The Clarion Reviews: Fallout

Anyone remember the video game adaptation curse? It was a bit of conventional wisdom that suggested, for one reason or another, that any attempt to bring our favorite virtual settings to a bigger screen was doomed for failure. Not long ago, disasters such as “Super Mario Bros.” (1993), “Hitman” or Uwe Boll’s many attempts at moviemaking were cited as prime examples. But with Amazon Prime’s “Fallout,” the latest in a longline of successful productions, the idea of a curse can finally be laid to rest. 

One thing the $1 billion grossing “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (2023), HBO’s “The Last of Us”, and “Fallout” have in common is that they are based on video game IPs. For fans of vault dwellers and the struggle to survive in the wasteland of what was once the USA, any adaptation would either be built on or measured against titans. Games like 1997’s “Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role-Playing Game,” “Fallout New Vegas” and “Fallout: 4” are acclaimed for having some of the best story-telling the gaming medium has to offer. 

First-time viewers of the series will notice just how distinct “Fallout”’s visual and auditory setting can be. That is no coincidence. Cleverly, the show builds on what came before, filling a ruined world with plenty of callbacks, easter-eggs, and music that fit the IP’s DNA. While not exactly the same, the Prime series does enough to pay homage to the past while striking out to do its own thing. While the former will keep fans smiling, the latter is where this show really stands out. 

The story unfolds from multiple perspectives. Lucy, a member of Vault 33, is chasing the bandits that kidnapped her father. Maximus, an Aspirant of the Brotherhood of Steel, is dying for a chance to prove himself. Meanwhile the Ghoul, a ruthless gunfighter with a past of his own, is freed and chasing the bounty of a lifetime. Each protagonist, as well as the show’s many important side characters, is well-acted, driven, and cleverly reveals different aspects of life in a dystopian nightmare. These threads come together to form a mosaic that is equal parts thrilling, humorous, and action-packed. 

“Fallout” proves that with the right team and budget, adaptations can be made that are both faithful to the source material even while striking out on their own. That’s not to say the show is flawless. It relies far too much on deus ex machina and other plot contrivances to get characters from place to place at times. A few of the effects, including the power armor, do occasionally disappoint. That said, the good far outweighs the bad. You don’t have to have ever played the games to appreciate the hit show. It’s just that good. 

Written by Ismael David Mujahid, Executive Editor 

(Featured Image from Amazon Prime)

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