Fallout, the best-selling role-playing video game, comes to life in Prime Video’s large-scale live-action adaptation. Helmed by Westworld creator Jonathan Nolan and writers Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner, the series explores a future United States ravaged by nuclear war from three very different perspectives. These individuals’ worlds collide as they all attempt to not lose their heads.
“The Head” starts in a flashback. Sometime before the nuclear incident, Cooper Howard is filming a scene in a new western. As the hero of the story, the script calls for him to murder a foreign villain. Instead of finishing the scene, he calls it “cut” and questions his character killing the outlaw. Cooper appears to be a pacifist, opting for a non-violent resolution. The director reassures him the script is fine as is. During the break, he meets with a lovely woman named Barb. They chat – flirt even – for coffee off-set. Soon, it’s revealed Barb is his wife as their daughter, Janie, joins them.
We return to the present day as the Ghoul finds Wilzig’s corpse where Lucy left it. He knows he isn’t too far from her trail. Meanwhile, Lucy examines the souvenir Wilzig gifted her – his head. Noticing the blue light glowing behind his ear, Lucy decides to place a tracker in its nose for extra security. The next day, Lucy comes to a water bank. As she’s preparing a meal to share with a random doe, something in the water drags the animal beneath the deep. Suddenly, the creature returns for Lucy. As she escapes unharmed, she loses Wilzig’s head. Just then the Ghoul arrives. Seeing she is without the head, he pistol-whips her unconscious.
We leave the outskirts of the Wasteland to reunite with Maximus in Filly. He’s trying to repair the knight armor damaged in his fight with the Ghoul. Suddenly, the Brotherhood radios in asking why Knight Titus missed his scheduled checkpoint. Maximus lies, saying they were attacked and his squire was killed. As the Brotherhood requests to send him a replacement, Maximus destroys the communicator. Focused on continuing his mission solo, he returns to the Filly market to repair the piece of armor. On his return, a group of Surface Dwellers have found the suit. A fight ensues leaving Maximus bloodied and injured. However, he finds the resolve to fight back. He’s relieved until he sees a Brotherhood aircraft circle above. They have sent him a new squire, Thaddeus. Maximus has a complicated relationship with the cadet, as he led the violent hazing Maximus endured on base. In disguise, Maximus sets out to give Thaddeus a taste of his own medicine. However, his perspective begins to change when Thaddeus explains his regret for abusing Maximus and feels remorseful about his “death.”
For a third of the episode, we leave the surface entirely, returning focus to Vault 33. Lucy’s brother, Norman, faces review by the Council for aiding his sister’s escape. Their cousin, Chet, received a demotion as the gatekeeper for his involvement, but the Council struggles to demote Norman as he’s found displeasure in all of his occupations. Eventually, Norman is placed on prison food duty where the Vault 32 raiders are being held. Later, Vault 33 convenes to discuss what to do with their uninvited guests. Led by two Vaulties both vying for the position of Overseer, it’s decided they will attempt to rehabilitate the prisoners to become fellow citizens. This decision receives a mixed reaction, including Norman who rather exercise the very punishment the raiders brought to their encampment: death. This ideology is frowned upon as it is opposite to the Vault Dwellers’ philosophy in their attempt to save America. But one Vault Dweller agrees with Norman’s perspective, suggesting there could be future dissent within the encampment.
Back on the surface, Lucy awakens in shock as she’s been strapped to an anchor by the Ghoul. Thinking she’s being tortured for information, real terror sets in as he reveals he’s using Lucy as bait. He repeatedly dunks her in the river until the amphibian creature, known as a Gulper, returns on the attack. The pink monstrosity grabs a hold of Lucy’s leg as she fights for her life. The Ghoul, in an attempt to stab the creature, is knocked to the ground. As the Gulper eats her boot, Lucy tosses the Ghoul’s tote bag inside the Gulper’s mouth, giving her a chance to wiggle free. The Gulper retreats, satisfied. Upon realizing his batch of life-saving vials has been destroyed, the Ghoul takes Lucy hostage.
Moments later, Knight Maximus and his squire arrive at the same dock. Tracking the target’s remains, they walk knee-deep into the river just as the Gulper races toward them. Maximus, in hero mode, orders his squire to retreat as he handles the creature alone. This goes wrong as Maximus’s weapon fails just as the Gulper leaps to strike. Luckily, Thaddeus shoots the creature, saving Maximus. But the Gulper diverts his attention on Thaddeus who ends up waist-deep inside the creature’s mouth. Maximus pierces the Gulper’s mouth, killing the creature. As it dies, the Gulper regurgitates all he’s consumed, including the head. Maximus and Thaddeus rejoice as whichever faction covets the target rules the Wasteland.
Another great episode that examines the theme of nature versus nurture in shaping a person throughout. The prime example is Cooper Howard’s becoming the Ghoul. The opening scene shows a man who is the stark opposite of the murderous bounty hunter that now exists. The theme rises again with Maximus and Thaddeus and the cycle of violence present on the Brotherhood base. The very reason why Maximus says he joined the Brotherhood of Steel. Finally, the good-natured harmony of the Vault is cracking as some dwellers’ nature opposes life-long beliefs.
Carried by Walter Goggins’s performance as both Howard and the Ghoul, episode three of Fallout continues as one of TV’s best video-game adaptations.
Rating: 8.5/10