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The Fallout TV series has come back to streaming services, and it's safe to say that viewers were delightfully shocked by the caliber of its initial run. By portraying the atomic-age, post-apocalyptic United States through the eyes of three separate characters, it succeeded in capturing different facets of the gamer's journey.

We followed Lucy the vault dweller, trying to uphold her morals and finding that the barren landscape made that very difficult; Brotherhood initiate Max, the Brotherhood of Steel rookie, who starts challenging his faction's authority and creates plenty of trouble in robotic power armour; and Walton Goggins's character, a fan-favorite figure who has entirely abandoned any sense of morality out in the radioactive wilderness.

Building Anticipation for Season Two

The show's first season finale disclosed crucial details about who helped cause the nuclear war that condemned a group of people in bomb-proof bunkers for centuries. It also posed numerous mysteries open for the upcoming chapter – and, now, expectations are significantly higher.

“We'd gladly accept ‘pretty good’ – let’s get that on a poster,” remarks Jonah Nolan.

“Starting the initial season, everyone’s like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” adds the game director. “We’re over the moon with the feedback to the show, so now people are arriving with more excitement and different expectations.”

A New Vegas Vibe for the Next Installment

The new season is set in New Vegas, the backdrop of the 2010’s game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the best writing and personalities in the series, even if it was a bit broken at launch.

“It’s more of a desert vibe, a Southwestern essence, that’s so essential to that game,” explains the co-creator. “That dusty, blasted-out Route 66 vibe of the game is so much enjoyable to incorporate into the show.”

In the series narrative, a considerable period has passed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists make their way there. Yet, the creators indicate that it acknowledges the fan's adventure.

The Importance of Physical Sets

The Fallout TV series is notable for its physical authenticity – its production team ensured authentic items and locations were built, reflecting the cobbled-together nature of the outposts in the games.

“Being a genre enthusiast, so many series I watch, I’m aware that they’re all filmed against a green screen,” observes another of the showrunners. “The whole point of an adaptation, particularly of a interactive medium, is to seem like it’s authentic.”

Indeed, almost everything you see on-screen is practical, including the notoriously frightening irradiated monsters known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are created using puppets, and were reportedly quite terrifying up close.

Made by Fans, for Fans

The Fallout series resonates because it is made by skilled directors who are also longtime fans, alongside the visionaries behind the video games. This mutual respect for the universe is evident in the final product.

The second season is launching on a weekly basis rather than as a binge-able batch, representing a shift from the first season. This schedule will allow for a different weekly discussion, something the team themselves are looking forward to witness.

“It's richer, it’s larger in scale, it’s more humorous, it has a lot of revelations,” promises the game director. “I can't wait to seeing what people think.”