In case you've been living under a rock — or in a vault — the Fallout video game series has vaulted from your console straight onto Prime Video, and it's a wild, radroach-infested ride.
Imagine a world where you can't step outside without bumping into a giant mutant or getting zapped by a laser gun, and that's on a good day. This is the quirky, retro-futuristic universe of Fallout, complete with 1940s Americana vibes, rusted robots, and the ever-looming threat of nuclear disaster. Prime Video's incredible adaptation of Bethesda's long-running video game series yeets you headfirst into this wacky wasteland, where the fashion sense is a mix of Mad Max and sock hop. So get ready to cuddle up with your trusty Pip-Boy and face ghoul hoards, negotiate with eccentric vault dwellers, and decide the fate of the wasteland.
The Fallout series is famous for its intricate stories, moral conundrums, and dark sense of humor. Translating this behemoth of a game series into a live-action extravaganza is no small feat, but hey, if anyone can bring the Brotherhood of Steel to your living room without accidentally demolishing your house, it's the folks over at Prime Video. They've blended the game's iconic mix of dystopian dread with its tongue-in-cheek take on the end of the world, all while ensuring the Deathclaws look as terrifyingly awesome as we've always imagined. Let's recap and review all eight episodes of this fantastic first season!
SPOILER WARNING: READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Fallout Episode 1: "The End"
The final curtain is about to fall on the world with a nuclear bang, and Cooper Howard, a dazzling movie star, finds himself playing a superhero not onscreen, but at a kiddo's birthday bash in what looks like 1950s Los Angeles...except it's the future. Just as he's about to take his bow, armageddon strikes.
Fast forward a few hundred years, and we meet Lucy, a vault-dwelling damsel who's about to tie the knot with a gent from next door. Only her "happily ever after" turns into a nightmare when she discovers her prince charming is actually a raider in disguise, wreaking havoc on her home. As chaos erupts, Lucy's dad gets snatched by the wicked Lady Villain. With her world turned upside down, Lucy decides it's hero time and dashes off to rescue dear old dad. Meanwhile, Maximus, a guy with big dreams in the Brotherhood of Steel, stumbles into a promotion after his buddy gets mysteriously injured. His quest? Find a fugitive with a priceless artifact. And just when you think it couldn't get any crazier, our hero from the opening scene, Cooper, now a Ghoul with a missing nose, emerges from the grave. After a quick meet-and-greet with some unlucky bounty hunters, Cooper sets off on a new adventure, proving this show's just getting started with its wild ride through time, love, and betrayal.
With dark comedy, action, and a dash of horror, "The End" promises a wild ride through the wasteland; it's honestly one of the best, most engaging pilot episodes I've ever watched.
Episode Grade: A+
Fallout Episode 2: "The Target"
Lucy, our plucky Vault dweller with a knack for getting into trouble, stumbles across Dr. Wilzig and his eerily smart pooch. That leads her to a town called Filly. Just when you think things can't get crazier, The Ghoul, a bounty hunter who's seen better days, decides it's high noon for a showdown with Wilzig. But hold onto your Nuka-Cola, because Maximus, a Brotherhood of Steel knight with more armor than sense, crashes in and turns the whole scene into a Wild West shootout with lasers. And in the ultimate "what the heck" moment, Wilzig hands Lucy a chainsaw-like gadget, tasking her with a gruesome delivery to change the future. If this isn't a recipe for an apocalyptic adventure, I don't know what is.
Episode Grade: A
Fallout Episode 3: "The Head"
Lucy faces the classic post-apocalyptic dilemma of "Oops, my important item got swallowed by a mutant sea beast." Enter The Ghoul, who ends up taking Lucy on a not-so-merry stroll through the radioactive dust bowl after failing to retrieve said important item. (A head, because why not?)
Meanwhile, back at the ranch (or vault, in this case), Norm and Chet face the music for their good deed gone bad, getting demoted faster than you can say "mutant sea creature." The council tries playing nice with raider prisoners, while Lucy's brother is all for giving them a one-way ticket to punishment town. And just when you think it couldn't get more "high school reunion in hell," Maximus' new squire turns out to be his childhood bully, Thaddeus. But, in a twist of fate and stomach contents, they end up accidental heroes, making the creature cough up more than just its last meal. Ah, the post-apocalypse, where every day is an adventure, and every meal could be your last...or your lost item's ticket home.
Episode Grade: A-
Fallout Episode 4: "The Ghouls"
Lucy's day goes from bad to apocalyptic faster than a raccoon raiding a trash can. After losing a finger in an escape attempt, she's unceremoniously sold by The Ghoul in a market that seems straight out of a dystopian Craigslist. She encounters a bizarre welcoming committee: a robot with more wires than empathy and two organ-hungry dudes that give new meaning to "body shopping." As Lucy navigates the grimy corridors of her new "home," she discovers fellow prisoners sharing The Ghoul's unique, monstrous mutation and realizes she's in the heart of darkness. A daring escape turns into a bloody brawl, revealing The Ghoul's dependency on mysterious vials to keep his humanity. In an epic "oops" moment, Lucy unleashes a zombie mosh pit that takes care of the organ harvesters, leaving her to ponder the ethics of monster care as she leaves vials for The Ghoul, who's now happily raiding the pharmacy and kicking back with old movies. Meanwhile, at the Vault, Lucy's brother and cousin uncover a macabre family connection and a vault full of secrets and dead ends, hinting at a conspiracy that's closer to home than they thought.
