The Ghoul Log offers a very unique format when it comes to the larger mythos of the Fallout show universe. For those familiar with the show, the introduction by Walton Goggins’ Ghoul served as an effective, charismatic anchor into the in-universe radio show. For those accustomed to the games, the inclusion of Mr. New Vegas was likely a pleasant surprise. On the whole, The Ghoul Log was a simple, hour-and-a-half of ambience, filled with a crackling fireplace and various types of Christmas music. Every few songs, Mr. New Vegas would interrupt with a quip or a story about some unlucky soul navigating the apocalypse. Ultimately, The Ghoul Log was a charming playlist of Christmas music, from choir songs to jazz covers to 20th century jingles. The imagery was quaint, focusing on a warm fireplace, with a few jumps to a radio and, of course, the introduction with Goggins in full Ghoul costume and makeup.
Due to the structure of streaming-based modern television, with seasons dropping all at once, the holiday specials of old have been mostly lost. The Ghoul Log’s existence is inherently nostalgic, both due to the stylistic and content-related callbacks to the video game franchise and it being a Christmas Special (of sorts). The Ghoul Log offers a sweet, quaint, festive experience to generate excitement for the impending second season of Fallout. As for the contents of The Ghoul Log, individual enjoyment will largely be informed by one’s tolerance for Christmas music. That said, the radio show offers a decent diversity of tunes while maintaining the show and game’s established style of doo-wop and blues music. The variety of music and the radio host’s stories made The Ghoul Log fit very comfortably and seamlessly in the universe established by the first season of Fallout. As for these stories, they worked extremely well. The imagery painted by Mr. New Vegas and the brutal nature of the stories, juxtaposed with the cheery music, was a great choice. Similarly, the instruction featuring Goggins’ Ghoul was captivating, as his voice could have sustained the entire ninety minutes.
On that note, there could have absolutely been more narrative content to The Ghoul Log. Especially for a character with his name in the title, there was a shocking lack of Ghoul. This did not harm the piece too much, as most of the enjoyment pertains to the music and Mr. New Vegas, which the audio drama makes very clear. As for said New Vegas stories, they were the highlight of the experience. However, there could have been more interspliced tales of missing dogs or uranium-licking. These stories were exciting, as they enhanced the immersive atmosphere created by the live-radio style. However, on a smaller scale, most of these stories played out similarly. Still, more stories and more unique stories would have certainly enhanced the listening experience. Overall, though, The Ghoul Log was a pleasant compilation of varied yet consistent Christmas tunes, complete with decently engaging short stories of life in the apocalypse. The Ghoul Log could have used more of the in-universe short stories, but it struck a fascinating balance between calm, festive background noise and an immersive, engaging, in-universe tale.
Rating: 7/10