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Next release: January 16 | 4 PM EDT

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FALLOUT: SEASON 2

Vault-Tec's Next Chapter Awaits

With Season 2 of Amazon's explosive Fallout Adaptation dropping December 17, now's the perfect time to revisit the post-apocalyptic journey that captivated audiences worldwide and dive into everything that happened in Season 1. Grab your Pip-Boy and let's prepare for another adventure through the Wasteland—because war, war never changes, but great storytelling always evolves.

The Great War: How the World Ended in Nuclear Fire

What we know so far...

The Road to Armageddon

The Fallout universe diverges from our timeline after World War II, creating an alternate history where nuclear technology becomes the cornerstone of American society. By the 2070s, this retro-futuristic world is powered entirely by atomic energy, from cars to household appliances. However, beneath the gleaming chrome and optimistic propaganda, global tensions reach a breaking point.

October 23, 2077: The Day the Bombs Fell

In just two hours, the Great War ended civilization as our Fallout characters know it. Nuclear missiles launched across the globe between China and the United States turn major cities into radioactive craters and plunge the world into nuclear winter. At the end of Season 1, it is revealed that this catastrophic event wasn't just the result of international conflict, but involved corporate manipulation and conspiracy at the highest levels.

The Aftermath

Those who reached underground vaults survived the initial devastation, while surface dwellers faced radiation, mutation, and societal collapse. Over the next 200+ years, survivors slowly began rebuilding from the ashes, creating the harsh Wasteland world where bottle caps serve as currency and humanity struggles to reclaim what was lost.

Meet the Wasteland's Key Players

Lucy MacLean

Lucy is a vault dweller whose sheltered upbringing in Vault 33 has filled her with optimism about humanity's potential for good. When raiders attack her vault and kidnap her father, Lucy heads to the surface on a daring rescue mission where her determination to help others clashes with the Wasteland's harsh realities. As she encounters terrifying predators and unhinged locals, she uncovers painful family secrets and learns that the world above ground operates by very different rules than her underground home.

Lucy is portrayed by the stunning Ella Purnell, who you might also recognize from Arcane and Yellowjackets.

The Ghoul/Cooper Howard

Cooper Howard is a pre-war Hollywood actor and Marine Vet whose life was forever changed by corporate betrayal and nuclear devastation. Transformed into a ghoul when the bombs fell in 2077, he spent over 200 years as a feared Wasteland bounty hunter, using deadly skills and dark humor to survive the post-apocalyptic landscape. His journey from optimistic family man to cynical, radiation-scarred mercenary embodies the corruption of American ideals in a world destroyed by greed and war.

The Ghoul is played by the talented Walton Goggins, also known for his roles in Justified, The White Lotus, and Invincible.

Maximus

Maximus is an ambitious and aspiring member of the Brotherhood of Steel who dreams of becoming a knight in power armor. Growing up as an orphan in the Wasteland, he sees the Brotherhood as his path to purpose and belonging. However, the reality of the organization's strict hierarchy and complex politics proves more challenging than he anticipated, forcing him to question what it truly means to be a hero and what lines he's willing to cross to make his dream a reality.

Maximus is portrayed by the incredible Aaron Moten who you might have also seen in Disjointed and Emancipation.

Lee Moldaver

Season 1, Episode 7

There’s a lot of money in selling the end of the world.

Vault-Tec

Vault-Tec presented itself as humanity's savior with cheerful marketing and underground shelters designed to protect Americans from nuclear war. But, rather than helping genuine refugees, the vaults served as massive social experiments where residents became unwitting test subjects for studies on human behavior, isolation, and genetic manipulation. At the end of Season 1, it is shockingly revealed that Vault-Tec didn't just prep for nuclear war, but orchestrated the Great War, viewing global destruction as a business opportunity to rebuild civilization according to their corporate vision. Each vault operates under different experimental parameters, with some actually functioning as the advertised safehouses while others subject residents to psychological torture and social engineering.

Barb Howard

Bard Howard is a high-ranking Vault-Tec executive, and Cooper Howard's ex-wife, who worked to secure her family a place in management-level vaults during the pre-war era. Despite Cooper's growing concerns about corporate overreach, Barb remained committed to her position at Vault-Tec, believing it was necessary to protect their family's future. Her involvement in the company's darker machinations ultimately drove a wedge between them, leading to their divorce and leaving questions about her true motivations and fate.

Wilzig

Season 1, Episode 2

You come from a world of rules, of laws. This place is different to all of that..

Vault 33

The underground sanctuary Lucy MacLean calls home, Vault 33, represents the idealistic vision of pre-war America preserved in a sterile, controlled environment. This vault operates under Vault-Tec's experimental programs, housing residents who believe they're maintaining civilization's best qualities while remaining blissfully unaware of the surface world's harsh realities. The vault's pristine halls and community-focused lifestyle create a stark contrast to everything waiting above ground.

THE VAULT DWELLERS

Norm MacLean

Norm is Lucy's inquisitive younger brother whose apathy and introversion make him the black sheep of Vault 33. His guilt over hiding during the raider attack and growing suspicions about the vault's secrets transform him from a disinterested underachiever into an unlikely investigator brave enough to uncover dangerous truths that others would rather ignore.

Norm is played by Moises Arias, who you've also seen in Ender's Game and Hannah Montana.

Hank McLean

Hank is the charismatic overseer whose warm demeanor and community leadership mask a dark corporate past that predates the Great War. His genuine love for his children Lucy and Norm conflicts with the devastating choices he's made to protect Vault-Tec's mission, including decisions that destroyed his own family.

Hank is portrayed by Kyle MacLachlan, who you'll know from Twin Peaks and Dune (1984).

