The beloved Bethesda gaming franchise Fallout is finally being adapted into a television series and fans are over the moon. After the trailer release this morning, it is very clear that the people behind this Prime Video series are fans of the game themselves. Video game adaptations do not always go well, however this one is sure to please fans, while also bringing in a new audience.
It is important to note that these games are open world, which means that while there is a clear plot and stops that the player must make along the way, there are many different routes they can take and decisions to make for their character. They can steal and kill for fun, or they can do their best to keep their moral compass intact – as best as they can anyways.
The Fallout trailer reveals that while this is a unique story, it is set in the world of the games, right down to every last detail. Just in the few minutes of footage that we got, we see things like bobbleheads (collectibles in the game), Mr. Handy (a robot that can help you, or sometimes kill you), Pip-Boys (a wearable computer that vault dwellers use to check radiation, find locations, and more), as well as numerous other things. As seen previously in the Fallout teaser, there is a canine companion. He is affectionately called Dogmeat in the games, but it remains unclear if the dog will ever get that name in the series.
The aesthetic of the Fallout games is very much present in the trailer. It combines a post-apocalyptic world with an old timey feel. The set pieces not only feel like they have been ripped out of the game, but they are so detailed that they are sure to draw in viewers who have not played the games.
So, what should we expect from the Fallout television series? First, considering that the games are very much open world and while they follow a storyline, there are many roads to take to get there. We also know from the cast list and the trailer that there are not going to be actual characters from the games, unless they are surprises.
The factions in Fallout are one of the most memorable parts of the game. There are several but the most popular include the Vault Dwellers, The Brotherhood of Steel, and the ghouls. There are also raiders lurking around every corner and creatures that seem to come out of your nightmares. We were given a glimpse of a radiated bear and a gulper in the trailer, leaving fans hoping to eventually see rad roaches and mirelurks.
The series is going to be told from three different perspectives. Lucy (Ella Purnell), who is a Vault Dweller, Maximus (Aaron Moten), a member of the Brotherhood of Steel, and The Ghoul (Walton Goggins). It seems as if their paths will cross, according to the trailer, which makes perfect sense within the Fallout world.
The Vault Dwellers have lived underground since the war, and the “end” of the world. The vaults were available for the rich, who could afford to hide from the fallout of the bombs, allowing themselves to flourish. However, nothing remains perfect forever, and in the game, players are forced out of their vaults early on due to several reasons.
The Brotherhood of Steel is a quasi-religious technology focused military whose core purpose is to preserve relics and advance technology. The soldiers use power suits that make them a lot stronger, but also really slow them down, something that players have to consider in the game when deciding if they want to use one or not. That being said, they really are the best option as they also ward off radiation.
Speaking of radiation, let’s talk about the ghouls. These creatures are humans who absorbed too much radiation. For the most part, they become feral, but every so often you will run across one who can speak and has still has a brain. Goggins’ character seems to be just that.
If the Fallout trailer is any indication of what we are going to get, fans are in for a treat when all episodes of season one releases on Prime Video April 11th, 2024.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She owns Mama’s Geeky, but also is a freelance writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for more than ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association. Her passion for film, television, video games, and comic books started when she was a little girl and has only continued to grow.