Fallout Series Returns to New Vegas Without Picking Sides
Fallout’s second season heads to New Vegas, weaving in multiple possible endings from the game while staying true to the spirit of the franchise.
Prime Video’s adaptation of Fallout has quickly become a standout in the world of video game-inspired television. Rather than following a straightforward plot from the original games, the series borrows elements from across the franchise, blending them into a fresh narrative. The first season introduced viewers to Vault 33 and the wider post-apocalyptic landscape, but the next chapter takes the action to New Vegas, complete with familiar threats like Deathclaws and Radroaches, as well as notorious groups such as Caesar’s Legion and the enigmatic Robert House.
“We sort of approach it like we do a new game,”
explains Todd Howard, executive producer and creative director at Bethesda Game Studios.
“Like, hey, we're starting fresh, and okay, we're going back to Vegas. Number one, we've got to honour the journey that every player had there, and manoeuvring that is tricky.”
He credits showrunners Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet for their thoughtful approach, aiming to deliver something that fans themselves would want to see, while not shying away from bold creative choices.
New Faces, Old Haunts
The first series followed three central figures: Lucy, a Vault dweller determined to find her missing father; Maximus, a hopeful recruit for the Brotherhood of Steel; and the Ghoul, a hardened bounty hunter with a shadowy past as a pre-war film star. The second season continues the journey of Lucy and the Ghoul, an uneasy partnership as they pursue Hank, Lucy’s father, across the Mojave. This time, the story delves deeper into the past, offering glimpses of pre-war Las Vegas and the Ghoul’s former life as Cooper Howard.
Walton Goggins, who plays the Ghoul, reflects on his character’s arc:
“We get to spend more time with Cooper this season, and, and this is a man that has had the rug pulled out from underneath him. He realises just how little control he's had over anything in his life, and, and it broke my heart.”
Meanwhile, Hank’s own history is revealed to be less than savoury, much to Lucy’s disappointment. As he heads towards New Vegas in stolen Brotherhood armour, his motives remain unclear, and Lucy is left to piece together the reasons for his actions. Underground, her brother Norm faces his own set of challenges, while the Vault community’s troubles are far from over.
Bringing New Vegas to Life
For fans of the franchise, the recreation of New Vegas is a particular highlight. The production team has painstakingly rebuilt the city, down to its most recognisable landmarks, from the Atomic Wrangler Casino to the fortified Strip entrance. Eagle-eyed viewers will spot nods to the games, including posters for pre-war entertainers and other subtle references. Todd Howard singles out Mick and Ralph’s as a personal favourite, praising the attention to detail in the props and set design. Aaron Moten, who plays Maximus, is especially fond of the Brotherhood’s warehouse scenes and the inclusion of the infamous “alien in the fridge.”
Aliens, a quirky staple of the Fallout universe, make their presence felt, though whether any will appear in the flesh remains to be seen. The show’s commitment to authenticity is evident throughout, with each set piece crafted to evoke the spirit of the original game while offering something new for viewers.
Multiple Endings, No Single Truth
One of the most intriguing aspects of Fallout: New Vegas is its four possible conclusions, none of which have ever been officially declared canon. Some fans speculated that the series might choose one outcome as definitive, but the showrunners have opted for a different route. Geneva Robertson-Dworet clarifies:
“This season of Fallout takes place about 15 years after the events of Fallout: New Vegas. And we tried as much as possible to avoid saying, again, [that] any canonical ending is real. Instead, 15 years have gone by, and Vegas is not exactly as you remember it, because naturally, in the Wasteland, there's constantly shifts, right? There's warring factions trying to kill each other, take over each other's territory every day. So, things would not remain the same over 15 years. [There are] some things fans will recognise as very, very much the same. But other things have changed.”
The show’s popularity has also reignited interest in the games, with Fallout 76 in particular seeing a resurgence. Todd Howard notes that the inclusion of the Ghoul in the series has influenced the game’s latest updates, further blurring the lines between the two mediums. Fallout’s second season arrives on Prime Video on 17 December, promising more surprises for both long-time fans and newcomers alike.