Fallout

Fallout might just be the best show on TV out there.

The world-building, the sense of adventure, the performances are all top notch. I really love the '50s sound track (what show couldn't use a little Johnny Cash now and then?) and the quirky sense of humour that lightens the mood.

What really sets this show apart though are the characters. If you've been watching any sci-fi or fantasy fiction over the last decade or so, you can't help but notice the number of girlbosses out there - basically young women who are inexplicably good at everything, who never face any real challenges and frequently have their best moments at the expense of their blundering male compatriots.

Well, Lucy MacLean is no girlboss. She's intelligent, resourceful and brave - heroic, even - but she also starts off the show as hopelessly out of her depth, makes serious mistakes and has to learn from those around her like Maximus to survive.

Maximus himself has a great arc, starting off as a squire desperate to prove himself and becoming a battle-hardened warrior by the end of the first season.

All of which is to say that these are heroes you can genuinely root for, which isn't something you can say about many shows nowadays.

And what can you say about the Ghoul? Honestly, you could watch the show just for him.

Fallout is one of those shows that just shouldn't be as good as it is and yet it completely pulls you in from the very first episode. It takes the chaos of a post-apocalyptic world and mixes it with sometimes gross but perfectly timed humor, each character works even if you dislike them, and it ended up making me teary eyed a few times. What you end up with is a series that's not just entertaining, but addictive.

What makes Fallout so enjoyable is how confidently it leans into its own weirdness. The world is grim, gross and violent, yes, but it's also filled with absurd touches that make you laugh at moments when you least expect it. The contrast between the cheerful retro-futuristic aesthetic and the brutal reality of survival gives the show a unique personality that's unlike anything else on TV right now.

The characters are another huge reason this show works so well. Since there isn't truly a good side or bad side, it's people under different circumstances and conditions based about mostly bad over seers, but each individual is not fully aware or fully committed to their chosen "side"

On top of all that, the pacing keeps you hooked. The show balances the humor, chaos, violence and heart so well that you are never checking to see if the episode will hurry up and be done soon, you just want the next one!

The twists keep coming and coming and after watching the first season I am not totally clear of what is happening in each story arch and it doesn't seem like you're suppose to. Instead of feeling like "wait wtf is happening" you feel like "omg I cannot wait to see what's happening!"

At its core, Fallout is pure entertainment. It doesn't take itself too seriously, but it also doesn't shortchange you on depth. As somebody who never played the games I can't speak as to it's accuracy, however the think most people would agree that accurate to the came or not it's a thrilling, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt ride through the wasteland one that leaves you wanting more.

I am so pleased that they have been approved for a second and third season and will be waiting on the edge of my seat for December 17th to binge season 2.

Fallout is a large complex anthology video game series where every game is self contained story, different time period and in most cases location too, and like that forming the franchise of one larger world, history and lore, with the tone that although more or less varies, carries on and persists, specific and recognizable.

In another words, it's not easy to properly introduce Fallout to different media, what in this case was a successful introduction.

With this very good start, Fallout now has the potential to expand, and grow better and better.

Surprisingly good and well made show. It looks like well thought out and planned too.

Characters have depth, stories and back stories, acting is good, production value is high. Accuracy to the world of Fallout is immaculate. The world of Fallout is being introduced to TV quite well, and the story is slowly expanding. Occasionaly overly intricate, while the good side of that, is that following seasons will continue on story-rich.

Use of practical props and amount those made for the show is admirable.

Show as a whole with no major flaws, can be upgraded to even higher levels.

I'm a huge fan out the Fallout IP (up until they released the absolute mess known as Fallout 76). They rank up there as some of my favourite video games of all time.

When I heard Amazon were going to adapt a TV series I was horrified. I expected a hot diverse mess (I still get shivers down my spine thinking about what Netflix did to Resident Evil). So much so that I waited months after release to watch it, only because a few friends of mine assured me it wasn't a diverse mess. Thankfully, they were right. It was brilliant! True to it's source material and extremely clever storyline.

Acting was brilliant. I particularly enjoyed 'the journey' that Ella Purnell's character went through. This is a series of mystery and discovery. It posed enough question to keep me interested and solved them all in a fantastic final episode.

I did find it a bit slow to get going, after 3 episodes I was on the fence. But it is worth sticking with. You will be rewarded at the end. I really hope it gets another series.