Walton Goggins' Fallout character has had largely the same storyline since the show began in 2024. Although his arc isn't expected to completely transform when season 3 arrives, co-showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet has confirmed a more-than-notable change for what's in store for the Ghoul in the near future. It makes perfect sense, but it's still something of a shock.
Speaking with Collider about the season 2 finale tease that the Ghoul is headed to Colorado, Robertson-Dworet explained that the Centennial State is precisely where the Ghoul is headed, but that none of the show's other main characters will be joining him. "Lucy and Max are not headed to Colorado," she said. Although season 3 will continue to focus intently on the developments in and around New Vegas, the Ghoul will be splintering off in his own direction, extending his centuries-long search to find his family.
The Ghoul's journey to Colorado sounds like its own Fallout spinoff
In a way, the Fallout show is already a spinoff, as it focuses on a new set of characters, but takes place within the same continuity as the Bethesda video games. Colorado has been referenced and even visited in the games, but it's not an especially prominent location. So, the Ghoul's arc in season 3 will functionally be another spinoff, but without ever breaking off from the show proper.
In the same Collider interview, Robertson-Dworet also said, "It's very difficult to achieve your goal in the Wasteland. So, even if you're headed to Colorado, where are you going to have to go to first? And [the Ghoul] doesn't know where in Colorado he's going, so you've got to figure that out as well. So, he has some things to do on the journey."
Although there isn't a huge distance between Nevada and Colorado, the Fallout universe makes even the shortest trips hazardous. There could easily be a full season of TV chronicling the Ghoul's journey between the two states. It doesn't sound like this will be the plan, as Fallout season 3 still has other storylines to acknowledge that apparently no longer concern the Ghoul.
Still, the expected return of Ron Perlman as his super mutant character in Fallout season 3 should also dominate a sizable part of the next chapter of the Ghoul's story. Whether that's paid off in Colorado or on the way there remains to be seen, but I think it's more likely that Perlman and Goggins' respective characters will get a decent amount of screen time as the show moves forward. Inevitably, even more intriguing Fallout characters will enter the fray.
Fallout season 3 has no confirmed premiere date. Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Prime Video now.