Rent Fallout: Series 1 (2024)

Flawed, but entertaining. It adds, not removes. - Fallout: Series 1 review by JD

It seems there were some worries early on about this.

Most game (or book - game) to TV we see ends up being rubbish. Either with its drive to please the vocal, none fan, modern audiences or writers just go off and do there own rubbish. Or both.

And so we thought the same would happen to Fallout. Yeh, no doubt some tick boxes are being worked in... but im pleased to say this is closer to the game than some un talented writers imagination.

That could be seen as a flaw in itself, perhaps to play it safe it literally mimics the game. To the extent those who havent played it may at times be left utterly bemused at whats going on or how daft it seems (even players might have 'thats silly, oh wait, thats in the game!' moments).

The use of 3 characters seems a smart move to - the young female vault dweller representing the naive, non game playing viewers. The Ghoul, the experienced player and the Knight, the player taking the path i think most see as the most attractive and fun (whatever, just give me the power armour.....)

Plus, there is a really interesting focus on the politics of the world and vault tec. Rather than the usual back firing political commentary on the year it was made (which ages badly as those who watched STP saw) it simply treads into deepstate thinking and how corporations and lobyists can lead us to destruction. leading to (or the Fallout being!) some interesting and weird vaults.

Its far from perfect, but watching this alongside the garbage that is Stranger things S5, its easily a 4 star series and worthy TV adaptation of a brilliant game series.