In 2077, the world ended… Well, not entirely.

In 1997, Interplay Entertainment and Black Isle Studios released Fallout, an RPG set in a post-apocalyptic California in 2161. The game sold around 600,000 copies worldwide and was, at the time, considered a commercial success. Despite Interplay’s accomplishments, they weren’t doing so well financially and sold the Fallout IP to Bethesda Softworks. 

Fallout (2024) is the newest addition to the franchise canon, starring Ella Purnell, Walton Goggins, and Aaron Moten. Fallout is an absurdist sci-fi series, set in a post-apocalyptic America. While Fallout’s environment strongly replicates that of the cultural ideal in the 1950s, the themes of the show still resonate with the 21st-century audience. 

We begin the show following our three main characters as they each embark on a journey that is certain to change the way they view the world. Lucy (Purnell), having grown up in an underground vault, ventures to the surface for the first time in search of her father. Maximus (Moten), is promoted to the rank of Squire within his division of The Brotherhood of Steel, and is sent on a quest for an old-world relic. The Ghoul (Goggins), a man who has been kept alive for over 219 years due to intense radiation damage, is a bounty hunter in search of the same relic. Each actor does an incredible job in their role and balances the show’s humor and darker material with care.

Showrunner Jonathan Nolan matches the atmosphere of the games with utmost perfection, his love for the franchise is apparent. I hope this show proves to everyone that good video game adaptations are possible if done thoughtfully.