Betty Pearson

Betty is a seemingly nurturing council member who steps up as Vault 33's new overseer after Hank's disappearance, bringing her calm leadership and homemade pie to comfort the community during uncertain times. However, beneath her warm exterior lies a mysterious past that makes some residents wonder if there's more to Betty than meets the eye.

Betty is played by Leslie Uggams who you might also recognize from her work in Deadpool and American Fiction.

Chet

Chet is the sweet-natured gatekeeper of Vault 33 whose unrequited love for cousin Lucy and loyalty to best friend Norm drive his gentle, anxious desire to keep everyone safely behind vault doors rather than face the dangerous outside world. When vault secrets start surfacing, Chet finds himself torn between his desire for peaceful normalcy and loyalty to those he loves most.

Chet is played by Dave Register who you might have also seen guest star on shows like Dexter: Resurrection and FBI.

Woody Thomas

Woody Thomas is a naive and well-meaning council member from Vault 33 who, despite genuinely caring for his community, lacks the experience and backbone needed for effective leadership. He participates in major vault decisions and unsuccessfully runs for overseer after Hank's disappearance, but his cowardly nature becomes evident when he's forced to relocate to Vault 32 against his wishes.

Woody is played by Zach Cherry who you've also seen in Severance and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Vault 4

This unique vault was originally designed for genetic experimentation where scientists conducted horrific tests on refugees, including hybridization with radiation-resistant species. The test subjects eventually overthrew their captors and now run the vault themselves, continuing to accept surface refugees but for genuinely benevolent reasons. Under Overseer Benjamin's leadership, Vault 4 has become a surprisingly compassionate sanctuary that protects both its mutated residents and newcomers, though the dark legacy of its experimental past still haunts its lower levels.

Maximus

Season 1, Episode 2

It is a knight’s duty to better this fallen world.

Brotherhood of Steel Outposts

The militaristic faction's bases showcase their obsession with pre-war technology and rigid hierarchy. These fortified compounds house power armor, energy weapons, and the Brotherhood's zealous mission to control dangerous technology. For Maximus, these locations represent both opportunity and the crushing weight of institutional expectations.

WASTELAND WANDERERS

Dane

Dane is a Brotherhood of Steel scribe and Maximus's only friend within the organization. Their fear of dying in the Wasteland led them to self-inflict an injury to avoid dangerous missions. Despite their cowardice and lack of foresight, Dane remains loyal to both Maximus and the Brotherhood's ideals, ultimately finding the courage to confess their deception and fight alongside their friend during the climactic battle at Griffith Observatory.

Dane is portrayed by Xelia Mendes-Jones who you'll recognize from The Wheel of Time and Havoc.

Lee Moldaver

Moldaver is a pre-war nuclear scientist whose groundbreaking cold fusion research was acquired and buried by Vault-Tec. Having survived over 200 years, she became a leader among New California Republic survivors, earning the nickname "Flame Mother" from refugees. She is driven by both scientific idealism and personal loss, and orchestrates an elaborate plan to recover her stolen technology and bring unlimited clean energy to the Wasteland.

Lee is played by Sarita Choudhury, who you'll also recognize from A Perfect Murder and Lady in the Water.

Siggi Wilzig

Wilzig is a former Enclave scientist who defected in 2296 with stolen research and his loyal canine companion CX404. He becomes entangled in dangerous Wasteland politics while trying to deliver crucial technology to rebel forces. Despite his gruff exterior, he shows genuine concern for others' safety and demonstrates unexpected compassion throughout his perilous journey across the post-apocalyptic landscape.

Wilzig is played by Michael Emerson who you might also recognize from his work in Saw and Lost.

CX404

CX404 is a loyal canine companion rescued from Enclave experimentation by scientist Siggi Wilzig, who saved her from incineration as a puppy. Originally designated as CX404, she becomes known as "Dogmeat" after being adopted by the Ghoul later in the series. She demonstrates remarkable tracking abilities and forms strong bonds with her human companions throughout her journey across the dangerous Wasteland.

CX404 is played by three adorable Belgian Malinois, Lana 5, Nunaya Business, and Gotcha.

Thaddeus

Thaddeus is a Brotherhood of Steel aspirant who initially bullies fellow member Maximus before becoming his unlikely companion. After taking a mysterious serum that grants him immunity to radiation and enhanced healing abilities, he develops superhuman endurance and regenerative properties. His transformation raises questions about what he's becoming, as he navigates the Wasteland with newfound powers that may come at an unexpected cost.

Thaddeus is played by Johnny Pemberton who you might have seen in 21 Jump Street and Superstore.

How does the adaptation compare to the games?

The Fallout TV show brilliantly adapts the beloved video game series by creating an entirely new story within the established post-apocalyptic universe, preserving core elements like Vault-Tec's underground shelters, the retro-futuristic 1950s aesthetic, and that signature blend of dark humor with serious themes. The series is packed with easter eggs that avid fans of the game can enjoy nods to. The Pip-Boy wrist computers, healing Stimpaks, sarcastic Mr. Handy robots, and familiar weapons all appear with their authentic game look and sound effects. Rather than randomly throwing in references, the show thoughtfully weaves these beloved elements into fresh storylines, creating a perfect balance that honors the source material while building something new for both longtime fans and newcomers.

OFFICIAL TRAILERS

Season 1- Teaser Trailer

Based on one of the greatest video game series of all time, Fallout is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. 200 years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind—and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird, and highly violent universe waiting for them.

Season 2- Teaser Trailer

Just about a month before you’re back in the Wasteland. Until then, please enjoy the official trailer for Fallout Season 2. Starring Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins, and more. Arriving December 17, only on Prime.

Ella Purnell Panel Highlights | MEGACON Orlando 2025

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