Adapted from a long-running series of video games of the same name, the post-nuclear dramatic comedy “Fallout” follows a ragtag group of survivors as they navigate an America reshaped by nuclear war. Last December, nearly two years after its acclaimed debut, the show returned to Prime Video for a second season. I have seen far less discussion about this season compared to the last, which is a real shame. Although the season has its issues, the show remains a fun romp fortified by endearing characters and silly yet biting satire.
The story of “Fallout” revolves around its three main protagonists: Lucy, Maximus, and The Ghoul. Lucy (Ella Purnell) is a do-gooder in a bad world. Raised in a bunker known as a “vault,” she’s on a quest to find her father, Hank (we’ll get to that later). In season one, she had a brief fling with Maximus (Aaron Moten), a soldier who, following the events of season one, is thrust into a complex political conflict. Lucy and Maxmius act as foils to The Ghoul (Walton Goggins), a mutant renegade trying to find his family after they got separated when the bombs dropped.
While season one was set in California, season two of “Fallout” takes viewers to Nevada, the setting of the fan-favorite 2010 game “Fallout: New Vegas.” In this world, Las Vegas is the epicenter of a grand struggle between eclectic factions fighting for power and natural resources.
In season two, The Ghoul takes center stage. Goggins delivers an exceptional performance, imbuing a cynical and jaded character with depth and feeling. His talent is especially evident during the many flashback scenes, where we learn about The Ghoul’s pre-war life as military veteran and Hollywood star Cooper Howard. In these moments, Goggins displays an impressive emotional range, balancing the character’s anger at an unjust world with his love for his family.
“Fallout” also features a large ensemble cast, occasionally to its own detriment. The first season balanced its many plotlines by grouping characters into clusters. This meant that, instead of following every character, viewers only had to keep track of three or four distinct plotlines. In season two, however, the ensemble cast is split into much smaller groups, and, as a result, the show ends up juggling far too much. A typical episode of “Fallout” season two bounces between four to five different locations and characters, seemingly at random. The lackluster organization of plotlines in this season creates serious pacing issues, and often causes the show to feel directionless.
One of Vegas’ biggest players is Robert House (Justin Theroux), a mysterious tech billionaire. While House’s evil machinations are key to the story, the real villain of this season is Hank, Lucy’s father, played by Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan. MacLachlan gets a lot of screen time in this season, and all of it is well-deserved. His nuanced performance properly reflects the morally-grey and enigmatic nature of his character, whose paternal instincts often clash with his immoral scheming.
As in season one, the production design in “Fallout” season two is amazing. The costumes are creatively designed, and the sets are intricately constructed and decorated. This is especially clear during the flashback scenes, which present Las Vegas reimagined through a retrofuturist lens, blending warm 1950s-esque colors with the cold steel of technology.
All in all, the second season of “Fallout” is a satisfying and fun continuation of the first season. Although the show occasionally struggles to balance its numerous plotlines, these new episodes expand on the main characters’ stories in exciting and interesting ways. Fans of the first season should make sure not to miss this new installment in the “Fallout” series. And if you’ve never watched “Fallout,” you might as well give it a shot before the world ends.