Episode Grade: A
Fallout Episode 5: "The Past"
This episode throws us headfirst into the wild adventures of Maximus and his unintentional band of heroes. After a casual chat goes awry, Maximus, our armored protagonist, finds himself double-crossed by the squire Thaddeus, who nabs the head and traps Maximus in his armor, leaving him at the mercy of giant, armor-munching cockroaches. Enter Lucy, a daring rescuer with a personal quest who saves Maximus and strikes a deal: she'll help him chase down the traitorous squire if he aids in rescuing her dad. But their journey quickly spirals into more trouble as they're attacked by drifters and tricked into a mysterious Vault. Meanwhile, Norm uncovers eerie family secrets tied to the Vaults, revealing a tangled web of intrigue and dark plans involving population moves and wiped-clean crime scenes. This episode sets the stage for daring rescues, unlikely alliances, and deep, dark secrets.
Episode Grade: A-
Episode Episode 6: "The Trap"
Lucy and Maximus find themselves in Vault 4, a place that seems like a haven in the desolate Wastelands, complete with friendly faces, unlimited snacks, and the luxury of hot showers, which quickly charms the skeptical Maximus. But Lucy isn't buying the too-good-to-be-true vibe, especially not with the one-eyed Overseer and the community's odd obsession with a giant poster of a dude named Moldaver. Things get even weirder with flashbacks revealing Cooper's (seemingly unrelated) past ties to VaultTec, hinting at some deep, dark secrets involving fallout shelters and not-so-equal construction standards. Meanwhile, a subplot thickens with The Ghoul, who, after a dramatic confrontation involving the Super Duper Organ Harvesting Mart, stumbles upon a sketchy drawing of Moldaver, connecting dots we didn't even know existed. Back in Vault 4, Lucy's detective work leads her to a lab filled with the kinds of experiments that would give anyone nightmares, only to be caught red-handed before she can spill the beans to Maximus.
Episode Grade: A
Fallout Episode 7: "The Radio"
In Vault 4, Lucy and Maximus find themselves in a pickle, leading to a dramatic exit (complete with returning a "borrowed" fusion core) and plans to shack up in Vault 33 post-dad-rescue. Despite Maximus's guilt-ridden confession, Lucy's determination doesn't waver a bit. Meanwhile, Thaddeus, limping along on his adventure, trades the stolen fusion core for what seems like a dubious "miracle cure" that not only heals his foot but also turns him into a ghoul; this is why you always want to read about the side effects before injecting yourself with anything.
Flash forward: Cooper's snooping on his wife with a gadget from Moldaver while a Ghoulified Thaddeus reunites with a deserted pup in a Nuka Cola fridge, which is both heartwarming and creepy. The plot thickens when Lucy and Maximus stumble upon Thaddeus, ghoulified and in denial, waiting for a ride from the Brotherhood. After a swift escape and a bittersweet kiss, the duo splits up, Maximus with a decoy head and Lucy with the real deal for Moldaver. Back in Vault 33, Norm turns cyber sleuth, hacking into Betty's computer to finagle an invite to Vault 31, proving that in the vaults, curiosity and daring leaps (of logic and otherwise) rule the day.
Episode Grade: A-
Fallout Episode 8: "The Beginning"
And this is where it all comes together. Cooper, with his jaw practically on the floor, discovers his beloved wife is part of a mad plot by VaultTec to nuke the world for a "fresh start." Cut to Vault 31, where Norm stumbles upon a brain in a jar that's been playing puppet master with the vaults. Meanwhile, Lucy's world gets turned upside down when she learns her mom ditched the vault life for Shady Sands, only for her dear ol' dad, Hank, to go full scorched earth on the place. As if that's not enough, Maximus and his brotherhood buddies decide to crash Moldaver's village party, leaving chaos in their wake. But the cherry on top? Hank, in stolen knight armor, tries to pull a fast one but gets outsmarted by The Ghoul, who's got a tracker on him. And Lucy? She's tagging along with The Ghoul, ready for some vault-style justice. It's like a soap opera with power armor.
Episode Grade: A+
Fallout is the second video game series to be adapted into a live-action show this successfully, with The Last of Us having set a new standard over on HBO. It nods to those of us who have played the Fallout games for years, and it embraces the post-apocalyptic chaos the games embody so well.
Overall, I give the series all the thumbs up and I honestly cannot wait for what's in store for us viewers in season 2, which is already in the works.
Detailed Fallout recaps:
- Fallout Episode 1: "The End"
- Fallout Episode 2: "The Target"
- Fallout Episode 3: "The Head"
- Fallout Episode 4: "The Ghouls"
- Fallout Episode 5: "The Past"
- Fallout Episode 6: "The Trap"
- Fallout Episode 7: "The Radio"
- Fallout Episode 8: "The Beginning"
To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and Twitter account, sign up for our exclusive newsletter and check out our YouTube channel.