The big and small screens are stuffed full of post-apocalyptic adventures, yet despite that cluttered landscape, few shows and films stick out to offer something unique for viewers. However, in “Fallout” for Prime Video, a thrilling adaptation of the beloved video game series, creators Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner present an off-kilter and fascinating look at humanity in the 23rd century.
“Fallout” begins at the end. The eight-episode series opens in picturesque America sometime in the future. It has reverted to the texture of a glossier post-racial 1955. Cooper Howard (Walton Goggins), an actor known for starring in Westerns, is the entertainment at a children’s party for an affluent family. As he packs his belongings, his young daughter Janey (Teagan Meredith) points outward toward the Los Angeles skyline just as a nuclear bomb explodes on the horizon. The bombing marks the end of the world we are accustomed to, but this is where the journey begins.
Two hundred nineteen years later, the viewer finds themselves underground. Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell) is an overly cheery young woman who has spent her entire life in the luxurious Vault 33, adhering to the “golden rule” of her “Pleasantville”-like society. Having no suitable men in her vault, she makes a pitch to be married to a member of Vault 32. It takes little convincing for Lucy’s father, Hank MacLean (Kyle MacLachlan), the vault’s overseer, along with his group of advisers, to give the marriage a green light. Unfortunately, things don’t quite go according to plan. Instead, armed with a dumbfounding naïveté and the desire to reorient her home to its proper settings, Lucy heads above ground for the first time, stumbling through an ultra-violent and lawless wasteland she could have never fathomed. From beheadings to the menacing ghouls — mutated humans given prolonged lives by lengthy exposure to radiation — this is not the world Lucy was expecting.
Elsewhere on the surface level, Maximus (Aaron Moten) is finding his way as a lowly soldier in the Brotherhood of the Steel – an Army-type organization committed to bettering the wasteland by collecting and preserving technology. After a disastrous first mission, Maximus crosses paths with Lucy, who is miffed by the ill-mannered and volatile people (and creatures) she has encountered. Forming a reluctant trust between them, the unlikely duo set off on a two-week-long adventure seeking out a woman named Moldaver (Sarita Choudhury) —to say why would be a spoiler. The pair’s quest awakens their understanding of the past and how it intertwines with their chaotic present.
Video game adaptations have produced a mixed bag. While films, including the recent “Super Mario Bros. Movie” and “Dungeons and Dragons,” saw box office success, others like “Rampage” have not fared so well. On television, there are the successes of HBO’s “The Last of Us” and Netflix’s “The Witcher,” and then there is the less buzzy “Halo” on Paramount+. Here, Wagner and Robertson-Dworet wisely chose to avoid a straight adaptation. Instead, they constructed an original story within the game universe. Moreover, unexpected stylistic choices, including archaic technology, a soundtrack full of hits from Ella Fitzgerald and Bing Crosby and odd mid-20th century dialogue, contrast against disturbingly vicious deaths, making “Fallout” a sensory-fueled feast.
The scope of the series is massive. When the narrative stalls in the sixth episode, recounting Cooper’s life in the months and weeks before the bomb drop, the visuals led by production designer Howard Cummings and art and set direction led by Ann Bartek and Regina Graves keep the audience engaged. Robertson-Dworet and Wagner give their audience intricate looks into various aspects of this universe. From different vaults run by various overseers to the endless deserted sands of California and into the lawless city of Filly, the artisans worked tirelessly to ensure no detail was left unattended.
The first half of “Fallout” is undoubtedly the strongest, as Lucy tries to grapple with the lies she’s been told about the world while barely keeping herself alive. Still, even as the storylines linger too long in less exciting places, viewers are eager to see how the varied mysteries and secrets of the surface and the dwellers will reveal themselves. Bizarre but intensely fun, “Fallout” is like nothing you’ve ever seen; for that reason alone, you won’t be able to turn away.
The eight episodes of “Fallout” premiere onApril 11on Prime Video.
FAQs
Prime Video's TV adaptation of Fallout does something the games in the legendary franchise never have—put storytelling above all else. Fallout is the new standard for video game adaptations. This series is violent, fun, emotional, epic, and just plain awesome.
