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The post-apocalyptic TV series has come back to its platform, and it's fair to say that viewers were delightfully shocked by the excellence of its initial run. By portraying the retro-futuristic, nuclear-ravaged United States through the lenses of three different characters, it managed to capture multiple facets of the gamer's adventure.

We followed vault-dweller Lucy, trying to uphold her morals and finding that the wasteland made that very difficult; Brotherhood initiate Max, the militant faction new recruit, who starts doubting his faction's dogma and causes plenty of trouble in powered exoskeleton; and Walton Goggins's character, a breakout character who has long since lost any moral compass out in the contaminated wilderness.

Setting the Stage for the Second Season

The debut season's conclusion unveiled crucial details about the culprits behind the global annihilation that sealed a population in underground vaults for centuries. It also raised numerous mysteries unresolved for the second season – and, this time, hopes are significantly higher.

“We'd gladly accept ‘not terrible’ – let’s get that on a poster,” quips Jonah Nolan.

“Going into the first season, people were like, ‘Just get it right’,” adds the game director. “We’re over the moon with the response to the show, so now people are bringing more enthusiasm and altered expectations.”

The Mojave Beckons for Season Two

The second season is taking place in the neon-lit city, the setting of the 2010’s game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the most compelling narratives and cast in the franchise, even if it was a bit broken at launch.

“It’s more of a desert vibe, a Mojave vibe, that’s so integral to that game,” says Nolan. “That parched, blasted-out iconic highway feeling of the game is so much rewarding to translate into the show.”

In the series narrative, a considerable period has passed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists arrive there. However, the creators indicate that it will honor the player’s journey.

Crafting a Tangible World

The Fallout TV series is praised for its tangible quality – its production team insisted on real props and sets were fabricated, mirroring the makeshift nature of the towns in the games.

“Being a genre enthusiast, so many shows I watch, I’m aware that they’re all standing in front of a blue screen,” comments co-creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet. “The key objective of an adaptation, particularly of a interactive medium, is to seem like it’s tangible.”

Actually, pretty much each creature you see on-screen is physical, even the infamously terrifying radioactive creatures known as the apex predators. In the show, they are created using animatronics, and were apparently quite terrifying up close.

Made by Fans, for Fans

The Fallout series succeeds because it is made by skilled directors who are also dedicated players, alongside the game developers behind the video games. This shared passion for the universe is clear in the end result.

The second season is being released on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a all-at-once release, offering a different experience from the first season. This format will allow for a altered viewing experience, something the team themselves are eager to observe.

“It's richer, it’s more expansive, it’s more humorous, it has a lot of twists,” teases Howard. “I’m looking forward to seeing what people think.”