This review was made possible by advance screeners of all episodes of Fallout. All episodes of Fallout release on Prime Video on April 10, 2024.
These past few years have seen us enter a bit of a renaissance of video game adaptations across film and television. For the longest time, it was a radioactive zone that rarely anyone attempted, none of them reached their full potential and were often quite forgettable. However, recent projects like The Last of Us, Mortal Kombat, Sonic, and even Five Nights At Freddy’s have seen quite a bit of success critically, and some have even been financially rewarded. Those may pale in comparison here as a new challenger enters the arena… Prime Video’s Fallout is an excellent season of television with an incredibly engaging original story set within the universe of the games.
Is ‘Fallout’ an Adaptation of the Games?
The elephant in the room is determining whether or not this is a real adaptation of the popular Fallout franchise from Bethesda. Calling this an adaptation would mean that it would be bringing to life a pre-existing story from the franchise, like one from the games. However, this series features a completely original story set within the universe of the game. Of course, it brings to life the world fans know and love but the story here is not one anyone has seen before.
This becomes a question when you enter the space of the nebulous “video game curse” a stigma surrounding film and television adaptations of popular games that fail to live up to their source material(s). With the positivity surrounding the quality of the show, many may be inclined to jump to conclusions, once again exclaiming “the curse is broken!” but is it really?
What should be championed is the series’ loyalty to the franchise, and its pre-existing lore and details that make it so fun and spontaneous. There was very obvious care put into crafting this story and placing it within the confines of the game series. I think what you could call this is “an extension”, not an adaption. Yes, it brings to life things you know and love from the game, but it is its own separate entity.
The Release Strategy
One of the issues with the series is the fact that it was clearly made with the intent to release weekly, at least with how I viewed the series. Prime Video, in recent history, has been good about giving their shows room to breathe with weekly releases. The issue is that this show is not getting that treatment, all eight episodes drop at once, which is great for people who don’t enjoy the discourse, but does a massive disservice to the structure of the show and the overarching mystery.
Without diving into spoilers, most of the episodes end on cliffhangers, or at least have you on the edge of your seat in anticipation. The conversation around the show will suffer, and the overall experience itself of being able to explore this show week to week is lost and that is a bit of a letdown. I only mention this because how you view the series overall impacts your experience as well as how you process the events and reveals.
A World On Fire
Those who know the game know the state of this world, while those who don’t will experience it firsthand through the eyes of the protagonist, Lucy, a dweller of Vault 33, who steps into a whole new world and out of the vault for the first time in her life. In terms of adaptations, the most “adaptation” part of these show would be the world it’s bringing to life, the actual settings, the radiated monsters prowling the wasteland, and the people who fight to survive on a daily basis.
It feels so immersive, the experiences that the protagonists face whether it be human, ghoul, or beast feel so accurate the game. One second, you could be just trying to make it to your destination and the next you’re encountering a stranger with the wildest story to tell or their sneakiest con, and if you’re really unlucky, a Gulper! It’s hilarious when it wants to be and incredibly dark when it needs to be. The series balances its tonal shifts exceptionally well and never overdoes it. Just like the games, this world is unpredictable and that is reflected incredibly well here.
They make the effort bringing this world to life in almost every aspect. The vaults look as if they were ripped straight from the game – practicality was obviously a priority for the team here, comprised of Westworld co-creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy Nolan.
So many shows these days jump straight to digital environments and limited actual set building, no one wants to go outside anymore! Not Fallout, though, they can’t help but be outside. The set-pieces here are extraordinary and fans of the game will be incredibly satisfied with the fact that the team went the extra mile.
Lucy In The Wasteland and Walton Ghoulggins
The wonderful Ella Purnell’s Lucy is as naive as she is bubbly. Purnell is incredibly charming in the role and walks a fine line to maintain her morality and beliefs in a land that has long forgotten those ideals. It is a treat to watch her character adapt to this world that wants nothing more than to chew her up and spit her out, how everyone is telling her to turn back and lock that vault door behind her. She’s a character with incredible resilience that I’m sure viewers will fall in love with quite quickly and enjoy cheering her on.
