*Warning: Contains spoilers for Fallout Season 1 Episode 3*
Prime Video’s live-action adaptation of the beloved gaming franchise Fallout is now streaming, and the third episode holds a particularly intriguing aspect worth discussing. In this particular episode titled, The Head, the narrative dives deep into the transformation of Walton Goggins’ character as a ghoul.
As the episode progresses, it skillfully explores the importance of side quests, a fundamental element of the Fallout gaming experience. Goggins’ character even addresses this with a clever one-liner, adding to the meta-humor of the series.
Walton Goggins’ Ghoul’s Hilarious Take on Fallout‘s Key Element!
In the third episode, Walton Goggins‘ ghoul takes center stage, showcasing a survival-first attitude over outright cruelty. His hilarious reaction to ruined supplies highlights this practicality. While Goggins’ charisma is undeniable, the character’s depth is questioned, especially as he veers toward cartoonish villainy. Flashbacks added more intrigue, leaving fans waiting for more development to see where Cooper Howard’s journey leads.
As the episode progresses, audiences see Goggins’ bounty hunter venture into the wasteland with Lucy. He subtly throws some shade at the video game franchise, which fans find completely delightful. Following Lucy’s earlier reminder about the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” the Ghoul quips, that in the wasteland there is only one rule- “Thou shalt get sidetracked by bull***t every goddamn time.”
For gamers, the essence of Fallout lies in its side quests. For example, just as they embark on a journey to rescue the wasteland in Fallout 4, the game cleverly transforms them into master architects instead of the heroes they are meant to be. And players find themselves torn between constructing the ultimate base rather than saving the day. And the fans absolutely adored the series subtly nodding to this special aspect of the game.
How the Show Creators Brought Side Quests to the Screen
Creating a show based on a video game, while also keeping in mind to integrate all its key elements, proved to be quite the feat, especially considering one of its specialties was its side quests.
This challenge was openly acknowledged by executive producer and writer Graham Wagner in a conversation with Inverse, he said,
“You could try to do [the show] in a movie, but you wouldn’t be able to have time for all the delicious side quests that the whole game is built around […] We have an eight-episode season of TV, so there was never a question of, like, ‘Oh, do we have enough to fill?’ It was the other way.”
While the series presents an original narrative, it coexists alongside the game franchise and its guidelines, aiming to offer audiences a distinct immersion into the game and its lore. The Fallout universe is rich with layers to unpack and explore, and the series aims to do just that. With a current rating of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, reviews indicate that audiences are indeed appreciating the story being told.
Fallout is streaming on Prime Video.
