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The post-apocalyptic TV series has made a triumphant return to its platform, and it's safe to say that audiences were pleasantly surprised by the excellence of its first season. By depicting the retro-futuristic, nuclear-ravaged United States through the lenses of three distinct characters, it managed to capture multiple facets of the player's adventure.

There was Lucy the vault dweller, striving to uphold her morals and finding that the ruined world made that very difficult; Brotherhood initiate Max, the Brotherhood of Steel rookie, who starts challenging his organization's dogma and creates a lot of havoc in robotic power armour; and Walton Goggins's character, a standout performance who has completely shed any sense of morality out in the irradiated badlands.

Setting the Stage for a New Chapter

The debut season's ending unveiled a major secret about those responsible for the global annihilation that condemned a group of people in subterranean shelters for hundreds of years. It also left numerous mysteries unresolved for the upcoming chapter – and, on this occasion, anticipations are much greater.

“We’ll take ‘pretty good’ – let’s get that on a poster,” quips Jonah Nolan.

“Heading into the first season, people were like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” comments a key figure from the games. “We are thrilled with the response to the show, so now people are bringing more eagerness and new expectations.”

The Mojave Beckons for Season Two

The upcoming season is set in New Vegas, the location of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is widely regarded for having the best writing and cast in the series, even if it was technically flawed at launch.

“It embodies a sun-baked feel, a Mojave vibe, that’s so key to that game,” notes the co-creator. “That parched, desolate Route 66 vibe of the game is so much fun to bring into the show.”

In the show's timeline, a considerable period has passed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the characters make their way there. Yet, the creators suggest that it does reference the player’s journey.

The Importance of Physical Sets

The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its physical authenticity – its makers ensured authentic items and locations were fabricated, mirroring the cobbled-together nature of the outposts in the games.

“As a sci-fi fan, so many series I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all standing in front of a green screen,” observes another of the showrunners. “The key objective of an adaptation, especially of a interactive medium, is to feel like it’s real.”

Actually, pretty much everything you see on-screen is physical, even the infamously terrifying irradiated monsters known as the apex predators. In the show, they are portrayed by puppets, and were reportedly pretty frightening up close.

Made by Fans, for Fans

The Fallout series succeeds because it is crafted by talented film-makers who are also dedicated players, with the help of the game developers behind the franchise. This common understanding for the lore is clear in the end result.

The new batch of episodes is launching on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a binge-able batch, offering a different experience from the previous season. This format will create a different audience reaction, something the creators themselves are eager to engage with.

“It has more depth, it’s more expansive, it’s funnier, it has a lot of surprises,” says the game director. “I’m looking forward to seeing what people think.”