‘Fallout’ success will lead to more faithful adaptations of popular video games

Ella Purnell as Lucy MacLean in “Fallout” | Image: Prime Video (contributed photo)

Indeed, faithfulness to the source is a common desire when adapting a video game into a movie or series. And with Fallout‘s success, that is where it is leading. And, yes, of course, the streaming series can create its own unique set of characters, but everything else—the history, the elements, the memorable video game characters, the locations, and everything else—must remain mostly the same for the video game because gamers and video game players know their stuff and they cannot be insulted or mocked for it.

I have gotten to see several episodes of the first season of Fallout on Amazon Prime, and I would honestly give it a 9/10, or possibly a perfect score for each episode I have gotten to watch. Although I have never played a Fallout game, I have seen it displayed for sale in stores, and I knew it was one of the most popular video games, regardless of the format. The first time I got to see a Fallout game was as early as the PS2 decades ago, and still, I never got the urge to buy it because I was into other genres. Although many people are now becoming interested in Fallout games, I find that simply watching the series is sufficient for me, and I was never the type to jump into a craze, fad, or trend. I am not disingenuous. I’ve always been in it for the long haul and stayed true to who I am!

I am happy that people from the Philippines, where I live, my home country, are getting to watch such an expertly-made streaming series as Fallout. We should not deprive them of this exposure. For me, the world of entertainment is such a big, wonderful, and awe-inspiring place to be a part of. There’s nothing wrong with them supporting this and wanting to see more of it. And, so what if it is foreign? Do we live in a hermit country? Have we not learned that the more you try to keep something a secret or hide it from people, the more they will want to watch it? Ultimately, the debut of Fallout on the Philippine branch of Amazon Prime represents a triumph for them and all those who merely seek knowledge and entertainment, with Fallout standing out as a must-watch for all individuals because it gives them exactly the things they want.

I am genuinely intrigued by and fascinated by the world of Fallout. Indeed, the post-nuclear landscape of Fallout is home to all the descendants, offshoots, and mutations of the original survivors, who lived over 200 years ago after the first nuclear bombs dropped. This is evident in the thrilling introduction of the first episode, which provides a comprehensive explanation in just a few minutes because of the intro. I find this to be fantastic storytelling, as it demonstrates how the showrunners skillfully structured the pilot episode to captivate both familiar and unfamiliar viewers from the outset. Relatively, in a short period, this streaming series has captivated both fans and non-fans of video games because of its superiority. I’m impressed by everything I’ve seen so far in Fallout.

Anyone with the necessary influence, power, and resources can secure a streaming video game adaptation, a movie, or both from another popular, long-running video game with millions of fans. Follow this excellent Fallout example, and you might experience the same level of fanfare. Stay true to the lore of video games, explore their potential to provide the most entertaining streaming series possible, and you will be able to create a monster hit.

How does Fallout connect with everyone who’s seen it?

It exists in its universe. You can say that it is “in-game,” what you see in the episodes could have already happened in the Fallout games. There are many tokens, memory berries, and “Easter eggs” throughout the episodes. When you spot those things, you immediately remember the times when playing the Fallout games from years ago to now.

The strategic, precise, and well-thought-out plotting of each Fallout episode, from point A to point B, from each scene to the next, encourages viewers to watch what will unravel. The storytelling is masterful, and it’s undeniable that the writers and directors of Fallout are first and foremost gamers, a crucially evident fact.

How does Fallout get its non-familiar viewers engaged?

It’s simple. Normal, relatable, and empathetic onscreen characters, despite how extreme the circumstances they are in. They are the type of people you want to win, succeed, and prevail with. And, yes, all three words mean the same thing, but the degree to which the characters here will go to achieve their life goals and mission is nothing but inspiring. In “Lucy MacLean” portrayed by Ella Purnell, the main protagonist, expelled from her underground community and embarking on a quest for her missing father, encounters peculiar and insane individuals and confronts perilous challenges. “Lucy MacLean” is becoming a trooper, a fighter, and a soldier in her own right. She is just one of the main characters in Fallout on Amazon Prime. How can anyone with a sensible brain not want to know what will happen next to her, especially since the world she is in now is as dangerous as it has ever been, filled with destruction, mutation, and dangers in every corner of the way?

I hope Fallout will continue this mastery in character development, storytelling, and episode structuring in the next season.

I am all in for Fallout.