Fallout: Amazon sets the standard for the video game TV series

first episode impressions

For fans and newcomers alike, the first episode of the Fallout series by Amazon Studios, with Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, the creators of the HBO series Westworld at the helm, was one of the most breathtaking video game tie-ins that I’ve ever seen, by a long shot.

The phrase “video game tie-in” is usually a one-punch kill for most projects. Making anything try to match the energy of any other thing is already tough enough, but making a linear story out of a go-anywhere do-anything game like Fallout is immensely challenging. How do you account for everything the player might want to do? How do you cater to different play-styles, ensuring everyone who’s played the game has felt represented?

They do this masterfully by splitting the protagonist role between three people in very different life situations. Your vault-dweller who’s just leaving the vault is the “main” main character, portraying the player’s primary path through at least the beginning of the game. There are two other viewpoint characters: a scrappy recruit to the Brotherhood of Steel, this world’s occupying military force, as well as “The Ghoul,” who is a ghoul. These two other perspective characters give us the chance to really flesh out the incredibly rich & vibrant world of Fallout.

Fans of the games will find the overall aesthetic and sound design familiar yet invigoratingly fresh. The way the world’s story is told is brisk and bleak, with moments of genuine humanity allowed to shine, making the dark moments feel even darker.

Newcomers will appreciate this window into a unique & vibrant fictional landscape. The vibe is immaculate. The characters are relatable despite their extreme circumstances. It’s hard to explain what’s compelling about this world without giving much away.

If you have any interest in this at all I highly encourage you to check out the series for yourself. There are some really compelling & memorable moments just in the first episode, and given Westworld’s track record, it’s only going to get better from here.