Fallout review – an absolute blast of a TV show
One important point to mention is that similar to The Last of Us, it is not necessary for viewers to have prior knowledge of the source material of Fallout, the latest video game adaptation from Amazon that's making waves. However, a friend who is a fan of the game and watched it with me claims that there are many added elements that make it even more enjoyable for those who are familiar with the game.
As a new viewer, I find this clever and dryly humorous show to be incredibly captivating and enjoyable. The series takes place in the Fallout world and is crafted with great attention to detail. It begins in the United States during the 1950s, a time of intense fear and suspicion regarding communism and the Soviet Union. Cooper Howard, a former TV personality played by Walton Goggins, is struggling to find work due to accusations of being a communist sympathizer. Suddenly, a mushroom cloud looms on the horizon and the world as they know it comes to an end. The resulting apocalypse is portrayed with great intensity and realism.
People with enough money quickly go to their strongholds that they constructed earlier, but we see Vault 33 200 years later and they seem to be thriving. The kindness and positive qualities from the 1950s, such as being polite, considerate, cooperative, humble, and restrained, have remained intact, though with some modifications. They engage in daily practice with weapons and have cheerful methods of avoiding marrying a close relative.
The peaceful world beneath the ground was destroyed when the people living there were attacked by those who live above ground. Moldaver, a woman in charge of the raiders, led the attack. Hank MacLean, who was watching over the vault, was taken by the raiders, leaving his daughter Lucy all alone. Despite the Council's orders, Lucy leaves the Vault to try to save her father. She is a person who believes in following the Golden Rule - treating others the way she would want to be treated. However, she is not prepared for what she finds above ground. She stands out because she looks clean and healthy, unlike the people who live in the town of Filly, who are poor and struggle to get by. One of the people in the town observes and comments on how lucky Lucy is to have all her fingers and good hygiene.
Potential dangers on the surface are extensive and comprise huge insects, terrifying sea monsters (I have nightmares about the Gulper's insides), sickness from radiation, desperate people, extreme followers, pet murderers, and cannibalistic criminals. The Brotherhood of Steel has a hold on the Wasteland, yet it seems like they are not going to come out victorious. The group is made up of powerful armored Lords, aspiring Squires, and Aspirants who are working towards becoming Squires. We get to witness the journey of Aspirant Maximus (Aaron Moten), from a bullied character to a rebellious Lord. His ultimate objective is to obtain the chopped-off head, which Lucy is also hunting, fitted with a chip that Moldaver is after (a chip that Lucy intends to barter with Daddy MacLean).
The most significant danger is the Ghouls, especially a disfigured version of Cooper Howard who is searching for the head and the reward that comes with it, and he's really a threat. He meets Lucy first, and they have quite an adventure! After a fishing trip, she is so disoriented that she could easily blend in with the Filly community if she were to return.
The creators Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner have successfully merged traditional post-apocalyptic themes with a touch of 50s nostalgia, B-movie conventions, and excessive violence. They've also included numerous references and pleasures for gamers. The story unravels at a steady pace, interweaving humor and self-awareness without breaking the fourth wall. The characters are multi-layered, revealing unexpected sides of themselves and at times, redeeming themselves. Even with a robot that harvests organs voiced by Matt Berry, and emotional moments with a rotting colleague, the series maintains balance, creating a triumphant mix throughout all eight episodes.
I really enjoyed watching Fallout. The actors, like Goggins who played both Cooper and Moten who played a nuanced role, were great. Purnell's portrayal of Lucy's loss of innocence was also well done. The mystery surrounding Vault 32 and the Council added another layer to the story and increased the tension. Overall, I'm fully invested in Fallout.
Prime Video now has the popular series Fallout available for streaming.
