As a 46 year old gamer, the current explosion of really high quality video game adaptations has made me deliriously happy. While not every show or film released has become a box office or critical darling (*cough BORDERLANDS *cough), Prime’s Fallout show became a huge hit for fans AND non-fans of the popular video games. Viewers are always voraciously hungry for any new series to devour, whether good or bad, but few have captured people’s attention recently like the Fallout series has. So how did this show based on a video game series manage to stand out in such a overly crowded market? Let’s take a deeper dive into why Prime’s Fallout series was such a huge success.
Awesome Source Material
Developed by Black Isle Studios, the first Fallout video game released in 1997 and was an instant hit with PC gamers. Since then it has changed developers to Bethesda Softworks and has released 11 games, with more on the horizon. It has built a massive following over the last almost 30 years with players (aka ME) who have no life and have spent countless hours exploring the meticulously crafted post-apocalyptic world. The rich lore and background gave the show a solid foundation. So fans of the games already had a connection to the Fallout universe, and our interest was sparked like a hand-crafted Molotov cocktail when the show was first announced.
High Production Value
When it comes to captivating viewers, visuals matter. The Fallout show boasts impressively built sets, stunning CGI, and detailed costumes that plunge viewers right into the wasteland. Head Bethesda creative director himself, Todd (GOD) Howard visited the sets many times and was blown away at the level of detail. This is high praise from someone who’s been approached before from other producers to do a Fallout adaptation, but Jonathon was the only one that got it right in Todd’s mind. As such, a high bar was set and shows that Jonathon Nolan took on the task as seriously as a Wastelander on a mission to find their missing father. Speaking of Jonathon…
Jonathon Nolan Is A Gamer
Behind every successful film director is a younger brother who’s (almost) as talented. JOKING. But for anyone who doesn’t know, Jonathon is the younger brother of acclaimed, Oscar-winning film director Christopher Nolan, so extremely brilliant talent was already in his blood. But Jonathon, or “Jonah” as he’s so lovingly called, is no slouch himself, having co-written scripts with his big bro, including The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012), as well as being the showrunner for HBO’s Westworld. But he loves the Fallout video games, which is why he was able to build such a talented team of collaborators, including seasoned tv writers Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet, who come from two very diverse backgrounds, Graham coming from comedy, and Geneva from drama. Their love and understanding of the source material shone through like the nuclear sun punching through the polluted, cloudy skies of the Wasteland, making the show feel genuine to gamers and non-gamers alike.
Really Awesome Characters
At the heart of every great show are its characters. Fallout introduces a mix of familiar faces and new ones, with the show revolving around the three mains: Lucy (Ella Purnell), Maximus (Aaron Moten) and Cooper Howard/The Ghoul (Walton Goggins). The comparison to the western classic The Good, The Bad and The Ugly are apparent, with Lucy being the GOOD, Maximus The BAD, and The Ghoul being (obviously) The Ugly. This variety of characters kept the story moving, the narrative fresh and allowed for character development that audiences can connect with. Lucy grew up in an underground vault so she had no idea about what the surface world was really like, so her innocence and positivity made her endearing. Maximus grew up in the Wasteland, so already had a chip on his shoulder but also a passion for being a member of The Brotherhood of Steel, a paramilitary organization that collects and preserves pre-war technology. Lastly, there’s the real star of the show Cooper Howard/The Ghoul, who’s been alive for over 200 miserable years thanks to radiation poisoning, so he’s pretty much just fed up with humanity in general, yet at the same time yearns to reclaim that same humanity he so vehemently disdains. Viewers loved rooting for these underdogs and with each episode, viewers grew increasingly invested in the characters to learn more about their motivations and struggles. While the games have set narratives, the show took some “creative liberties” to explore these new storylines, keeping the series unpredictable. Each episode uncovered various aspects of the Fallout universe, appealing to the die-hard fans, but more importantly, the newcomers that had no clue about the connection to the games. Each twist and turn felt like discovering a buried treasure of stimpaks, bobby pins and caps in the vast Wasteland (inside joke).
