifton Moten, gives us a deeper look into the psyche of someone entrapped within the Brotherhood of Steel, and unless you played Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, this is something that has only been hinted at: The struggle of being a good person while also trying to remain loyal to the Brotherhood.
Lastly, The Ghoul and Cooper Howard give us a look into life before the bomb drops. Again, this is something only really hinted at in the Fallout franchise. What’s incredible here is the duality of personalities that Walton Goggins has on display. It’s clear they have similar goals, but a differing outlook on life after certain traumatic events take place in the before times really changes Cooper.
Fallout is a fantastic ride from start to finish. The way we get to slowly see the bomb drop from someone outside of a vault is an emotional masterpiece. The way that Jonathan Nolan captures the bleak sense of comedy, tragedy, and action that is so beholden to the Fallout universe is magical. When I say there are things we learn about Fallout as a whole in this series that will blow your mind, that is not an understatement. This show has changed the game in a tangible way.
“Fallout is a fantastic ride from start to finish.”
The acting across the board is magnificent. From the bit part farmers to the Brotherhood Knights, every ounce of passion can be felt, not to mention when you heard the subtle open world music just subtly dropped in the background from Fallout 1 all the way to Fallout 4, there is a real love and respect for the series that is in this show. There is a point where I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire by The Ink Spots comes on from Fallout 3, and I nearly lost my marbles because of how much I loved the moment.
Where there is A LOT of love for the Fallout show, there are some rough edges. The use of de-aging is used for a particular character, and it gives the whole scene a weird buttery lens feel that makes it stick out. The use of CGI doesn’t feel great sometimes. Mostly, though, the show’s solid use of CGI mixed with practical effects nail it and really makes it feel like Fallout. However, I wish we had some of the more staple creatures of the series in it. But that’s what Season 2 is for, right?
Fallout is a magical series that a lot of love and passion went into, and you can tell. It’s faithful to the vibe and feel of the franchise while carving its own path, making it an important part of the series. I am excited to see how the show, in turn, affects knowledge from the next Fallout game. I’ve also never had a show make me want to replay an entire game series before out of pure reverence, so I guess there is that, too.
And one more thing, POSSIBLE SMALL SPOILER: Not to spoil anything directly, as the epilogue is taking place, we see a city on the horizon. When I saw it, I stood up, hooted and hollered, and immediately started playing a specific game again out of pure excitement.
