FALLOUT: SEASON 2

Fallout returns for its sophomore season with more engaging, comically off-beat and grand post nuclear apocalypse storytelling that once again features excellent production design, world building and compelling lead performances from Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins, but a slower start to the season that fails to capitalize on the energy of the first season’s finale causes this second season to live in the shadow of its predecessor.

Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy are no strangers to engrossing science fiction television, having been responsible for hit shows like Westworld and Person of Interest, and it only makes sense that they were the ones to crack how to bring the beloved video game series Fallout alive on screen. After an incredible first season in 2024, Amazon Prime Video quickly renewed the series for a second season and unlike most streaming shows that feature lengthy breaks between seasons, Fallout returns just over a year after the conclusion of the first season, which is no small feat for a series of this size and complexity. Pulling in elements from the fourth game in the series, Fallout: New Vegas, the ambitious storytelling over two timelines continues to build in the second season that both creates another engaging season of television while laying the groundwork for the series’ larger future. Even with some pacing issues as the season begins, juggling too many narrative ideas and characters at once, as the connection between plotlines begin to become more evident, the story clicks and results in yet another exciting, deadly and shocking adventure through the wasteland only bolstered by the strong ensemble cast and excellent production design.

The first season of Fallout ended on earth shattering revelations for both Lucy and viewers, setting up new alliances and new enemies to lead into the series second season, with the introduction of the New Vegas setting. Throughout the first season, it seemed that the majority of the world building had been developed with the history of the Vaults, the nuclear apocalypse and the world that came after it, setting the chess board for the brewing conflict between Vault-Tec and those who would stand in their way over the coming seasons. However, the second season starts off without the energy that concluded the first season, instead, reverting back to a larger game of chess setting up multiple different storylines in both the past and present. Over this season’s first three episodes an ambitious narrative is put into place, clearly meant to continue into the series’ third season (which it was just renewed for), betting on the long game for the series’ success. Under the careful guidance of Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, the season slowly builds as Lucy and The Ghoul track Hank across the nuclear wasteland, Maximus navigates his new status within the Brotherhood, Norm after making the startling discovery of what lies within Vault 31, and the brewing societal tensions in both Vault 32 and 33 under their new leadership, continuing the narrative threads from the end of the show’s first season with intrigue but without the urgency setup by the first season’s finale. The storytelling is no doubt captivating, but with so much narrative development going on and some characters not being shown again for one or two episodes, it is almost overwhelming to keep track of everything going on with the slower pacing to the beginning of this season. Sadly, it is the most evident with the storyline in the past with Cooper uncovering Vault-Tec’s plans for the vaults and the nuclear apocalypse which feels non-existent for the majority of the first half of this season, despite it being the most narratively enriching storyline of the entire series.

Though, as the season progresses, the connective tissues between these storylines begin to form, and it all points to New Vegas. This setting becomes the focal point in both the past and the future, as it appears to hold the secrets to Vault-Tec’s next move in their grand plan that began with the nuclear apocalypse two centuries earlier. As the characters arrive in New Vegas, with the larger narrative setup out of the way, the balancing of the many storylines becomes smoother with each storyline and character getting the focus they deserve, and the forward momentum of this season’s story in full swing. Both answering questions that have been sitting with viewers since the first season, and raising more questions and revealing critical information, Nolan and Joy deploy the grand storytelling that they are so known for in spades in the back half of the season. Delivering a standout episode with this season’s fifth episode that has both the quirky offbeat humour of the Fallout series and the emotionally gripping, character driven storytelling in spades that made the first season one of the best new series of 2024, and despite taking its time to get going, it is evident that Fallout’s second season has not lost its touch for riveting and masterful television storytelling while teasing great things still to come from the season’s final two episodes.

While the second season's narrative does not begin firing on all cylinders right out of the gate like the show’s first season did, the technical aspects remain as stellar. The entirety of the production design is marvelous, fully creating both the post nuclear apocalypse wasteland of America with its impeccable set design and costumes, while the retro stylized 2077 is popping with that 1950s American fashion and decor, notably the New Vegas sets in both timelines which are nothing short of fantastic. Combined with more notable songs from the 1950s that capture that grand, optimistic hope for the future, which is in great juxtaposition to the grim reality of the post nuclear apocalypse world that the series largely plays out in, and yet another stellar musical score from Ramin Djawadi that captures the danger, wonder and grandeur of the world of Fallout, the narrative world building flourishes on screen and is supported by the great design of the show, helping to cement Fallout as one of Amazon Prime Video’s flagship shows.

Once again leading the season is the stellar duo of Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins. Purnell retains Lucy’s hopeful optimism and kindness despite the events her character undergoes in the first season, while also bringing a more hardened presence to Lucy as she is transformed by the dangers of the wasteland into the hero humanity deserves. Goggins brings complexity and humanity to The Ghoul as he is haunted by his past before the nuclear bomb detonations and his role in the events that led up to that as Cooper, once again creating one of the most fascinating characters of any television series currently airing. As a pairing, Purnell and Goggins have a great chemistry as their characters are in constant clashing with their views on the world, humanity and what generally needs to be done, creating lots of the series’ off-beat energy and light up the screen every second they share it together. Kyle MacLachlan keeps the aurora of mystery alive in Hank MacLean, bringing an uncompromising dedication to Vault-Tec’s plan, albeit one unknown to viewers, that makes for a worthy adversary with elements of humanity still breaking through as he watches out for his daughter. Making his Fallout debut is Justin Theroux as Robert House, the CEO of RobCo Industries and ruler of the New Vegas Strip, and his poise and eccentricity makes for an intriguing character, one who the audience is never quite sure is friend or foe as his role in Vault-Tec’s grand plan remains in question. The rest of the cast from the first season continues to deliver excellent work, and Kumail Nanjiani and Macaulay Culkin are both fun additions to the Fallout world in their guest starring roles.

Even if it is not as amazing as its debut season, there is no question that Fallout gives viewers great science fiction storytelling that is intelligent, highly entertaining and worthy of their time.  With immense world building and production value that creates the most deadly and exciting world of any television series this year, Fallout’s second season remains the prime example of blockbuster television production, even if the storytelling takes a while to find its footing and begin forwarding its ambitious narrative plan for the future of the series. Led by the brilliant pairing of Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins who infuse this deadly post nuclear apocalypse world with humour and humanity, even though the second season of Fallout does not match the exceptional standard set by the first season, never for a second does it fail to entertain with its sprawling epic mystery that is ever growing and promises great things to come in the rest of the season.