Witty Writing and Dark Humor
Along with Jonah, Graham and Geneva knew how to blend the dark themes and humor of the games, making the show thrilling, entertaining but also hilarious. Their very different background in tv writing helped immensely with creating a show that excelled at being both funny and dramatic. This combination of levity and tension kept viewers highly engaged and wanting more, which is why it was smart that they…
Dropped The Entire Season At Once
Amazon Studios had no idea how to gauge how popular the show would be before release, so instead of going the weekly episode route like some of their other shows, they decided to release the entire first season at once. In hindsight they probably regret that decision, but they were clearly not prepared for the overwhelmingly positive reception of the show. Personally, I loved being able to binge the series over the span of two evenings. Okay who am I kidding I watched the ENTIRE eight episode season in one night. But then I watched the whole season again, then again, then AGAIN. I couldn’t get enough of it and was also over the moon happy with how well it turned out. Even though game adaptations have improved drastically in the last few years with shows like HBO’s The Last of Us and the box office darling Super Mario Bros, I was still worried that one of my favorite game series wouldn’t be shown the proper love and respect that it deserves. But, thankfully, my expectations were met AND exceeded, especially in terms of the quality of acting. Which leads me to…
WALTON GOGGINS
Need I say more?
In all seriousness, I was expecting the usual stellar performance from Mr. Goggins because he’s been killing it as an actor during his over twenty year career. Who doesn’t love Walton? He’s your favorite actors favorite actor. But what I wasn’t expecting was his nuanced, multi-layered performance of a once famous actor turned irradiated Ghoul. The opening scene with him as Cooper Howard and his daughter working at a birthday party, as his career has taken somewhat of a nose dive, was the perfect way to introduce us to the characters and world of Fallout. Oh and did I mention he got nominated for an EMMY for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series? Characters like The Ghoul typically do not get any type of award acknowledgement, mainly because the awards are decided by a bunch of stiff-shirted charlatans. But Walton was just so stinking amazing they couldn’t NOT nominate him. He chewed up every scene he was in, mainly when he was The Ghoul, but his performance as washed-up actor Cooper Howard added a whole other layer that isn’t seen as most actors don’t take on two completely different characters like that. Whether he actually wins or not isn’t as important as the nomination itself, but keep in mind that just a year ago, golden boy Pedro Pascal won an Emmy for his portrayal of Joel in the adaptation of Naughty Dog’s acclaimed The Last of Us video game, so anything is possible.
Strong Themes of Survival and Morality
At its core, Fallout is all about survival, but done in a simultaneously light and dark way. The show dives deep into what it means to navigate a world filled with chaos and moral dilemmas. The characters of Lucy, Maximus and The Ghoul face tough choices that challenge their values, making the audience ponder what they’d do in similar situations. This exploration of human nature adds depth, transforming the show from mere entertainment into something thought-provoking.
Fans and Critics Were Buzzing About The Show
Social media and fan forums buzzed with excitement as the show aired. Viewers shared their theories, favorite moments, and character arcs, creating a community around the show. Positive reviews from critics only fueled this fire. The show currently has a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 8.4/10 rating on IMDb. The combination of fan engagement and critical acclaim led to a viral moment, making it impossible for anyone to ignore the show. And, as an added bonus, the games exploded in popularity on the Steam PC gaming charts, with some of the older games even reaching new records in terms of player engagement. LOVE IT!
It Got Nominated For 16 Emmys
The Emmy awards don’t happen for a few more months, but the fact this goofy, dark, violent television series based on a video game got any Emmy nominations at all is quite an achievement, let alone SIXTEEN. The two most notable noms being for Outstanding Drama Series AND Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series for the “Gogmeister”, okay I gave him that name myself. But personally I would love nothing more if they won in both those categories, but even if they don’t they’ll certainly win in one of the other FOURTEEN categories.
War, War Never Changes…
In conclusion, in an irradiated ocean of new series, Prime’s Fallout show carved out its own space. With rich source material, stunning visuals, relatable characters, and engaging storytelling, it resonated with audiences. It managed to capture the spirit of the games while exploring new horizons. As new viewers discover this show on Prime when they can’t decide on what to watch next, it’s clear that Fallout is not just another show; it’s a cultural phenomenon that invites gamers and non-gamers alike to gather around and experience the adventure together. Now if you’ll excuse I’m about to fire up Fallout 76 and get lost in the Wasteland for another 100 hours. Game on!
Thanks for taking the time to read this,
Tim – aucoinink.com
