Amazon’s Fallout was able to deliver a story that satisfied fans and welcomed in new comers, without alienating either group. This is in stark contrast to a show like Halo, which was unable to do either.
But why? It seemed like all the cards were stacked against Fallout before its release. An adaptation of a beloved series of RPG’s that are built around player agency and choice.
Going into Fallout, I expected I wasn’t going to like it. The trailers didn’t completely sell me on the idea. But, by the end, I was just happy to see another great video game adaptation like The Last of Us last year.
Something borrowed, something blue
Image credit: Ign.com
An aspect that separates the Fallout show from many of its contemporaries, is that it remains within the cannon of the source material.
The world of Fallout is dense and slightly overwhelming, but the show is able to fit seamlessly into it. Drawing in aspects from the games, whilst delivering original characters and ideas.
Amazon easily could have made a direct adaptation of a game like Fallout 3 or Fallout: New Vegas. Instead, the decision was made to keep the story original.
The plot of the show acts as a “Best of” the Fallout franchise. Showing the life of a vault dweller, a Brotherhood of Steel member and a lone ghoul gunslinger. Each central character embodies a play style you could try in the games.
By including three different perspectives, it allows the show to both show off different parts of life in the wasteland, but also satisfy those who played a certain way in the games.
Splitting the story three ways, also allows the show to cover more distance and tell different stories. Each character is on relatively the same journey. Grab a scientist and deliver him to a different person, depending on the character.
This allows the characters to converge and cross each other on their independent journeys.
Unlike Fallout, the recent Halo show went for a different approach. Instead of adapting Halo: Combat Evolved or any of the other Halo games or books, the show tells an original story that very loosely could be considered Halo.
By breaking away from cannon and abandoning many key aspects of central characters like Master Chief, it left many fans completely alienated. Many of the people who worked on the show also didn’t actually like the source material.
Changing source material and trying something different, isn’t always a bad thing. But, completely disregarding it often leads to failure. Adaptations like Halo or Resident Evil proves this.
Something old, something new
Image credit: Win.gg
The Fallout show isn’t just for fans. It’s reached a far wider audience than just the core fan base.
Just like The Last of Us last year, many people who had never heard of Fallout before decided to give it a try. This could be because of its very colourful presentation and incredible cast.
Actors like Walton Goggins and Matt Berry are part of the show. This falls in line with other celebrities already being part of the franchise in prior games, like Ron Perlman doing the voice over intros for every Fallout game.
Significant star power and a well presented story was able to hooks audiences. Propelling terms like “Pip-boy” and “Vault dweller” into well known terms.
Mixing a new story, and familiar elements, allowed the show to expand on the world of Fallout without requiring the audience to understand said world.
The show takes its characters to familiar locations like Shady Sands and Vaults. But, because of when the show is set, many places are far more different than fans remember.
Refusing to adapt one of the games, and instead setting it within the same world but at a different point in the timeline, allowed for a seamless transition to television.
Comparing Fallout to other video game adaptations is difficult as Fallout is one of the first, to remain in the canon of its previously established world.
The only other show in recent memory to do so was Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
Fallout was also able to keep the tone of the franchise as a whole. Often silly but incredibly dark and morbid. Its a game franchise than often challenges your own Morales and asks its player base tough questions.
The show was able to continue this trend. Lucy, the “Vault Dweller” of the show is constantly put through difficult situations that force her to adapt and break away from what she has learned.
War never changes
Image credit: Bellmontfilmhouse.com
Fallout stands head and shoulders above other video game adaptations like Resident Evil and Halo, whilst keeping its fan base and allowing others to get invested in its world.
As a long-time fan of Fallout, I absolutely loved the show. It reignited my love for the franchise and kept me entertained the entire time,
It has also been amazing to see people who haven’t played the games, enjoy the show. I can’t recommend the games or the show enough.
Featured image credit: Eurogamer.com
Second year Film and journalism student
Horror fanatic