Is the Fallout series any good? ›
Apparently, the TV show is a great introduction to the Fallout universe. The scenery and effects are very good, they get you into the post-apocalyptic world, but the show doesn't feel too depressing. Actors, acting, and dialogues are good. Overall it is enjoyable to watch, I liked it despite its flaws.
Is Amazon making a Fallout TV show? ›
Amazon's live-action Fallout series will start streaming in 2024. Amazon has yet to release a public trailer for its highly anticipated Fallout series, but at least we now know when it'll arrive on our TV screens.
What will the Fallout TV show be rated? ›
The show's mature audience rating has become a focal point, raising questions about how it will reflect the series' thematic legacy. Let's explore the factors contributing to this designation. Legacy of the Fallout Game Series The world that Fallout presents is not for the faint-hearted.
Will Fallout get a season 2? ›
Amazon has renewed "Fallout" for season two. The show ends on a cliffhanger that teases an iconic location from the games. Here's what to know about the future of "Fallout."
Why is the fallout rated R? ›
Expect screaming, some blood, loud gunshots, and more. There's also some potentially upsetting deaths that may be too much for kids - -and even some teens. There's also lots of use of “f - - k” “s - -t” etc.
Is Fallout movie worth watching? ›
Critics Reviews
The Fallout is terrific, and terrifically real. Content collapsed. “The Fallout” tells a story from the perspective of the survivors and it's an urgent voice we need to listen to.
How old is Lucy in Fallout? ›
There's a 19 Year gap between 2277 the Fall of Shady Sands that was written on that chalk board and the Show taking place in 2296, Lucy seems to be in her early 20s so that means she was Born around the late 2270s and in the flashback of her with her mom in Shady Sands she looks about 6-10 so that means that Shady ...
Will the fallout TV series be on Netflix? ›
“Fallout” will not be available on Netflix. That's because the show is an Amazon Original, meaning it is exclusively available on the Amazon Prime Video streaming platform.
Will there be a Fallout 5? ›
No official release date for Fallout 5 has been confirmed by Bethesda at the time of writing - however, we wouldn't expect to see the game until the 2030s. Yes, it's really going to be that long of a wait.
They're violent, dirty, and irradiated beyond recognition – and that's just the people. Amazon's Fallout series has to bring a healthy dose of quirky, irreverent humor to its first season, but that doesn't mean it is going to be for kids.
What is the content warning in the fallout show? ›
Many scenes depicting murder with blood, and over the top gore. In line with the games over the top gore and dismemberment, several people are shown being cut, stabbed, shot, and dismembered.
Is the fallout appropriate for kids? ›
Parents need to know that The Fallout is a poignant, intense drama about a diverse group of teens experiencing grief after going through the trauma of a school shooting. Mature content includes drug use and drinking by teens, strong language ("f--k," "s--t," and more), kissing, implied sex, sounds of gunshots…
Who created Deathclaws? ›
Originally engineered before the Great War by the U.S. government as a cheap replacement for human troops during combat operations, deathclaws were derived from a mixed animal stock, primarily the popular Jackson's chameleon.
How did Moldaver survive 200 years? ›
The Fallout games have a few explanations to explain her lack of ageing, and ultimately, we have four main theories to explain why Moldaver is alive after 200 years: Moldaver is a synth. She's a clone. She's been in cryo-sleep for at least part of the time.
Does Fallout have an ending? ›
Fallout 4 has multiple endings tied to its primary Factions, and it's up to you to decide who to side with at the end of the game. There are a total of four different factions in Fallout 4 that you can pledge loyalty with and decide the fate of the Commonwealth with.
Is the fallout ok for 13 year olds? ›
The Fallout is rated R by the MPAA for language throughout, and teen drug and alcohol use. Violence: A school shooting is heard and discussed but not shown.
Is the fallout kid appropriate? ›
Scenes with drinking and drug use by teens. Parents need to know that The Fallout is a poignant, intense drama about a diverse group of teens experiencing grief after going through the trauma of a school shooting.
Was Fallout 1 successful? ›
Fallout was a commercial success, selling 600,000 copies worldwide. Often regarded as one of the greatest computer role-playing games, Fallout has been credited for renewing consumer interest in the role-playing video game genre.
