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The post-apocalyptic TV series has made a triumphant return to its platform, and it's fair to say that viewers were delightfully shocked by the caliber of its first season. By illustrating the atomic-age, post-apocalyptic United States through the perspectives of three distinct characters, it managed to capture different facets of the gamer's journey.

We followed Lucy the vault dweller, attempting to do the right thing and discovering that the wasteland made that incredibly hard; Brotherhood initiate Max, the militant faction new recruit, who starts doubting his organization's leadership and unleashes a lot of havoc in powered exoskeleton; and the Ghoul, a breakout character who has completely shed any sense of morality out in the contaminated wastes.

Building Anticipation for a New Chapter

The show's first season finale revealed a major secret about the culprits behind the nuclear war that trapped a population in underground vaults for centuries. It also left plenty of questions unresolved for the second season – and, now, hopes are considerably elevated.

“We'd gladly accept ‘not terrible’ – let’s get that on a poster,” remarks the show's co-creator.

“Heading into the first season, people were like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” states Todd Howard. “We are thrilled with the response to the show, so now people are bringing more eagerness and new expectations.”

The Mojave Beckons for the Next Installment

The second season is set in the neon-lit city, the location of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the best writing and cast in the franchise, despite the fact that it was a bit broken at launch.

“It has a sun-baked feel, a Mojave vibe, that’s so key to that game,” notes the co-creator. “That dusty, desolate Route 66 vibe of the game is so much fun to incorporate into the show.”

In the series narrative, a long time has elapsed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the characters arrive there. Yet, the creators indicate that it does reference the gamer's experience.

The Importance of Physical Sets

The Fallout TV series is notable for its tactile feel – its production team prioritized physical models and locations were fabricated, mirroring the makeshift nature of the towns in the games.

“As a sci-fi fan, so many productions I watch, I’m aware that they’re all filmed against a green screen,” says another of the showrunners. “The whole point of an translation, especially of a video game, is to appear as if it’s real.”

Actually, almost every element you see on-screen is physical, including the notoriously frightening radioactive creatures known as the apex predators. In the show, they are created using puppets, and were apparently quite terrifying up close.

Made by Fans, for Fans

The Fallout series works because it is developed by talented film-makers who are also passionate gamers, in collaboration with the original creators behind the franchise. This shared passion for the universe is evident in the final product.

The new batch of episodes is being released on a weekly basis rather than as a full-season drop, offering a different experience from the first season. This format will allow for a different audience reaction, something the team themselves are excited to observe.

“It's richer, it’s bigger, it’s wittier, it has a lot of surprises,” teases the game director. “I’m looking forward to seeing what people think.”