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The Fallout TV series has come back to streaming services, and it's safe to say that fans were pleasantly surprised by the quality of its initial run. By portraying the atomic-age, post-apocalyptic United States through the eyes of three different characters, it managed to capture multiple facets of the gamer's adventure.

We followed vault-dweller Lucy, attempting to do the right thing and finding that the ruined world made that very difficult; Max, the militant faction rookie, who begins to question his organization's dogma and unleashes a lot of havoc in powered exoskeleton; and Walton Goggins's character, a breakout character who has long since lost any moral compass out in the radioactive wilderness.

Setting the Stage for a New Chapter

The debut season's conclusion revealed key information about who helped cause the global annihilation that sealed a group of people in bomb-proof bunkers for centuries. It also posed numerous mysteries open for the upcoming chapter – and, this time, anticipations are much greater.

“We’ll take ‘not terrible’ – let’s get that on a poster,” quips Jonah Nolan.

“Starting the initial season, people were like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” comments a key figure from the games. “We are thrilled with the feedback to the show, so this time people are bringing more enthusiasm and new expectations.”

The Mojave Beckons for the Next Installment

The second season is set in the neon-lit city, the setting of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is frequently celebrated for having the most compelling narratives and characters in the series, despite the fact that it was a bit broken at launch.

“It’s more of a desert vibe, a Mojave vibe, that’s so key to that game,” explains Nolan. “That parched, blasted-out Route 66 feeling of the game is so much enjoyable to bring into the show.”

In the show's timeline, a long time has passed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the characters make their way there. Yet, the creators indicate that it acknowledges the gamer's experience.

The Importance of Physical Sets

The Fallout TV series is notable for its tangible quality – its creators insisted on real props and environments were constructed, mirroring the cobbled-together nature of the towns in the games.

“As a sci-fi fan, so many series I watch, I’m aware that they’re all filmed against a blue screen,” observes another of the showrunners. “The key objective of an translation, especially of a video game, is to appear as if it’s tangible.”

Actually, almost everything you see on-screen is physical, even the infamously terrifying irradiated monsters known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are portrayed by practical effects, and were reportedly rather intimidating up close.

A Labor of Love

The Fallout series works because it is developed by accomplished storytellers who are also dedicated players, in collaboration with the original creators behind the video games. This mutual respect for the lore is evident in the finished show.

The second season is being released on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a binge-able batch, representing a shift from the first season. This format will foster a different audience reaction, something the showrunners themselves are excited to witness.

“It's richer, it’s bigger, it’s wittier, it has a lot of twists,” teases Howard. “I can't wait to seeing what people think.”