Synopsis: Based on one of the greatest video game series of all time, Fallout is the story of haves and have nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. 200 years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind – and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird and highly violent universe waiting for them. In the second season, the story continues with our odd wasteland trio as they venture beyond the dangers of home and into new, uncharted ones in search of the thing they all left behind, family.
Cast: Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins, Moisés Arias, Kyle MacLachlan, Frances Turner, Macaulay Culkin
What We Thought:
Fallout is a show I wish I liked more. I’ve never played the game, but the post-apocalyptic show should be something I look forward to. I was hoping after Season 1 established the universe that Season 2 would be a lot better, but unfortunately the issues I had with the first season continued into the second season.
My biggest complaint with the show is the sub-story involving the knights and the Maximus character. I absolutely hated him in Season 1 and the first episode of Season 2 doesn’t focus on that story at all, it’s all about Ella Purnell’s Lucy heading to Las Vegas to find her father with The Ghoul (Walton Goggins). Unfortunately Episode 2 brings Maximus and the Brotherhood of Steel into the fold. I loathe the Maximus character. He might be the least charismatic character currently on TV and brings nothing to the series.
When the show is about Lucy, the Vaults, The Ghoul and his past as the actor Cooper Howard it’s good. It’s at least interesting and you can never go wrong with Kyle MacLachlan either. Then it will cut back to the Brotherhood of Steel butting heads with different fractions and Maximus being a completely blah character.
Las Vegas makes for a good backdrop and allows some backstory to establish more lore. Having not played the game I don’t know how accurate it is to the source material and I don’t get any of the extra dopamine fans get when they see Easter eggs that go over my head, but that’s fine. The story is easy enough to follow along so even if you’ve never played the game it’s a solid post-apocalypse story that you won’t have a hard time following along.
If you liked the first season of Fallout you’ll enjoy Fallout: Season 2. The show looks fantastic on 4K and the retro soundtrack and score sounds even better. The music might be the best part of the show along with the retrofuture-ish appliances, gadgets and costuming. Season 2 has guest stars like Kumail Nanjiani, Chris Parnell, Ron Perlman, Clancy Brown and a recurring character for Macaulay Culkin. I want to love the show, but until it’s only about Lucy, The Ghoul and the conspiracy I’ll continue to be on the fence about it because of Maximus and his arc.
The Nerds Templar 