Her story itself is so interesting that, from the get go, you’ve got just about as many questions as Lucy does herself. From the incredible first episode you’re pulled into this conspiracy that things are not what they seem in Vault 33, and the rudest awakening possible is coming…
Let’s cut right to it, everyone loves Walton Goggins, he’s a real charming talent with an infectious smile and happy go-lucky attitude that could lift the spirits of just about any wastelander. Here, we see him as a little less than that: a nameless ghoul forever roaming the remains of Earth in search of those he’s lost. Alongside Purnell’s Lucy, Goggins here is very much the co-lead and even at times can feel like the sole lead of the show. They do a great job of divvying up the screen time of the leading cast here, especially with each of them having unique storylines that intersect at times and finally converge in an incredibly satisfying finale.
Goggins’ Ghoul is a serious man who’s made a name for himself, without actually having one among the wasteland. He’s ruthless, on a mission, and genuinely doesn’t care for those who get in his way; he will blast through just about anything he pleases, with his wacky wide array of trick bullets. Without diving into spoilers, Goggins’ character’s story is possibly the best of the show, it is the story you’ve been dying to see this world, the clarity it adds to the world and the emotions powering it are exceptional, these scenes will have your jaw dropped.
(Aaron) Moten Of Steel
Aaron Moten is our eyes within the Brotherhood of Steel in this show: a squire that wants nothing more than to become a full fledged knight to serve those who saved him. However, the best part of Moten’s story is reminding audiences how much the Brotherhood of Steel sucks. The characters seem cool as hell – who wouldn’t look at a legion of power armor wearing “knights” and say, “Hell yeah!”? In actuality, the best part of this storyline is acknowledging the Brotherhood’s abuse of power, literally.
The show kicks them off their pedestal and crucifies them as the religious fanatic virgin losers that they’ve always been. This serves as a reminder that they’re no better than the vault dwellers who hide underground, in fact there are very few difference between them – these guys just do it with a fancy suit of armor.
Moten struggles with the conflicts of his allegiance to the Brotherhood, he tries to do things his own way while still in pursuit of that knighthood that he so desperately needs. Moten is great in the role, the best part about it is how weird he is in his performance, he very accurately brings to life a member of the Brotherhood, he’s socially awkward and doesn’t totally get the lingo and the dynamics of normal people… well as normal as you can be in the wasteland.
A Real Rad Supporting Cast
Alongside our three main characters is a rather fantastic supporting cast, each with their own motives and motivations to pursue. Unfortunately for all those Twin Peaks fans, Kyle MacLachlan isn’t in much of the show but, when he does show up, he leaves a huge impact – especially in the finale. We even get a fun little role out of Michael Emerson, playing a doctor from the enclave who’s on the run and whose story will lead to an incredible revelation within the universe.
The standouts from the supporting cast are from Lucy’s very own Vault 33, where they’re dealing with their own mystery. Moisés Arias leads this storyline as Norman Maclean, Lucy’s younger brother. It’s been a while since he landed a role like this and he really owns it. Obviously, I can’t go into too much detail but I was shocked at how much I wanted to return to the vault to see that story continue – such an enthralling conspiracy to watch unfold.
‘Fallout’ – Final Thoughts
Without a doubt, Prime Video will have a hit on its hands with Fallout, this is absolutely much watch television. The series features a dazzling leading cast in Purnell, Goggins, and Moten who very clearly get what this world is about and who they’re playing. The craft is exceptional with the writing staying dark, yet comedic. The story itself will have you on the edge of your seat as the mysteries that lie beyond the vault are slowly unraveled with an original story that perfectly fits in the universe of the games we know and love. The finale satisfyingly brings together each separate storyline and crashes them into each other to make for some thrilling revelations that opens up a whole new path forward for the future.
All episodes of Fallout stream later today on Prime Video. Check out the trailer below.
