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.
Episode five opens with Maximus and Thaddeus celebrating their recent victory: possession of the Head. In such high spirits, Thaddeus requests his knight make their bond official by branding him. Maximus agrees as Thaddeus swears to protect the Brotherhood and his knight at all costs. Feeling guilty about his deception, Maximus finally comes clean that he isn’t Knight Titus. Thaddeus objects to this secret afraid of the consequences once the Brotherhood discovers the truth. Maximus attempts to kill Thaddeus, but he escapes and disables Maximus’ suit, leaving him stuck in the dark alone.
Maximus, still unable to move come morning, is attacked by a group of cockroaches. The horde begins to penetrate his armor when Lucy appears, killing the roaches. Maximus begs her to release him from confinement, but Lucy is hesitant since everyone she’s met has attempted to kill her. Just then, Lucy vomits signaling she’s suffering from radiation exposure. Maximus promises to give her medicine if she releases him from the armor. Lucy agrees and suddenly faints in Maximus’ arms.
Meanwhile, Norm and Chester have returned from their venture in Vault 32. The two are shaken from discovering the condition the vault was in, and how Norm’s mother’s PB ID was used to open the vault’s door from the outside. They have limited time to process these facts as Vault 33 is preparing elections for a new Overseer. The candidates, naturally, are Woody, Reggie and Betty. Betty wins by a landslide, as she served as Overseer before. Later, Norm asks Stephanie what made Vault 31 so special since his father, Hank, never really talked much about it. She simply responds: “I don’t know. Maybe the mashed potatoes were a little better.” Norm says that’s exactly what his father would tell him.
Back on the surface, Lucy and her new friend, “Knight Titus,” cross paths with another couple. Each swears they are unarmed. In an attempt to de-escalate the situation, Lucy suggests the two pairs walk across the bridge with their hands in the air signaling they mean no harm. The four of them cautiously walk across their opposite sides of the bridge, reaching halfway, when the stranger couple draws their weapons. Without a second guess, Maximus pulls out his gun and kills both of them. Unfortunately, he’s shot in the ordeal and is losing a lot of blood. Thinking quickly, the two find an abandoned building labeled a medical facility. Without hesitation, Lucy enters hoping to find something to stop Maximus’ bleeding. Maximus goes in after her but loses her trail.
Calling for Lucy, Maximus walks through the empty building. He enters one corridor and attempts to walk through another door when he realizes the handle is drawn on. Suddenly, the door behind him locks as gases are released from above. The floor gives out as Maximus falls into a dark abyss.
This episode was great in revealing more about the history of both the Wasteland and Vault life, signaling not everything is what it seems. The performances were strong, especially from Leslie Uggams as Betty. Her pleasant yet steel demeanor is the perfect allegory for the secrets the Vault is hiding.
Rating: 9/10