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The post-apocalyptic TV series is back to streaming services, and it's safe to say that viewers were pleasantly surprised by the caliber of its first season. By depicting the atomic-age, post-apocalyptic United States through the eyes of three separate characters, it effectively portrayed different facets of the gamer's journey.

We followed vault-dweller Lucy, attempting to do the right thing and discovering that the ruined world made that incredibly hard; Max, the militant faction new recruit, who starts challenging his cult's leadership and causes plenty of trouble in powered exoskeleton; and the Ghoul, a standout performance who has completely shed any moral compass out in the irradiated wilderness.

Setting the Stage for Season Two

The show's first season ending unveiled a major secret about the culprits behind the atomic conflict that sealed a population in subterranean shelters for an extended period. It also raised numerous mysteries open for the upcoming chapter – and, this time, hopes are considerably elevated.

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

“Starting the initial season, people were like, ‘Just don't mess it up’,” states a key figure from the games. “We’re over the moon with the response to the show, so now people are arriving with more excitement and new expectations.”

A New Vegas Vibe for the Next Installment

The new season is set in the neon-lit city, the location of the 2010’s game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the sharpest dialogue and cast in the franchise, despite the fact that it was somewhat buggy at launch.

“It embodies a desert vibe, a Mojave vibe, that’s so integral to that game,” explains Nolan. “That parched, blasted-out Route 66 aesthetic of the game is so much enjoyable to incorporate into the show.”

In the show's timeline, a considerable period has elapsed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the characters make their way there. Yet, the creators hint that it does reference the gamer's experience.

Crafting a Tangible World

The Fallout TV series is distinguished by its tangible quality – its production team ensured authentic items and sets were built, reflecting the improvised nature of the towns in the games.

“As a sci-fi fan, so many productions I watch, I’m conscious that they’re all filmed against a digital backdrop,” says another of the showrunners. “The whole point of an translation, particularly of a video game, is to feel like it’s tangible.”

In fact, pretty much everything you see on-screen is real, including the notoriously frightening mutated beasts known as the apex predators. In the show, they are portrayed by animatronics, and were apparently rather intimidating up close.

Made by Fans, for Fans

The Fallout series works because it is made by skilled directors who are also longtime fans, with the help of the original creators behind the video games. This mutual respect for the world is evident in the end result.

The new batch of episodes is debuting on a weekly basis rather than as a all-at-once release, representing a shift from the initial release. This format will allow for a different weekly discussion, something the team themselves are eager to witness.

“It's richer, it’s larger in scale, it’s funnier, it has a lot of revelations,” teases the game director. “I can't wait to seeing what people think.”