Even seasoned directors are wary when it comes to using a specific narrative tool.

Both fans of the games and media critics agree the Fallout TV show is a great series that remains faithful to the source material. Jonah Nolan’s take on the world created by Bethesda has panned out beautifully, and some of their creative decisions went beyond what the game studio ever did. It was these moments that both excited and worried Nolan.

Sticking to what was known and going along with the linear story is one thing, but jumping back and forth while creating a cohesive storyline is more confusing to the director than the viewer. Thankfully, the endeavor was a success, and the fans got to enjoy Nolan’s efforts on screen.

The Fallout Show’s Worldbuilding Went Beyond the Games

The Fallout series explores life before the bombs fell.

Flashbacks can help flesh out a world, as they enable viewers to experience contrasting circumstances in quick succession. But they need to be handled effectively. Without clear vision, flashbacks can result in the viewers feeling more confused about what’s going on. Nolan understood this and was, hence, justifiably a bit worried about how the flashback in Fallout would perform.

When Nolan spoke with Todd Howard, both agreed that a show couldn’t simply retell one of the games’ stories. To be a true addition to the Fallout franchise, the show would need to be a story of its own. As such, the series is the furthest along in the franchise timeline, occurring after the events of all the games we have so far.

When sitting on top of so much rich lore, it is essential to show the past along with the present. Nolan achieved this by including flashbacks in the series. The show opens with what is effectively a seven-minute flashback to the moment the bombs dropped. This wasn’t smooth sailing for the director, who told IGN that it was an aspect that worried him.

I think the part that was the most exciting but also nervous-making were all of the flashbacks. And it was something that, as we were talking about it, Geneva and Graham were getting more and more excited about telling that story about what happened before the war.

At its core, the Fallout franchise isn’t just about how war never changes but also how the survivors must deal with the after-effects.

Nolan’s Recreation of the World Before Armageddon Makes the Story More Impactful

The wasteland is cruel, but also filled with opportunity.
The series, while it does have more humor than the games, showcases life after a nuclear strike with brutal clarity. The flashbacks merely fill in any information gaps the viewer may have.

They also help to tie the characters together with a thread of fate. Without going into too many spoilers, the finale shows how our three protagonists are all linked by causal events.

They also result in more impactful story-telling, snapping the viewer through time for lore reveals. The show has done a great job of creating a live adaptation of the wasteland.

It’s got enough references to satisfy even ardent fans. We also get a different look at the wasteland through the eyes of three main characters, whom we will see again in Season 2.

What are your thoughts on the Fallout series? Let us know in the comments below!