Fallout is about to premiere its second season on Prime Video on December 17, but one of the stars has already shot down the chances that a popular fan couple will become real. The first season of Prime's adaptation of the hit video games was a huge success, earning acclaim as well as umerous Emmy nominations. Season 2 seems set to continue the drama as Lucy (Ella Purnell) and the Ghoul (Walton Goggins) embark on a new trek across the ruined post-apocalyptic America.
In a joint interview with Goggins and Aaron Moten (who plays Maximus) for Geek Culture, Purnell was asked about the growing fandom demand for a romance between Lucy and the Ghoul. Purnell's response was brutal and wicked, as one would expect.
"Here's what I would say: you guys need therapy," she joked. "You can't fix him. You can't save him. Let it go. Let it go, hon.”
It’s little surprise Purnell doesn’t see much chance for a romance for the lead pair. Fallout is set centuries after a nuclear war devastated the world. Lucy is among those living in underground bunkers, called Vaults, while the Ghoul has been wandering the barren Earth for 200 years, mutated by the radiation.
At first at odds, the pair found uncomfortable common ground hunting down dual mysteries. The first season ended with the revelation that Lucy’s father, Hank (Kyle MacLachlan), was also centuries old and part of the evil corporation that caused the nuclear war in the first place. That set Lucy and the Ghoul up to become unlikely allies in season 2, as they hunt Hank to the city of New Vegas.
As much as some fans may hope for it, in my opinion it’s better if this romance doesn’t happen.
Why we don’t need Lucy and the Ghoul together
There are a few issues with Lucy and the Ghoul coming together. For one, the age gap is massive, as Lucy is in her 20s while the Ghoul is about 270. There’s “older guy with younger woman” dynamics, and then there's whatever that would be.
There’s also the tiny detail that the Ghoul is a ruthless murderer who often relishes in violence and making people suffer. Even without his radiation-induced facial deformities and scarring, the man’s capacity for love has been extinguished by his centuries of surviving this brutal world. He doesn’t care for anyone but himself and his revenge; he certainly wouldn't hold a candle for Lucy.
Purnell did clarify in the interview that Lucy and the Ghoul “have a really beautiful thing” and “they're both looking for the people that they love; let's leave it at that.”
It’s more likely the closest relationship the pair can have is an odd adoptive father-daughter dynamic. The Ghoul is harsh, yet struck by the more innocent Lucy, who, in turn, might see him as a protective figure. The discovery that her real father was a far greater monster than the Ghoul is likely affecting Lucy, so the Ghoul may become a replacement figure.
We have to wait to see this dynamic continue, but anyone hoping for this romance in Fallout season 2 is out of luck.
Fallout season 2 premieres December 17 on Prime Video. New episodes will air weekly until the show's finale on February 4, 2026.