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The post-apocalyptic TV series has come back to its platform, and it's fair to say that fans were pleasantly surprised by the quality of its debut 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 adventure.

We followed Lucy the vault dweller, attempting to act with integrity and discovering that the ruined world made that exceptionally challenging; Brotherhood initiate Max, the militant faction initiate, who starts challenging his organization's authority and unleashes plenty of trouble in robotic power armour; and Walton Goggins's character, a fan-favorite figure who has completely shed any moral compass out in the irradiated wastes.

Setting the Stage for Season Two

The debut season's finale disclosed a major secret about those responsible for the nuclear war that condemned a population in bomb-proof bunkers for centuries. It also posed plenty of questions unanswered for the upcoming chapter – and, now, hopes are considerably elevated.

“We’ll take ‘pretty good’ – let’s get that on a poster,” quips one of the series creators.

“Heading into the first season, everyone’s like, ‘Just get it right’,” adds a key figure from the games. “We are ecstatic with the reception to the show, so now people are bringing more eagerness and different expectations.”

A New Vegas Vibe for Season Two

The upcoming season is located in the neon-lit city, the location of the beloved game Fallout: New Vegas, which is often praised for having the best writing and characters in the series, despite the fact that it was somewhat buggy at launch.

“It has a sun-baked feel, a Southwestern essence, that’s so key to that game,” explains the co-creator. “That dusty, blasted-out Route 66 vibe of the game is so much enjoyable to translate into the show.”

In the series narrative, a significant amount of time has passed since the events of the New Vegas game by the time the characters arrive there. Yet, the creators suggest that it acknowledges the player’s journey.

The Importance of Physical Sets

The Fallout TV series is praised for its tangible quality – its makers insisted on authentic items and sets were built, reflecting the improvised nature of the towns in the games.

“Being a genre enthusiast, so many shows I watch, I’m aware that they’re all filmed against a green screen,” observes co-creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet. “The whole point of an translation, especially of a video game, is to feel like it’s tangible.”

Actually, pretty much every element you see on-screen is practical, including the notoriously frightening radioactive creatures known as the apex predators. In the show, they are brought to life with practical effects, and were by all accounts quite terrifying up close.

Made by Fans, for Fans

The Fallout series works because it is made by accomplished storytellers who are also dedicated players, in collaboration with the game developers behind the franchise. This mutual respect for the lore is clear in the end result.

The new batch of episodes is being released on a episode-by-episode basis rather than as a full-season drop, marking a change from the first season. This approach will create a new audience reaction, a dynamic the team themselves are eager to witness.

“It has more depth, it’s more expansive, it’s more humorous, it has a lot of twists,” says Howard. “I can't wait to seeing what people think.”