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The Fallout TV show has made a triumphant return to streaming services, and it's safe to say that audiences were pleasantly surprised by the quality of its first season. By depicting the retro-futuristic, post-apocalyptic United States through the eyes of three separate characters, it managed to capture multiple facets of the gamer's journey.

We followed Lucy the vault dweller, attempting to uphold her morals and discovering that the wasteland made that very difficult; Max, the Brotherhood of Steel new recruit, who starts challenging his faction's dogma and causes a lot of havoc in robotic power armour; and the Ghoul, a breakout character who has entirely abandoned any ethical bearings out in the radioactive wastes.

Building Anticipation for the Second Season

The show's first season ending revealed key information about the culprits behind the global annihilation that condemned a society in subterranean shelters for an extended period. It also raised numerous mysteries unanswered for the second season – and, this time, hopes are significantly higher.

“We'd gladly accept ‘pretty good’ – we should print that on merchandise,” quips Jonah Nolan.

“Starting the initial season, people were like, ‘Just get it right’,” adds the game director. “We are ecstatic with the feedback to the show, so this time people are coming in with more excitement and new expectations.”

The Mojave Beckons for Season Two

The upcoming season is taking place in the neon-lit city, the backdrop of the 2010’s game Fallout: New Vegas, which is widely regarded for having the best writing and cast 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 integral to that game,” says the co-creator. “That parched, blasted-out iconic highway feeling of the game is so much fun to incorporate into the show.”

In the show's timeline, a considerable period has passed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists arrive there. Yet, the creators suggest that it will honor the gamer's experience.

Crafting a Tangible World

The Fallout TV series is notable for its tangible quality – its makers insisted on physical models and locations were fabricated, mirroring the improvised nature of the settlements in the games.

“Being a genre enthusiast, so many productions I watch, I’m aware that they’re all standing in front of a green screen,” observes another of the showrunners. “The primary goal of an translation, especially of a interactive medium, is to appear as if it’s real.”

Indeed, almost each creature you see on-screen is practical, including the notoriously frightening radioactive creatures known as Deathclaws. In the show, they are created using animatronics, and were reportedly pretty frightening up close.

Made by Fans, for Fans

The Fallout series works because it is made by accomplished storytellers who are also longtime fans, in collaboration with the original creators behind the franchise. This common understanding for the lore is clear in the finished show.

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 previous season. This format will allow for a altered viewing experience, something the creators themselves are eager to engage with.

“It's richer, it’s bigger, it’s funnier, it has a lot of twists,” says Howard. “I am excited to seeing what people think.”